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RMI Sonic Spark, Clean Boost, and Classic Boost Reviews

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RMI Sonic Spark, Clean Boost, and Classic Boost Reviews

In the not too distant past, Bass Musician Magazine featured a review of the RMI Basswitch; a fully featured and beautifully executed preamp/DI pedal that provides a variety of solutions for bassists, and some slick features that have rightfully earned it the “swiss army knife for bass players” title. More recently, they added a line of smaller pedals to their roster; each designed to provide a specific flavor of EQ and boost options. The RMI Clean Boost, Classic Boost, and Sonic Spark offer up some very usable tonal options, and share the exceptionally robust build quality and design aesthetic that we loved about the RMI Basswitch. We had an opportunity to put the new RMI pedals through their paces, and they did not disappoint.

RMI Clean Boost

Like all the RMI pedals, the Classic Boost offers a wide range of tones available via the 3 band EQ and the gain control of the pedal, and it was apparent to me that the Clean Boost is the most ‘middle of the road’ of the 3, tonally speaking. There is a neutrality and transparency to its tone that really helps to push forward the native sound of your bass. My first impression was that it had less impact on my tone than I felt I was wanting (it is an ‘effect’ after all), but after playing around and gigging with it, I realized that its clean, transparent gain is actually ideal for my needs. It stayed out of the way of my instrument and offered exactly what it advertised: “clean boost”. Even with the gain bumped up and the EQ controls boosted a little, the Clean Boost retained the fat glassy tone of my active 5 string jazz, the woody thump of my flatwound strung P bass, and the midrange complexity of my chambered 6 string. Whereas the other RMI pedals imparted more of their ‘thing’ to my signal chain, the Clean Boost allowed me to keep the sound and feel of my instrument intact, while pushing my signal chain and the front end of my preamp a little harder. One application I really thought the clean boost excelled at was toggling on and off for fingerstyle and slap sections in a song. It allowed me to dig in while playing fingerstyle, and then switch to a hotter/super responsive and dynamic slap tone that called for a lighter touch. I could see this pedal being an excellent choice for someone looking for the kind of boost pedal that preserves the instruments tone, and just offers more of it.

RMI Classic Boost

Up next is the Classic Boost, which, according to RMI is designed to benefit passive or ‘classic’ P/JJ/PJ style instruments. Much like the Clean Boost, the Classic Boost serves up great tone and noise free gain, and also preserves the sound of your instrument.   Where this pedal differs from the Clean Boost, is that it has a little more shape to its tone profile, which again is designed to complement passive or traditional style basses. In my testing I found the Classic Boost to perform as expected. Not quite as glassy or wide as the Clean Boost, the Classic Boost is a bit more ‘in the box’ so to speak. It seems to have less extension on the top and bottom end of the frequency range, and I felt that it helped pocket the sound of my P bass even more effectively than the Clean Boost. Without getting too far into the realm of subjectivity, I would say that the Classic Boost helped focus the midrange on my Fender style instruments.   Like the Clean Boost though, the EQ is powerful and super usable, and an array of legit tones are available. Suffice to say, this is the one that really shines if you tend to stick with Fender or MusicMan style basses.

RMI Sonic Spark

This is the hardest of the three RMI pedals to define. I’ll start with RMI’s product description of the Sonic Spark, which is that of a “harmonic overtone generator”. Instead of a 3 band EQ, the Sonic Spark offers controls for: Gain, Enhance, Intensity and a Deep/Bright blend for optimal tonal tweaking. Firing up the Sonic Spark, I was immediately rewarded with what I would call “tube-like bigness”. Plugged into a rig that I consider very clean and dry, the Sonic Spark spoke with a rich, overtone-laden voice that seemed to accentuate the entire range of the instrument. At higher gain levels, the pedal offers creamy grit, but at lower gain levels, I found the Sonic Spark imparted a hefty weight and thickness to the sound that I can only describe as “tubey”. I had a great time exploring the range of the pedal, especially playing with the deep/bright knob, which serves as a global EQ for shaping tone in those general directions. I was able to find a handful of great “always on” settings, and some sweet solo/boost type settings as well. When really pushed, the Sonic Spark dishes out its fair share of snarl too, which, while not my thing, is undeniably fun. Best of all, it sounds authentic, and has a dynamic feel that really resembles the response of a tube power section.

What else is noteworthy about these RMI pedals? Well, for starters, the componentry in these pedals are second to none. Gold plated relays, loss-free silent footswitches, ultra smooth taper pots, and a discrete JFET input stage all contribute to a smooth operating effect with ultra low noise operation (110db “with very little noise”). Another cool feature of the RMI pedals is their 18V internal power supply. The pedals will accept any 9-15 volt AC or DC power supply, but internally, the voltage is rectified up to 18V, for better headroom. This offers some nice flexibility for pedalboard users, who are constantly trying to juggle the available power channels on units like the Voodoo Labs pedal power 2 and similar isolated power supply units.

