Radial BASSBONE OD Bass Guitar Overdrive User Guide

Radial BASSBONE OD Bass Guitar Overdrive

INTRODUCTION

• Thank you for purchasing the Bassbone OD, the ultimate power ‘command center’ for you bass setup with a built-in overdrive to add character and wow-factor to your performance.
• Right about now, you are surely ‘chomping at the bit’ with excitement getting ready to plug in and get playing! Stop! Wait! You must first read the manual! In this valuable piece of documentation, you will find all kinds of helpful hints on how to use the Bassbone OD live, in the studio or for practicing.
• Once you have read it, if you find yourself confused about something or it lacking detail, please take a minute to visit the Bassbone OD FAQ page on the web site. This is where we post questions from users and informational updates. If you still do not find what you are looking for, send us an email at info@radialeng.com and we will do our very best to answer you in short order.

Headphone Safety Warning: Very Loud Amplifier
As with all products capable of producing high Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) users must be very careful to avoid the hearing damage that may occur from prolonged exposure. This is particularly important as it applies to headphones. Prolonged listening at high SPLs will eventually cause tinnitus and can lead to partial or complete loss of hearing. Please be aware of the recommended exposure limits within your legal jurisdiction and follow them very closely. The user agrees that Radial Engineering Ltd. remains harmless from any health effects resulting from the use of this product and the user clearly understands that he or she is entirely responsible for the safe and proper use of this product. Please consult the Radial Limited Warranty for further details.

OVERVIEW

The Bassbone OD is a powerful two channel instrument preamp that is able to handle all types of instruments, depending on how it is configured. Some examples include:

• Two channel preamp with one bass
• Selecting between two electric basses
• Switching between upright bass and electric bass
• Using it with a violin (piezo pickup) and an acoustic guitar (active pickup)
• Mixing two pickups from one instrument together
• Using the Bassbone OD is fairly straight forward. Each channel is equipped with a series of controls for volume, EQ and filtering so that each instrument or pickup type can be optimized for tone or accentuated for a specific need. One can select between channels using the A/B footswitch or combine the two channels when using an instrument that employs both magnetic and piezo transducers. What makes the Bassbone OD truly unique is the way it is able to incorporate effects pedals into the signal chain. These can be active all the time, bypassed using the overdrive footswitch, or combined with the built-in overdrive to create exciting new tones.
• There are (8) eight audio connection jacks on the Bassbone OD; two for the inputs, two for the effects loop, a dedicated stage amp output, a tuner out that works with the mute footswitch, a balanced DI output for the PA system and finally, a headphone out. These let you configure the Bassbone OD to your specific application.
• The connectors are coupled with various ‘set and forget’ recessed switches and rotary controls strategically located on the side panels. These are purposely made to be hard to access as once set, they rarely need to be changed. A small screwdriver is used to adjust the rotary controls and push in or out the recessed switches.

FEATURE SET

1. DRIVE: Used to set the desired level of overdrive that will be applied to the signal.
2. MIX: Sets the relative ‘dry-wet’ mix between the original bass tone and the overdrive, effects loop or both.
3. TONE: Adjusts the sonic character of the overdrive circuit.
4. HPF: High pass filter rolls-off excessive low frequency resonance and cleans up signal. Choose between 80Hz, 150Hz and flat (filter bypass) settings.
5. CHANNEL LED: Full size LED indicator lets you know which channel is active. Green LED indicates channel-A is on, yellow LED indicates channel-B is on.
6. GAIN: Used to adjust the individual instrument level.
7. LOW: Low frequency shelving EQ used to accent or roll off bass.
8. HIGH: High frequency shelving EQ used to add shimmer or tone down the top end.
9. MID CONTROL: Semi parametric mid range with switchable center frequency.
10. MID SWITCH: Selects the center frequency for the mid range control. Choose between 250Hz, 500Hz and 1kHz settings.
11. BLEND: Recessed switch mixes both channels for instruments with dual electric/acoustic pickup systems. When engaged the A/B footswitch is deactivated.
12. DRAG (INPUT-B): Adjusts the load on a magnetic pickup for a more natural sound.
13. INPUT-B: Instrument input with ¼” switching jack. Enables the bass connected to input-A to feed channel-B when not in use.
14. PZB (INPUT-A): Recessed switch boosts the signal and increases the impedance to 10 meg-ohms for piezo equipped instruments.
15. INPUT-A: Instrument input with ¼” jack. Also feeds channel-B when no instrument is connected to input-B.
16. MUTE: Footswitch mutes all outputs except the tuner out for quiet on-stage tuning. Bright red LED illuminates when the outputs are muted.

