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MXR M81 Bass Preamp Pedal

Bass Preamp Pedal with XLR Direct Out, 3-band EQ, and Level Controls

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Item ID: M81BassPre

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This item requires extra delivery time from MXR. Order today to reserve yours now, risk-free, or contact us for more information. Estimated July 2026.

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M81 Bass Preamp with EBS Patch Cables

Original price, crossed out: $204 and 99 cents, now $199 and 99 cents

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MXR M81 Bass Preamp Pedal

$189.99

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EBS Flat Patch Cable - 3.9 Inch (2 Pack)

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MXR M81 Bass Preamp Pedal

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Q: What is the MXR M81 Bass Preamp Pedal used for?

The MXR M81 Bass Preamp Pedal is an analog tone-shaping tool designed to enhance your bass sound. It provides a clean, articulate foundation for your tone, allowing you to sculpt it with its powerful EQ. It's perfect for direct recording, sending a consistent signal to a PA system, or fine-tuning your sound before it hits your amplifier.

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Q: How do the EQ controls on the M81 Bass Preamp work?

The M81 features a versatile 3-band EQ with dedicated Bass, Mid, and Treble controls to precisely shape your tone. The crucial Mid Frequency control allows you to sweep through a range of frequencies to pinpoint and boost or cut specific midrange characteristics. This helps you dial in your perfect sound for any musical style or venue.

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Q: What output options does the MXR M81 Bass Preamp offer?

The M81 Bass Preamp provides flexible output options for various setups. It includes a standard 1/4-inch output to connect to your bass amplifier. Additionally, it features a balanced XLR DI output, which is ideal for sending a clean, direct signal to a mixing board for live sound or directly into an audio interface for studio recording.

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Q: How is the M81 Bass Preamp powered, and what are its bypass options?

The M81 Bass Preamp can be powered by a single 9V battery or an optional 9V DC power supply (sold separately). For bypass, it offers both true hardwire bypass, which completely removes the pedal from your signal chain when off, and switchable buffered bypass, which helps maintain signal integrity over long cable runs.

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MXR Bass Innovations Preamp Pedal

For studio-quality bass tones wherever you play, rely on the MXR M81 Bass preamp pedal. Separate input and output level controls let you take advantage of MXR's innovative Constant Headroom Technology for clarity at volumes other preamps just can't produce. The flawless direct out can be sent to the house pre or post the 3-band, sweepable midrange EQ section - dial in tone for your amp and leave the PA to the sound chick. To get a new tone from an old bass or amp, or for just a touch of something every now and then, the versatility of the MXR M81 Bass preamp pedal is what you need.

Resources

10 Best Bass Preamp Pedals

Apr 15, 2026

The DI Box - What Is It? Why Do I Need One?

Apr 24, 2025

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Tech Specs

Type: Bass Preamp
Form Factor: Pedal
Analog/Digital: Analog
EQ: 3-band EQ, Mid Frequency Control
Inputs: 1 x 1/4"
Outputs: 1 x 1/4", 1 x XLR (DI out)
Bypass Switching: True Hardwire, Switchable to Buffered
Power Source: 9V DC power supply (sold separately)
Power Usage: 8.5mA
Batteries: 1 x 9V
Height: 2.12"
Width: 2.62"
Depth: 4.37"
Weight: 0.56 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number: M81

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Reviews

4.9

Customer Photos & Videos

Admittingly I have never been a fan of bass preamp DI pedals. I've owned the Sansamp Bass Driver DI and wasn't a fan. I added too much overdrive to my tone. I was looking for a DI pedal that worked on phantom power and gave a nice clean tone that can be shaped. The MXR M81 Bass Preamp pedal does exactly that. It sounds great and I absolutely love it. It sounds great with all my basses and I've even used it in the studio and gotten compliments from the producer about my bass tone. It's worth every penny and I will never get rid of this pedal!

The best self investment. Works well on small gig setup I can run to my amplifier and the sound board simultaneously which allows me to turn my amp down for use as a stage monitor the sound system carries the rest of my volume.

If you need a silent stage option I strongly recommend this one. The pedal can run on phantom power via the XLR out if you place the Bass Preamp's GROUND LIFT
button to the out position. It can also be powered with a standard 9V power supply or battery if you prefer. I like phantom for the stage aesthetic. I run it pretty much at 12 except the bass and treble at 1 and it gives a clean sound. I love how this pedal is "normal size". A lot other preamps I've played with a XLR are larger and take up a lot of space. My only complaint is the activation switch, it's loud. I turn on the pedal at sound check and keep it running but if I turned it on and off I would be self-conscious about the click. The 2 rooms use it in regularly have sub woofers and it's nice to be able to dial in a tone. One of the sound engineers recently told me that he sets me at 12 on the board and doesn't change it. I contribute it to this pedal. With this pedal I play a passive p-bass with flats primarily.

I originally bought this preamp simply because I love mxr pedals. I know that sounds shallow but I'm sure I am not the only gear head thats ever done that. I did not know much about it. I did not do much research on it, as I typicaly do with all my gear, especially pedals because I have so many of them. I needed a preamp for my new pedalboard so I chose this one. It turned out to be an excellent investment. As a preamp it is very effective at giving my signal that extra humph but I mainly used it to help shape my passive "PJ" bass tone before it hits the rest of the effects pedals. I especially like the "line out" knob which gives the tone some guts. I have it after the mxr bass compressor and before everything else.
This is such a good preamp that I want to buy an extra one just in case I lose the one I have or it gets stolen.
My advise is, dont even bother looking somewhere else for a bass preamp. This is a killer preamp at this price point and in this tiny footprint. MXR makes the best pedals out there.

This pedal is nice. It basically allows you to adjust your volume and sound without touching the knobs on your bass or amp. You could combine the settings in this pedal with the settings on your amp or bass to add some extra punch to your sound. The direct output is nice too for gigs and recording.