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The insatiable tonesmiths at EarthQuaker Devices have released the Scrolls Bass Odyssey—a powerful, modern tool capable of shaping any bass signal to match virtually any bass and amp combination imaginable.
Essentially, Scrolls is a sonic pilgrimage through the entire universe of electric bass tone. From Motown to Metal and everywhere between and beyond.
It all started when legendary bassist Kentaro Nakao, best known for his work with ’90s Japanese rock band Number Girl, challenged EarthQuaker Devices to capture the vast history of vintage and modern bass tones in a single, portable form factor. Ultimately, Nakao wanted the ability to summon any bass sound he needed, no matter where in the world he was playing and regardless of the other gear at his disposal.
“I am constantly playing shows in every type of venue you can imagine, so having my sound in a portable rig is a must—that’s why I’ve been a big believer in preamps for a long time,” Nakao explained. “I’ve realized that what’s most important to me is a wide range of EQ control and the ability to shape overdriven tones.”
The pedal’s Drive is a rich, tube amp-like distortion that was inspired by a rare, little known pedal from Nakao’s personal collection. Key amongst the Drive channel’s features are the Blend and Bandwidth controls that are on tap to ensure the low-end response remains intact.
The EQ channel boasts a full suite of active, audiophile-quality controls. The secret weapon of the EQ is the Variable Frequency control—a feature that enables players to cut or boost frequencies from around 20 Hz to 10 kHz. It’s the perfect tool for cutting out the mud and boosting the high-end.
“When we were working on Scrolls, I wanted the EQ channel to be totally transparent when the knobs are set at 12 o’clock, so the output sounds exactly like the clean signal coming in,” Nakao revealed. “This keeps my bass sounding like my bass, while giving me the ability to enhance its natural tonal qualities and make adjustments across a full frequency spectrum.”
Additionally, the EQ side of Scrolls features three push buttons for one-click on-demand tone sculpting. The Deep button adds 80 Hz boost for booming, but clear low end. The Process button scoops the mids and instantly produces a modern tone that is punchy, dynamic, and defined. Finally, a quick press of the Bright button activates 5 kHz boost to add articulation and attack.
Ideal for use in complex setups with multiple signal paths, Scrolls features three outputs that all work simultaneously. There’s a buffered parallel out for sending clean signal to an external destination like an amp, tuner, DI, or other effects; a balanced XLR out to run Scrolls directly to front of house or into a recording interface; and finally a good-old fashioned ¼” output for your amp.
Scrolls also features an effects loop that lives between the Drive and EQ channels.
“The effects loop is really designed so that Scrolls can function as the brains of your pedalboard,” EarthQuaker Devices Founder & President Jamie Stillman explained. “Bassists can place modulation, time-based, or any other effects that they’d normally place after their dirt pedals (including more dirt pedals) after the Drive channel, while still retaining all the tone-shaping benefits the EQ channel offers.”
Much like the speaker cab simulations EarthQuaker has worked into their Easy Listening and ZEQD-Pre pedals, the signal from the XLR out on Scrolls includes just a splash of discrete analog filtering to give it some amp-like-character. No menu diving or digital modeling required.
“Most XLR outs tend to have a harsh top end that sounds nothing like what is coming out of the amp, especially when dirt is involved,” Stillman said. “I thought it would be useful to add a bit of natural filtering so what is sent to the front of house is much closer to what is coming out of the amp.”
If you’re wondering whether or not Scrolls is for you, here’s an easy way to tell. Ask yourself the following questions: Do you play bass? Would you like to have a pedal that can make your bass sound like virtually any bass/amp combo with the click of a button and the turn of a knob or two? Would you like a pedal that’s compact and versatile enough to be the only thing you need to play a session or show other than a bass if that’s all you wanted to bring?
If you answered yes to even just one of those questions, then you’re exactly who Scrolls is for.
Each and every Scrolls is all-analog, true bypass, and built one-at-a-time by credentialed professionals at the EarthQuaker Devices Tone Wellness Clinic under the malt gray skies of Akron, Ohio.
Scrolls Bass Odyssey is available now wherever EarthQuaker Devices are sold.
Where to buy:
Features:
- Active EQ Channel
- Drive Channel
- Effects Loop
- Balanced XLR Direct Out (With Ground Lift & Analog Speaker Cab Simulaton)
- True Bypass Switching
- Lifetime Warranty
- Drive Input Impedance: 500 kΩ
- Drive Output Impedance: 100 Ω
- EQ Input Impedance: 10 MΩ
- EQ Output Impedance: <1 kΩ
- Parallel Input Impedance: 10 MΩ
- Parallel Output Impedance: 100 Ω
- Direct Out Impedance: 100 Ω
- Current Draw: 70 mA
- USA MAP Price: $349
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