FEATURE SET

17. A/B FOOTSWITCH: Used to toggle between channel-A and channel-B.
18. EFX ASSIGN: Three position switch sets the overdrive footswitch function for overdrive, effects loop or both.
19. OVERDRIVE FOOTSWITCH: Activates the overdrive. Works in conjunction with the EFX assign switch to turn on and off the overdrive, effects loop or both. The LED illuminates when on.
20. OUTPUT: ¼” jack used to feed the artist’s on-stage bass amplifier.
21. LOOP ON: Recessed switch bypasses the footswitch function and keeps the effects loop on at all times.
22. TUNER: Separately buffered, dedicated tuner output is always on.
23. PHONES: 3.5mm TRS mono headphone output with level control.
24. EFX LOOP: Send & receive ¼” connections for external effects.
25. 180° (LOOP): Recessed switch used to invert the polarity of the effects loop should one of the guitar effect pedals reverse the phase.
26. PRE-POST: Routes the balanced output before (pre) or after (post) the effects loop and overdrive.
27. BALANCED OUT: Built-in active Radial DI to feed the PA or recording system.
28. 180° (XLR): Recessed switch reverses pins-2 and 3 at the balanced XLR output to phase align sound with PA or reduce feedback.
29. LIFT: Recessed ground lift switch disconnects pin-1 on the XLR output to help eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops.
30. 15VDC: Connection for the Radial 15VDC/400mA power supply (included).
31. CABLE CLAMP: Prevents accidental power disconnection by locking down the AC adapter cable.

Start by setting the controls on your bass amp so that they are flat and the controls on the Bassbone OD to the ‘start’ position as shown below. Set all the recessed function switches on the sides to their outward position.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Before making connections, always ensure your stage amp and audio system levels are turned down. This will avoid loud power-on or plug-in transients from damaging sensitive components like loudspeakers. There is no power switch on the Bassbone OD. When you connect the 15VDC power supply it will spring to life and the LEDs will illuminate to let you know power is on. A cable clamp next to the power jack can be employed to prevent accidental disconnection. Loosen the clamp, pass the power cable through and re-tighten.

Connect your electric bass to INPUT-A. Connect the ¼” OUTPUT jack to your bass amp. The A/B select switch toggles your bass between channel-A and channel-B. Make sure channel-A is selected, the green LED will illuminate.

Start by testing the audio to make sure everything is working. Increase the GAIN on channel-A to about the 2 o’clock position. Slowly turn up the volume on your bass amp. It is a good practice to test at a low volume level should a faulty cable or other problem be encountered.

USING THE CHANNEL EQ CONTROLS

Now that you have sound, adjust the three-band EQ controls on channel-A. You will find them to be very powerful! The passive-interactive EQ works a lot like a vintage guitar amp whereby when you turn the EQ down, you will reduce the output level significantly. This of course is easily made up by increasing the sensitivity on your bass amp.

Each channel has two 3-position switches. The MID switch allows you to choose between three center frequencies. This is used along with the MID EQ control to shape your sound.

The HPF (high pass filter) switch reduces excessive bass to help control low frequency resonant feedback on a live stage. Choose between FLAT (no bass cut) and two low frequency cut-off settings. The HPF is particulary useful when using the Bassbone OD with acoustic instruments and piezo pickups.

When one bass is connected in INPUT-A you can toggle between channels by depressing the A/B footswitch. The channel-B yellow LED will illuminate. This is where you can use the EQ controls to radically change the tone from one channel to the other and simulate playing with two completely different basses.