There really isn’t anything to dislike about these pedals. Anything I could potentially complain about would be subjective at best, and most certainly a nitpick. For my purposes they did exactly what they’re designed to do, and they did it well. RMI gets extra points for: 1. top mounted jacks (pet peeve alert: wasted space on a pedal board from patch cable jacks protruding from the sides of pedals), and 2. The slight overhang of the faceplate, offering a small degree of additional protection at jack insertion points. I also dug the mellow vibe of the soft blue LED light to indicate that the pedal was engaged.

These RMI pedals offer a lot of usable tone shaping for bassists looking to craft their tone in simple yet sophisticated ways.   The Clean and Classic Boost sell for $259, while the Sonic Spark sells for $299. Not exactly cheap, but well worth the price of admission if you’re looking for some very savvy EQ and tone shaping options in an exquisitely well designed and constructed pedal. Head over to www.lehle.com for more information.

Bass Videos

Reviews: Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17

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Reviews Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17

Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17 Reviews…

In this issue, we take an in-depth look at two new amps from Phil Jones Bass, the Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17.

For more information, visit online at pjbworld.com

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Bass Videos

Review: BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass

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Review - BITE Custom Bass - The Black Knight PP Bass

BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass Review…

I am sure many of you saw my review of the Snobby Steampunk Bass from BITE Guitars back in February of 2021 and will remember what a remarkable bass it was. BITE has been building custom basses since 2019 and has a unique custom approach where you can configure your bass to your specs.

I am very excited to have another Bass From BITE Guitars in my hands, The Black Knight PP Bass! 

The need for a P-Bass in one’s armamentarium is pretty standard for bass players and I recall chatting about this with Marty O’Brien about a year ago. It turns out that Marty and BITE Guitars got together and came up with this excellent configuration that gives you a P-Bass with a whole lot more.  Marty even played his own Black Knight PP bass at the 2024 NAMM show. You can see his review here.

Join me as I take an in-depth look at this very cool instrument and share all the details.

Here is The Black Knight Bass from BITE Guitars!

For more information, visit online at bite.guitars/product/black-knight-pp

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Gear Reviews

Gear Review: Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass

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Gear Review: Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass Review…

Throughout the evolution of music, bass players have sought tools to sculpt and enhance their sonic landscapes, and one indispensable ally in this pursuit has been compression. Origin Effects, a name synonymous with premium audio craftsmanship, introduces the Cali76 Compact Bass Compressor, a pedal that pays homage to the legacy of compression and brings forth a new chapter in bass sonic mastery.

As we delve into the world of the Cali76 Compact Bass Compressor, we’ll explore how Origin Effects seamlessly weaves together the heritage of compression and contemporary bass demands, promising a pedal that not only honors the past but propels your bass playing into the future. Join us on this sonic expedition as we dissect the nuances of the Cali76 Compact and uncover the secrets it holds for bass players seeking the perfect blend of vintage warmth and modern versatility.

For Starters, the Cali76 is a studio-grade FET compressor pedal, based on the classic Urei 1176, but with some features optimized for bass guitar. For those of you who are not familiar with it, a FET (Field Effect Transistor) compressor is essentially a solid-state tube compressor emulation that allows for fast and precise control over the attack and the release parameters; allows for extreme compression ratios; and finally adds the typical 1176 color and character to the sound.

Together with the common controls we see in most compressor pedals – Ratio, Attack/Release, input (just like the original 1176, the threshold in this pedal is fixed), and output (makeup gain). The Cali76 offers two more controls dedicated to us bass players.

A Dry control – This allows us to mix in our dry, uncompressed signal to the pedal output. This is great for when we want to add back some of our playing dynamics to the compressed sound or for when you want some volume back in situations where the compression starts taking away the volume.

A High Pass Filter control – Low frequencies on a bass guitar signal normally overwhelm compressors. This high pass filter allows the compressor to only react to higher frequencies, which helps preserve the natural dynamics of our playing while keeping the low end intact.

Metering on this pedal can be a bit hard to get used to at first. There’s a single LED light on the pedal, that not only serves as an On/Off light, but it’s also our meter. It glows red when no compression is applied and orange for active compression. The brighter the light, the greater the amount of gain reduction. Yellow signifies that the gain reduction reached 27dB and maximum reduction occurs around 38 dB.

In practical terms, it’s all about working with the input and the LED to find the sweet spot (turn the input to zero, start playing and slowly increase the input level until you start seeing the LED glowing orange, which means there’s reduction going on).

With 6 highly interactive knob controls, this pedal implies some degree of compressor knowledge and also some amount of tweaking and experimentation to find the perfect settings. The good news is that it is very hard to make this pedal sound bad…

It can go from very subtle compression settings to very extreme, and it can do everything in between. Also, the team at Origin has been kind enough to add a couple of sample settings in the manual to get players started and to help us understand better how the pedal works.

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass

Dynamic Control is a setting that provides natural compression, balancing dynamics between various playing techniques. It is a subtle compression that will work almost out of the box almost all the time. Having a medium setting for the High Pass Filter ensures an honest translation of the lower string dynamics.

