The Schaffer Replica Bass-X
Five-circuit bass preamp featuring optical limiter, harmonic clipping, and 31dB boost capabilities, reverse-engineered from vintage Schaffer-Vega wireless units used by legendary bassists.
The SoloDallas Schaffer Replica Bass-X is sophisticated bass preamp pedal that combines five interactive analog circuits - optical limiter, EQ expander, harmonic clipping circuit, boost, and line buffer - all reverse-engineered from original Schaffer-Vega Diversity System wireless units used by legendary bassists like Billy Sheehan, Rudy Sarzo, and Pino Palladino in 1970s and 80s. Signal path is 100% analog and nearly identical to guitar-focused EX Tower, but with modifications specifically designed to handle higher amplitude and lower frequencies of bass guitar.
Bass-X features three interactive control knobs: Gain knob controls signature clipping circuit that emphasizes crucial low-mid frequencies responsible for giving bass punch and presence in mix; Boost knob controls powerful preamp capable of delivering up to 31dB of clean boost for driving tube amplifiers or increasing overall output; and Limiter knob controls Ken Schaffer's signature opto-isolator circuit, optical analog design that naturally limits audio signal entering pedal's circuitry, preventing unwanted peaks while maintaining dynamic response.
Based on direct input from professional bassists, SoloDallas made specific circuit modifications to optimize Bass-X for bass guitar applications, ensuring harmonic enhancement, compression characteristics, and frequency response work synergistically with instrument's natural voice. Result is enhanced clarity, improved note definition, increased sustain, and ability to sit perfectly in dense band mixes without sacrificing low-end weight or definition. Construction quality matches professional standards with commercial-grade PCB featuring gold-plated contacts, heavy-duty true bypass footswitch, rugged enclosure, commercial-grade potentiometers, and Neutrik jack connectors.
Reverb
Amazon