OPTIMIZING THE INPUT IMPEDANCE

• Over the past 20 years, Radial has been investigating the effects of varying the impedance when applied to different pickup types. For instance, we discovered that traditional magnetic pickups as found on a Fender Jazz bass tend to sound warmer with an input impedance around 220k Ohms while the input impedance has very little effect on active basses as they are already buffered inside the bass. Piezos on the other hand sound best when presented with a super high input impedance. To address these variables, the Bassbone OD is equipped with some unique functions that can be activated depending on your setup.
• INPUT-A is equipped with a recessed function switch labeled PZB for piezo transducers. In the outward position, INPUT-A is a standard instrument input suited for basses with active and passive pickups. When the PZB switch is pushed inward, the input impedance rises from 220k to 10meg Ohms and the signal is boosted by 10dB. This greatly helps to broaden the frequency response and smooth out the transient peaks when connecting piezo equipped instruments to the Bassbone OD.
• INPUT-B is equipped with a rotary function called Drag control that lets you fine tune the load on passive pickups to optimize their tone. Drag control simulates the effect of plugging the instrument directly into the amp without any buffers in between.
• Start with the Drag control set to the 12 o’clock position. Turning the Drag control counter-clockwise lowers the input impedance creating a warmer tone. Turning it clockwise increases the impedance and brightens the tone. Set the Drag control to your liking.

TYPICAL SETUPS

Using one bass: Plugging your bass into INPUT-A lets you use the A/B select footswitch to toggle between channel-A and channel-B as if playing through a two channel amp. This is because INPUT-B is equipped with a special switching jack that, when unused, routes the signal from the INPUT-A jack to channel-B.

Using Two basses: Connecting a second instrument to the INPUT-B jack breaks this special routing and turns the Bassbone OD into a two channel preamp for two basses. Depressing the A/B select footswitch now toggles between your two instruments. The channel status is displayed by two LED indicators.

Mixing two pickups: You can also have both channels on at the same time by depressing the recessed BLEND switch. When the BLEND is set to it’s inward position, the two channels on the Bassbone OD act like a simple 2-in, 1-out mixer and the A/B select footswitch will be disabled. This lets you connect a bass that has both a magnetic and a piezo pickup using an ‘insert’ style stereo ¼” TRS cable.

You can also connect to each channel individually with standard ¼” cables should this better suit your instrument.

USING THE EFFECTS LOOP

When using pedals with the Bassbone OD, they can be positioned in a number of locations within the signal path depending on what you are attempting to do. For example, you could have some effects dedicated to one bass by inserting them between the instrument and the Bassbone OD input.

You could also introduce a series of pedals between the Bassbone OD’s ¼” output and your amp. This way the pedals can be used with both instruments and your amp but the effects will not be sent to the PA system.

To take things one step further, the Bassbone OD is equipped with an effects loop. When pedals are connected in the loop you can use them with both instruments and choose to send the pre-effects signal (dry) or the post-effect signal (wet) to the PA.

To use the effects loop, connect the SEND jack to the input of your pedal chain and the output from your pedals to the RECV (receive) jack using standard ¼” coaxial guitar cables.

You can activate the effects loop in one of two ways; you can assign it to the OVERDRIVE footswitch or it can be active all the time. The 3-position EFX switch lets you assign the effects loops to the left OVERDRIVE footswitch by setting the switch to LOOP. Set this way, you can turn the Bassbone’s effects loops on and off with your foot. When the EFX switch is set to DRIVE, the footswitch only activates the overdrive circuit. Finally, the BOTH setting activates the overdrive circuit and the effects loop.

The recessed LOOP ON switch on the left side sets the effects loop so that it remains active at all times. When the LOOP ON switch is set to the inward position, the effects loop remains active and the OVERDRIVE footswitch is dedicated to the Bassbone OD’s overdrive circuit.

