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Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors Bass Distortion / Compressor Pedal Reviews

Bass Channel Strip with EQ, Compressor, Distortion and XLR Direct Output

Electro-Harmonix's Bass Metaphors channel strip puts an amazing amount of sonic flexibility into a single sound-shaping pedal. Not only do you get great distortion sounds, but you've got access to EQ and compression, as well. Bass Metaphors boasts a direct XLR output, 1/4" balanced and unbalanced outputs, and a standard instrument output. Leave your amp at home both in the studio and onstage and take your tone straight into the board. If you're looking to have a serious amount of control over your tone grab Bass Metaphors!

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Highest Rated Reviews

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This was EVERYTHING I needed!

By Richard from United States on April 5, 2012 Music Background: Live Sound, Recording Engineer and Pro Musician

I am a firm believer that less is much more when playing bass. It is all about the player and the bass, but I've also been a bit unsatisfied without having "some" ability to touch my sound with a little compression when not using my entire gig rig. I didn't own any pedals for my bass setup, but I have looked into what to possibly use for some compression for quite a while.

I was concerned the Metaphors may only provide a marginal effect for what I needed, but I ended up being totally and completely satisfied. I play and record for both a classic rock and blues band - 60s, 70s, 80s and new as well as a little Country, and also a Praise Choir. I needed a little distortion for my band (think Spirit in the Sky type effects), and a clean compressor for the praise choir (I have a rack compressor for my band rig, but it's too much effort to drag in every Sunday).

I purchased the bass Metaphors (after watching all the YouTube videos I could find), and hooked it up as soon as it arrived. I was not pleased with the compressor when running though my amp at home (unbalanced), but I really enjoyed the distortion available. As soon as I clicked the compressor on, it produced a very apparent hiss. Not cool. No hiss with the compressor off, and the distortion was great - no hiss whether on or off. (I was running an unbalanced cable to my gig rig from the Metaphors.)

The first Sunday I used it, I was definitely concerned about what would happen. I have to hook directly into the mixer console and not use my band rig on Sunday. I hooked up with a balanced XLR cable to the mixer (as a DI), and it was PERFECT. No hiss. Great compression without squishing all my playing. My Sunday sound engineer is no longer jumping to turn me down when I get a little emphasis into the song (leaving me absent for the next song - forgetting to turn me back up), and I can really relax playing and go for it when I want, knowing that I wont be chasing anyone out the back doors when I'm expressing my style.

I cannot say enough good about the electro-harmonix Bass Metaphors pedal.

works great

By Zsolt Sapi from Dutch Harbor, AK on March 4, 2009 Music Background: bass player for life

I got my Metaphors 3 months ago. I was looking for something new to clean up my sound since i have not been using any pedals (the exception of an old DOD compressor). With this "thing" the difference is huge. Instantly changed my sound for better. In my book less is more. I use distortion and dry just a little so i don't alter the sound too much ruther just add to it. The EQ level works great, i keep it in the middle for "point of reference". Treble and bass is up to your taste.
The compressor cleaned up my "mud". Overall, it is a keeper. You can also add an equalizer for fine tuning your sound and more presence.I did. No regrets. Besides, my sales engineer helped me find am alternative shipping to Alaska as well! Thanks,

Good Pedal!

By John from New Hampshire on March 26, 2009 Music Background: Semi-Pro musician

I was looking for a compressor for bass that was easy to use because, lord knows, they are not easy to understand and operate. You cannot get any simpler than this for compression; 1 switch! The preset settings of the comp do not ruin my dynamics or steal the tone out from under my bass! The great thing about the pedal is that with all the other controls, you can either alter your sound completely or barely at all. I love the sound of my Jazz Bass so I didn't want to color the sound too much. If you are a fan of distortion on bass, it has it here also. The only thing missing on this pedal is in the EQ section and that would be a Mid level or sweep control. Other than that, this is a good pedal that gets the job done with a few bonus features.

Noisy

By Scott from Saskatchewan, Canada on January 19, 2011 Music Background: Loving it, Learning it, Living it.

I bought this pedal hoping to use it in my pedal board as a control over my tone before it was sent to the mixer(use as DI).
I was very disappointed with this pedal, I own the deluxe memory man, bass analog synth, and bass big muff pi, and every one is incredibly outstanding. I LOVE EHX PEDALS!!!
That being said, this pedal sucked, the noise(hiss) was terrible, it sounded better off than on.
The compression was way too much on squash, it wasn't at all a pleasing sound(to me anyways).
The EQ was fine, but it wasn't great by any means.
The Distortion was downright disgusting, all of the bottom end dropped out, it hissed a hundred times worse than before, and it sounded like crap(if you want a really good bass dist. get the bass big muff pi, best sound I've had).
I'm really sorry electro harmonix for this bad review, I just don't want anyone else to have to buy it at and be disappointed.
Well, after all that, buy any EHX pedal for bass, as long as it isn't this one you will be blessed by it.

If you are wondering what I used it with.
Bass - Ibanez SR5006E
Amp - Mesa M6 Carbine (and tried a Yorkville XS400, to see if my amp was the hissing problem, it wasn't)
Also tried DI output, and the dist. sounded bad through it too, but it all worked.

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