Best Bass Synth Pedal; 2021 Reviews Of The Top-Liners

Ready to take your bassline up a notch with great bass pedals that sound so good?

While bass synth pedals are a surefire way to make your bass stand out, being able to add more colour to your production may turn out to be daunting.

And I do mean that in the sense that more than 56% of bass synth pedals out there are plain janes in their sounds.

But yours doesn’t have to be.

On this page, I will recommend the 10 best bass synth pedals that offer multiple options such as chorus, distortion, and other modulations to your bassline.

See the complete list below.

Bass Synth Pedals – 12 Best Synthesizer Pedals for Bass (Review 2021)

 

 Cool, right? Here is a breakdown of each down below.

2021 Cheatsheet Of The Top 10 Bass Synth Pedals

Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

1. Best Overall; BOSS SYB-5 Bass Synthesizer Pedal

The BOSS SYBE-5 considers price, synthesizing quality, durability, and efficiency, all of which give it a place in the first position on the list. This is one of BOSS’s first bass synth pedals to ever make it to the market for professional bassists. The SYB-5 is one of the most highly durable and portable pedals for all stage performers looking for a heavy-duty stimulator that performs stably through hours of gigging without dying out unexpectedly.

 And just because it is BOSS-made you get 5-years warranty coverage on a high-quality effects pedal. Cool, right? Well, here’s more. At the bottom line, all you need to power it up right out of the box is a dry 9V battery. And did I mention the control filter cutoff feature that puts you more in charge of your production, allowing you to dynamically finetune your frequencies?

See the complete features, pros, and cons below. Or just go for it already to avoid going through the technical mumbo jumbo.

Features

• 11 DSP variations of saw synthesizers, square synthesizers, and pulse
• ¼” jack input
• Interface functions; decay rate, effect/direct, frequency/resonance
• Buffered bypass
• Control filter cutoff
• Weight; 1.2lbs
• 5 years warranty

 

2. Big Budget Pick; Electro-Harmonix Bass Micro Synthesizer

If you have enough dollars to throw around, this is one bass synth pedal for the road whenever sound quality matters (sure it always does). Electro-Harmonix is a highly capable analog-based bass synth pedal offering more than the popular lead synth pedals can offer in sound. It features 4 main synth voices; square wave, guitar, octave, and sub-octave, all of which can be tweaked for modification by engaging the integrated envelope and filter sweep controls to sound more than just sound well.

 This way you can craft a personalized bass sound for the event. Though this pedal has enough effects for a performing DJ, I wouldn’t recommend it for live performance for fact that you can’t save patches on it. It has no storage space and you’ll have to make changes manually all the time you need to mix. Other than that, perhaps you may find a way around this little snag, this is a quality bass micro synthesizer for the money. Check the full picture below as illustrated in the specifications list.

Features

• 4 voice mixer
• Sub octave, octave, square wave, and guitar
• 96DC power supply included
• ¼” input jack
• 10 control sliders
• Start frequency
• Stop frequency
• 9V power jack
• Footswitch and status LED
• 12VDC power supply

 

3. Best Multi-Effects; BOSS ME-50B Bass Multi-Effects

Right from the house of BOSS, the ME-50B is a multi-processor bass synthesizer for all bass players. A lot of world-class effects are cited on a rugged floor unit that has a pedal-style control for easy configuration. For one, there’s the compressor/limiter functionality for a versatile setup of your effects. Then again, there’s the drive/synth feature to add more colour to your low-end tones.

 Other included features are; master, filter/tone, expression, delay/modulation. These and more allows you to fashion a wider spectrum of powerful and unique tones for the event under consideration. More than just a bass synth, BOSS ME-50B adds sound hold effects, kickdrum effects, and octave to what it offers. All effects editing are done via 23 control knobs and with the 3 built-in footswitch control, you can control all your effects more comfortably and more efficiently.