USING THE OVERDRIVE

• The Bassbone OD is equipped with a great sounding overdrive circuit that can be used to add a slight bit of grit to a signal or be pushed hard to create excessive distortion and harmonics. What few realize is that by adding distortion, you can do a lot more than simply ‘freak out’ for soloing… adding distortion is actually a form of compression that can even out the peaks of a signal without overbearing the audio system. For instance, when applied to in-ear monitors, a bit of distortion can actually create a more realistic sound as if moving air.
• The overdrive has four controls and is activated using the left-hand OVERDRIVE footswitch. The 3-position EFX switch lets you assign the footswitch so that it turns on the overdrive (DRIVE), the effects loop (LOOP) or both (BOTH). Ensure the overdrive controls are set to the starting position as shown.
• The DRIVE control works in conjunction with the channel input GAIN to set the overall amount of distortion for each channel. These work like a typical guitar amp whereby if the GAIN controls are set low, you will have less distortion. Increasing the GAIN will in turn increase the distortion relative to the DRIVE setting. Try increasing or decreasing the DRIVE to get a sense of how the overdrive controls work together with the channel GAIN. Use this to give one channel more distortion and harmonics as you to toggle between clean and dirty sounds.
• To the right is the MIX control. This is used to set the amount of distortion and/or effects relative to the original ‘dry’ signal. A common problem with pedal effects is that when on, they often reduce the bass content so much that the fundamental bass frequencies becomes inaudible. The MIX control lets you retain as much of your ‘dry’ signal as you like and then blend in the ‘wet’ to suit. Start with the MIX control set to 12 o’clock and then experiment as you rotate the knob in either direction. The MIX control will blend your ‘dry’ instrument signal with either the overdrive, effects loop or both depending on the position of the EFX switch.
• Some effects will invert the phase of the signal passing through them. This becomes audible when using the MIX control to combine the effects with the original bass signal. If this occurs push the effect loop -180° phase reverse switch inwards. This inverts the effects loops and mixes it with your orignal bass tone in phase.
• The TONE control is used to tailor the sound of the overdrive. You can use it to tame ‘buzzy’ distortion or add a ‘fuzz-like’ shimmer to the overdrive. There are no rules, have fun and experiment.

THE BALANCED XLR DI OUTPUT

• Whether you are recording or playing live, capturing a direct feed before the sound hits a ‘live bass amp’ can be very beneficial. For starters, each and every room sounds different as the acoustic space is different. This means that when using a mic in front of a speaker cabinet, the audio engineer must equalize the tone to compensate both for the room acoustics and the position of the mic relative to the speaker. Another problem is resonance. Some stages are hollow which can cause phase cancellation issues depending on how the bass amp couples to the floor. And because you have a live mic, sounds from other instruments such as drums can find their way into the bass amp microphone, making it more difficult to deliver a clean bass sound to the PA or recording system.
• All of these problems go away when using the Bassbone OD’s built-in direct box to connect to the PA or recording system. Because the direct signal is always consistent, doing sound checks can take minutes instead of hours. The direct out also enables the FOH engineer to mix the Bassbone OD with the sound of the mic’d stage amp should this be preferred.
• The PRE/POST recessed switch allows you to capture the signal before (PRE) or after (POST) the effects loop to send a ‘wet’ or ‘dry’ signal to the PA or recording system. When set to the outward ‘PRE’ position, only the ‘dry’ instrument sound is routed to the balanced XLR direct out. This is often preferred by the sound engineer as it gives them the ability to optimize the tone for the house sound system. When set to the inward ‘POST’ position, the effects loop and distortion are routed to the balanced XLR output.
• A recessed 180° polarity reverse switch inverts the pins-2 and 3 on the XLR . This is often used to phase-match the PA system to the stage amp in smaller venues where these two audio sources can sometimes compete. It can also be used to electronically change a resonant peak to a phase cancelled null to help alleviate resonant feedback when using an acoustic instrument such as an upright bass on stage.
• The balanced XLR out is wired to the AES standard with pin-1 ground, pin-2 hot (+) and pin-3 cold (-). Use a standard balanced XLR cable to connect to the microphone input of a mixing console. This lo-Z output can drive balanced cables 100 meters (300′) without signal degradation or appreciable noise. The ground LIFT helps eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops. If you hear noise try pushing the ground LIFT switch inward.

THE MUTE FOOTSWITCH AND TUNER OUT

The Bassbone OD is equipped with a MUTE footswitch and dedicated tuner output that allows the artist to quietly tune on stage without disturbing the audience or other band members. When the MUTE footswitch is depressed, the bright red LED illuminates and all outputs are turned off except the tuner out which remains active at all times.

The footswitch also serves another very important function. When switching instruments on stage, instead of having to put your bass amp on standby and then perform super-human hand signals to let the monitor and FOH engineers know that you are about to unplug, you simply stomp on the MUTE footswitch and go about your business. Quick, efficient and professional.