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass

Parallel compression is a popular studio technique, where both compressed and natural signals are blended. We get the sound and feel of hard compression while retaining the natural playing dynamics.

Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass

Percussive, lively & Fat is a setting that uses a slower attack time to accentuate the start of any note. Then using a fast release allows the compressor to recover between notes so that the phrases sound more percussive. Ideal for slapping and other percussive techniques.

Finally, I would like to mention the classic 1176 tonal coloration. It’s not a secret that engineers all around would sometimes use the 1176 compressor, without applying any compression, just to get the tonal coloration into the instrument sound.

And the Cali76 compressor is no different, it has such a rich, warm, and full coloration that’s super pleasing to the ear and makes you want to have it ON all the time. So be aware, that if you want a transparent compressor, this pedal is not for you!

All in all, it is easy to understand why this pedal became a favorite of so many bass players around the world. The Cali76 Compact stands as a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful engineering that Origin Effects is renowned for. It seamlessly navigates through the rich history of compression, offering bass players a gateway to the soulful resonance of the past while empowering them to sculpt a contemporary sonic future.

Whether you’re a seasoned bass maestro or a budding virtuoso, the Cali76 Compact invites you to embark on a sonic journey where every note is held in a delicate balance between tradition and innovation. As we bid farewell to our exploration, we do so with the realization that the Cali76 Compact is more than just a pedal; it’s a sonic companion that elevates the artistry of bass playing

For more information, visit online at origineffects.com

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Gear Reviews

Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass Review

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Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass Review

Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass Review…

Not long ago, I did a review of the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass and I have just been given the honor and privilege of reviewing the Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass. I have to say, another great bass from Spector that is hard to put down! While there are some similarities between both basses, there are also some noticeable differences which is why I believe having both is essential to any bass arsenal.

Spector, widely used by many rock and metal bassists like Ian Hill, Alex Webster, Colin Edwin, Doug Wimbish, and many more, just to name a few, has a long-standing in these genres. Well, that’s about to change! The bass I used for the review, didn’t see any of those genres, matter of fact, I used it on a few classic country gigs and at church too! However, when at home in the studio, I let the funk out. The NS Ethos HP 4 Bass is an all-around great bass for any genre and will not disappoint.

Let’s get into the specs about the bass, and here we will find the differences between the HP 5 Bass and the HP 4.

Forget that one is a 5 string, while the other is a 4, while that is a difference, that’s not one that I feel needs to be noted as both models are available as 4 and 5 strings. The Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass has a 34” scale, 24 fret, 3 piece maple neck through construction with solid alder wings, ebony fingerboard along with centered and side dots and the 12th fret Spector logo inlay with a brass nut.

While the pickups are different as the NS Dimension HP 5 Bass uses the EMG 45DC and the NS Ethos HP 4 Bass sports the EMG 35DC pickups, they are the same pickup configurations, the difference being, one for 4 string, the other for 5 string. The electronics are the same, consisting of a Darkglass Tone Capsule preamp which consists of +-12dB @70Hz for Bass, +-12dB @500Hz for Mids, and +-12dB @2.8kHz for Hi Mids. Controls for Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass consist of Master Volume, Blend, Bass, Mid, and Hi Mid controls. The electronics are powered by a 9-volt battery.

The bridge is a Hi-Mass locking bridge with intonation screws and the tuners are sealed die-cast. All hardware is black. Same as the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass, the HP 4 Bass is available in 4 different finishes, White Sparkle Gloss, Gunmetal Gloss, Plum Crazy Gloss & Black Gloss. The bass also comes with a very nice and well-padded gig bag.

Check out the Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass at a Spector Music Retailer today near you or visit online at spectorbass.com/product/ns-ethos-hp-4/

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Gear Reviews

Review: Italia Leather Straps

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Review: Italia Leather Straps

Italia Leather Straps…

Whenever I get a new bass, I like to get a new strap to christen it and I also like to find one that is “color coordinated” to my new instrument. I recently had a 6-string fretless bass created by a local luthier named Frank Brocklehurst, which started my search for a new strap.

There are a few points that I always look for when searching for a new strap. 

1-Comfort 
2-Width
3-Great color
4-Price

My most recent quest put me in touch with “Italia Leather Straps.” Italia has been in business in California for about 20 years and has been selling factory direct for the past 18 years.

When you order your strap it begins its “made to order” build process and after shipping more than 50,000 straps they certainly have it well in hand!

To answer my 4 questions regarding comfort, Italia uses some of the most comfortable and luxurious leather in a wide variety of colors. I was able to match almost perfectly the color of my bass and the color of the leather.

You can order it in either a 2.5” or 4” width as well as a standard and long model for tall players. I prefer the 4” for all of my basses. 

I received my strap and I must tell you, the leather was soft, supple, and truly comfortable when I attached it to my bass.

I must commend Italia Leather Straps for their attention to detail and beautiful selection of leather. I would say that when you go looking for a new strap, these guys should be on your shortlist.

Call or visit Italia Leather Straps online:
831-324-4277
www.italiastraps.com

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