Features

• Effects editing; 23 control knobs
• 3 built-in footswitch control
• 2 ¼” jack outputs
• 1 ¼” jack input
• Loops/drum
• Drive/synth
• Compressor/limiter
• Filter/tone
• Equilizer
• Octave
• Overdrive
• T-Wah
• 1 headphone output
• 1 ⅛” stereo input
• 6 AA batteries

 

4. Budget Pick; ZOOM B10N Bass Effects Pedal

To be on a low budget shouldn’t necessarily translate to claiming all the low-quality stuff that humanity has to offer. So to speak, if you are holding too hard to your $120, you’ll get this baby here at a steal price of $100. But what’s in it for you? A maximum of 80 effects can be tweaked into your dream low end and high end.

 With this pedal, you can use up to 5 effects in tandem and save multiple patches up in 100 distinct memory locations. On top of that, you’re able to craft CD-quality bass loops from scratch with 68 rhythm patterns available to you. Overall, B10N performs the functions of a tuner, a looper, and a rhythm pattern maker.

See the complete features, pros, and cons below.

Features

• 100 memory locations
• 68 rhythm patterns
• 30 seconds looping
• 75 bass effects
• 5 effects per chain
• 1 ¼” jack out
• 1 ¼” jack input
• Built-in tuner
• Built-in expression pedal
• Operation hours; 4 hours
• 4 AA size battery
• EQ
• Compressor
• Noisegate
• Overdrive/booster
• Octaver/filtering
• Chorus/pitch shift
• Overall weight; 0.83lbs

 

5. Most Dynamic; Digitech Dirty Robot Stereo Mini-Synth Pedal

This is another choice if you’re on a low budget. But this time, a highly dynamic mini-synth pedal from the house of Digitech. The Digitech dirty robot stereo mini-synth pedal is an instrument-versatile pedal for both electric guitar and bass guitars. This white-and-red stylish pedal offers two main voice synth functionalities that are engaged via a responsive toggle switch at the top of the pedal for a quick location.

 And thanks to the 4 interface knobs, you make dynamic editing of the aforementioned two main voicing synths; wash voicing and vocal formant synthesis respectively. My final verdict is, if you’re expecting to play mono and stereo along the line, this pedal is consistent in quality sound delivery. The only downside is that you can’t save patches anywhere on it.

Features

• Sub octave
• Octave
• Square wave
• 2 ¼” jack inputs
• 2 synth voicing
• Stereo in and out true bypass
• Chorus and vibrato effects
• 4 interface knobs
• Vocal formant synthesis
• Wash voicing
• 9V battery or DC power supply
• Weight; 1.0lbs

 

6. Studio Choice; Electro-Harmonix Synth 9 Synthesizer Machine

The Electro-Harmonix Synth9 is a blue and white box of 9 preset vintage synthesizers that emulates most of the popular synthesizers in sounds and performance. Whether you are playing bass or electric, this unit works without modulation in the least so you can start using it right out of the box.

 Also, if your guitar is such that doesn’t have pickups this portable box will do the trick even without you having to implement MIDI in your setup. Though not an ideal unit for your 34” scale guitar, if you’re looking for a bass synth with an extended tracking range that reaches the 23rd fret on the high E string, this is a great choice. It will also track the open A-string on your bass guitar consistently without mudding your production. Overall, for classic synth sounds on a fun-to-play box that allows you to eliminate all those tiring hums from touching the neck of your guitar, this baby here won’t break your bank.

See the complete features, pros, and cons below.

Features

• 9 synth presets
• 1 ¼” jack input
• 2 ¼” jack outputs
• Solo synth
• Mini mood
• Vibe synth
• 9v power battery
• Filters
• Voice intervals
• Weight; 1.1lbs
• String synth
• Control 1 and control 2 knobs
• EHX 9.6DC-200 PSU

 

7. Heavy-duty; MOOF MF101 MoogerFooger

The MOOF MF101 is a heavy-duty unit that will work any instrument level you set it up for. It is a low pass filter with two modular functions namely; an envelope follower and a voltage-controlled low pass filter. All of the low pass filter parameters are foot-controlled or controlled on an external control voltage or even on the tweaking knobs dedicated to that.

