Since the early 1970s, bass players worldwide have relied on MXR pedals to overdrive, funkify, EQ, and compress their bass sound. Our commitment to bass players has been solidified by the development of the MXR Bass Innovations division, devoted to developing cutting edge tools of creation for bassists on stage and in the studio. Here’s a look at the line so far with demos and lists of some of the artists who use these Thor-worthy stompboxes.

MXR Bass Compressor

Used by: Billy Sheehan, Jimmy Haslip, Michael Rhodes

The MXR Bass Compressor is based on a classic studio compressor, packed into a housing the size of a Phase 90. Its array of controls—Attack, Release, Ratio, Input, and Output—gives you a wide range of options for fine-tuning your sound, from subtle peak limiting to hard, squashed compression. The MXR Bass Compressor is totally transparent, allowing your full dynamic range through until your signal reaches the compression threshold, indicated by the ten highly visible gain-reduction status LEDs. Constant Headroom Technology™ gives you plenty of headroom and clear performance.

“Finally, a five-knob compressor in a pedal. I’m a compression aficionado, and this box kills! All parameters are tweakable.”—Billy Sheehan

MXR Bass Envelope Filter

Used by: Nathan East, Jimmy Haslip, Oteil Burbridge, Reggie Hamilton, Eric Smith, Ethan Farmer, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bryan Beller (Dethklok), Bootsy Collins, Marcus Miller, Will Lee, Rhonda Smith, Doug Johns

The MXR Bass Envelope Filter is a 100% analog stomp box that delivers classic envelope filter tones with a circuit and controls specifically designed for bass. With separate Dry and Effect volume controls, you can control the blend of your clean signal with the effect signal, allowing you to bring the funk without giving up your thunderous low end. The Decay and Q controls let you shape a wide range of filter tones, and the Sensitivity knob lets you tailor the pedal for your attack as well as adjust for passive or active basses. The Bass Envelope Filter’s power supply circuitry is designed to withstand over-voltage or polarity mishaps, and its true-bypass switching preserves your tone in bypass mode.

Winner of Bass Player Magazine’s Editor Award and Guitar World’s Gold Award.

“This thing is a bassaphonic, liquid, rubbery funk attack!”—Bootsy Collins

“Old school bubbly funk—you need this!”—Marcus Miller

“I love it—a super stank machine.”—Will Lee

“It’s a must-have on my pedal board.’—Rhonda Smith

“This thing is as funky as sh*t.”—Chris Chaney

“It’s the bomb!”—Doug Johns

MXR Bass Octave Deluxe

Used by: Nathan East, Jimmy Haslip, Oteil Burbridge, Reggie Hamilton, Eric Smith, Ethan Farmer, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bryan Beller (Dethklok), Damien Sisson (Death Angel), Bootsy Collins, Marcus Miller, Will Lee, Rhonda Smith, Chris Chaney

The MXR Bass Octave Deluxe is an all analog, true bypass pedal that offers two independent octave voices—Growl and Girth—that can be used simultaneously or individually. Crank up the Growl for a throaty, gnarly tone and open up the Girth for a deep, beefy tone.  The Dry knob allows you to blend in your unaffected signal with the octave voice(s), and the Mid+ switch allows you to add up to 14dB of internally adjustable mid frequencies (400Hz or 850Hz) so your sub-tones are sure to cut through the mix. MXR’s 18 volt Constant Headroom Technology™ provides high headroom and superior tracking.

Winner of Bass Player Magazine’s Editor Award and Guitarist Magazine’s Guitarist Choice Award.

M182 MXR El Grande Bass Fuzz

Used by: Reggie Hamilton

The El Grande Bass Fuzz is a versatile and brutal fuzz designed just for bass. It’s based on a classic ’70s fuzz circuit that has been re-tuned for more low end, with a DEEP switch added that delivers up to +15dB of monstrous bass that is internally adjustable between 87Hz – 113Hz. Three simple controls—Volume, Tone, and Fuzz—controls let you sculpt your tone with precision to get everything you need. Whether you’re playing searing, sustained upper-register chords or punchy, growling low B’s, you won’t sacrifice any low end or clarity.

M181 MXR Blow Torch Distortion

Used by: Nathan East, Reggie Hamilton

By focusing the overdrive in the midrange frequencies, the Bass Blow Torch lets you retain low end thunder and high-end sizzle while distorted mids blaze a path through even the densest mix. An active 3-band EQ with 3-position mid shift lets you zero in on an incendiary tone, while the Blend knob lets you balance your distortion with direct signal to taste. And the Bass Blow Torch burns as clean as it does hot, with 1- volt performance for increased dynamic headroom, clarity and low noise even at lethal volume. True hardwire bypass circuitry means that when you switch the distortion out, it’s really gone.

M80 MXR Bass D.I.+

Used by: Nathan East, Jimmy Haslip, Oteil Burbridge, David Ellefson (Megadeth), Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Bryan Beller (Dethklok), Frank Bello (Anthrax)

The MXR Bass D.I.+ has all the essentials for a recording and gigging bass player in one one tough little box. You need a serious D.I. for playing live and laying down killer tracks. You’ve got to have a preamp and finely tuned EQ to add punch to your tones. And you definitely can’t do without some rich, custom distortion. The Bass D.I.+ brings it all.

Tonally, you can get everything from warmth and transparency to a volcanic roar without making you scroll through menu screens or an indecipherable manual. Engage the Color switch for some sweet preset low end EQ, then tweak your tone with the three band EQ controls. Dial in your personal recipe of distortion with the gain knob and blend just the right amount into your clean signal, then kick it on and off at will. The adjustable noise gate pours on the sustain and cuts out hum and hiss.

With XLR and parallel 1/4″ outputs and a phantom power switch, you’ll never have a problem delivering your thick, thumping new tones.