THE HEADPHONE AMP

Last but not least, the Bassbone OD is equipped with a headphone amplifier for practicing. The 3.5mm headphone jack outputs the same signal as the ¼” amp output so you can use all of the controls, overdrive, effects and listen to it all in complete privacy!

A standard 3.5 mm (1/8″) mini TRS connector sends the instrument signal to both ears. Start by setting the recessed level control fully counter- clockwise, plug in your ear buds and then slowly increase the level until you are comfortable. Note: Exposure to high sound pressure levels over an extended period can lead to hearing loss. You should consult your local government health authority on acceptable levels to make sure you are in compliance with local health regulations.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Audio circuit type: …………………………………………Discrete and integrated, class-A circuits
• Frequency response: ……………………………..20Hz ~ 18kHz (tailored for bass instruments)
• Total harmonic distortion: ……………………………………………………………… 0.05% @ -15dBu
• Inter-modulation distortion: …………………………………………………………….. 0.2% @ -20dBu
• ¼” Input impedance (1/4″ input-A): ……………….220k megΩ (PZB off) 10 megΩ (PZB on)
• ¼” Input impedance (1/4″ input-B with Drag control): ………… Variable, 22kΩ ~ 1.8 megΩ
• ¼” Output: ………………………………………………………………………….High-Z instrument-level
• 3.5mm output: ………………………… Headphone-level, mono with dedicated volume control
• XLR output: …………………………………………. Balanced mic-level, AES standard (pin-2 hot)
• Ground lift (XLR direct out) : ……………………………….. Disconnects pin-1 at the XLR output
• Power: ……………………………………………………………….. +15VDC/400mA adapter included
• Construction: ……………………………………………………… 14 gauge steel, powder-coat finish
• Size: .. …………………………………………………………………. 4.2″ x 8″ x 2″ (107 x 203 x 48mm)
• Weight: ………………………………………………………………………………………….2.55lb (1.13kg)
• Shipping Size: …………………………………………………….. 5″x2.75″x10.75″ (127x70x273mm)
• Shipping Weight: ………………………………………………………………………………2.8lb (1.27kg)
• Conditions: …………………………………For use in dry locations only between 5°C and 40°C
• Warranty: ……………………………………………………………………….Radial 3-year, transferable
  *Specifications are subject to change without notice.

THREE YEAR TRANSFERABLE LIMITED WARRANTY

RADIAL ENGINEERING LTD. (“Radial”) warrants this product to be free from defects in mate-rial and workmanship and will remedy any such defects free of charge according to the terms of this warranty. Radial will repair or replace (at its option) any defective component(s) of this product (excluding finish and wear and tear on components under normal use) for a period of three (3) years from the original date of purchase. In the event that a particular product is no longer available, Radial reserves the right to replace the product with a similar product of equal or greater value. In the unlikely event that a defect is uncovered, please call 604-942-1001 or email: service@radialeng.com to obtain a RA number (Return Authorization number) before the 3 year warranty period expires. The product must be returned prepaid in the original ship-ping container (or equivalent) to Radial or to an authorized Radial repair center and you must assume the risk of loss or damage. A copy of the original invoice showing date of purchase and the dealer name must accompany any request for work to be performed under this limited and transferable warranty. This warranty shall not apply if the product has been damaged due to abuse, misuse, misapplication, accident or as a result of service or modification by any other than an authorized Radial repair center.

THERE ARE NO EXPRESSED WARRANTIES OTHER THAN THOSE ON THE FACE HERE-OF AND DESCRIBED ABOVE. NO WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE SHALL EXTEND BEYOND THE RESPEC-TIVE WARRANTY PERIOD DESCRIBED ABOVE OF THREE YEARS. RADIAL SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS PRODUCT. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS, WHICH MAY VARY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHERE THE PRODUCT
WAS PURCHASED.

To meet the requirements of California Proposition 65, it is our responsibility to inform you of the following:
WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Please take proper care when handling and consult local government regulations before discarding.

Radial Engineering Ltd.
1845 Kingsway Ave., Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 1S9, Canada tel: 604-942-1001 • fax: 604-942-1010
info@radialeng.com • www.radialeng.com

Radial Bassbone OD user guide – Part #: R870 1053 00 Specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.

References

• Radial Engineering

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