 

Once the configuration is done, the low pass filter finetunes and makes your tones mellow or muted by removing all the unwanted high frequencies whilst boosting all the frequencies that are near the cutoff. Finally, as there’s an envelope follower that tracks and follows the loudness contour of your sound to control the bypass filter by opening and closing it, you automatically play the filter as you play your instrument. See the complete features, pros, and cons below for the bigger picture.

Features

• 2-pole and 4-pole rocker switch
• 1 ¼” audio input
• 1 ¼” audio output
• Envelope output jack
• Mix and drive rotary control
• Cut-off rotary control
• Resonance
• Bypass filter
• 9V power input jack
• Expression pedal control
• Control voltages
• Weight; 2lbs

 

8. Best For Keyboard; Electro-Harmonix Blurst Modulated Filter Pedal

Whilst the Electro-Harmonix Blurst is a modulation filter for guitarists, bassists most especially, it is a more useful synthesizer for keyboardists. For adventurous guitarists, this pedal modulates basses and electric guitars, making them sound like envelope filters. But in this case, the filter isn’t controlled by playing dynamics but, otherwise, by an internal oscillator that does the filter response control on autopilot as you play.

 Electro-Harmonix Blurst modulated filter spots an analog, low pass filter that includes an adjustable resonance. On top of that, it offers 3 modulations namely; waveform shapes, tempo, and expression pedal control. You can use it as a standalone or set it up in a chain and it still performs in an outstanding way. The needed power supply charger is included in the package so you don’t have to spend more.

Features

• Volume and blend
• Resonance
• Bypass filter
• Built-in low-frequency oscillator
• Tempo
• 9v battery power supply
• 1 ¼” jack input
• 2 ¼” jack outputs
• Rate and range
• Weight; 1.54lbs

 

9. Multi-purpose; ZOOM B3 Bass Guitar Effects And Amp Simulator

This ZOOM B3 offers 3 stompboxes in one useful unit with a unique foot pedal switch dedicated to each stompbox. With ZOOM B3, you’re equipped with 12 amps and 99 great-sound DSP effects to tailor stunning effects creatively. Whether you’re purchasing for the studio or you’re a stage performer, ZOOM B3 allows you to chain 3 effects together in a 3-stompbox style that makes configuration and editing easy altogether.

 The first box allows you to create 100 patches from 50 premade patches and store them in 100 different memory locations. On the other hand, the looper box lets you record 40 seconds of CD-quality loops. And finally, you have 41 premade rhythm patterns that are to be used for loop creation and other purposes as you deem fit.

Features

• 99 effects; distortion, delay, modulation, reverb, and compression
• 100 memory locations
• 12amps and cabinet models
• 41-builtin rhythm patterns
• 40 seconds CD-quality loop creation
• The passive and active switch
• Onboard chromatic tuner
• 4 AA batteries for 6 hours running
•  2 ¼” output jacks
• 2 ¼” input jacks
• AC adapter
• Expression pedal and footswitch

 

10. Best With Octotrave; MXR M28 Sub Octave Bass Fuzz Guitar Effects Pedal

Coming last on the list is MXR’s Sub Octave effects unit that consistently shells out low ends in a thunderous way together with a ground-breaking fuzz. If you own one of the Bass Octave Deluxe, you sure can know what to expect of this one that combines the growl section of our former Deluxe guy with a fuzz circuitry selected from one of the oldies.

 And the result? A highly versatile unit that lets you create warm and compressed tones aggressively in a bright way. There’s also a mid-level control for adding more punch to your dry signals in the mid-range. All in all, consider this a synth pedal guitar that sounds too well.

More on the technical details below.

Feature

• Sub octave and fuzz
• Bypass footswitch toggle
• Fuzz gain and fuzz EQ
• Noise floor; 94dBv
• Bass
• Treble
• Overdrive
• Distortion
• Dry gain and dry gain control
• True hardwire bypass
• 9-volts battery

Conclusion

Spending your money right and going straight for the best bass synth pedals that will come to serve you and pay for themselves in the next few days may not be easy. Nevertheless, in this post, I have reviewed some of the top-of-the-line models that you can invest in. I hope this helps.