best bass preamp pedal Source Audio ZIO Analog Bass Preamp/DI Pedal

best bass preamp pedal Source Audio ZIO Analog Bass Preamp/DI PedalExpertly engineered with a deep passion for monster bass tones, the ZIO Analog Bass Preamp+DI packs massive punch and flexibility in a compact and easy to dial in pedal. This ultra low noise, all analog tone shaping tool works equally well in front of your amplifier or as a preamp direct box via its balanced XLR output. High quality Burr Brown Op Amps and a straightforward yet versatile control panel deliver rich and dynamic tones with ample headroom

Expertly engineered with a deep passion for monster bass tones, the ZIO Analog Bass Preamp+DI packs massive punch and flexibility in a compact and easy-to-dial-in pedal. This ultra-low noise, all-analog tone shaping tool works equally well in front of your amplifier or as a preamp/direct box via its balanced XLR output. High-quality Burr-Brown Op-Amps and a straightforward yet versatile control panel deliver rich and dynamic tones with ample headroom and maximum tweakability.  From warm, vintage tones to modern low-end thump, ZIO is the first and final step in elevating your bass to its rightful place in the mix.

Total Tone Control

The ZIO Analog Bass Preamp + DI features a perfectly executed and  intuitive set of tone controls to take your bass sound wherever it needs to go.  When used in tandem, the BASS and FOCUS knobs offer tremendous depth and power.  The BASS knob provides colossal low-end boost at around 100Hz, while also gently reducing muddy low-mids to retain clarity. The FOCUS knob sweeps the cut-off point of a high-pass filter to tame excessive sub bass and low bass frequencies, providing extra headroom for a concise and punchy sound. Boost or cut the highs with the TREBLE knob to either enhance articulation without adding harshness, or smooth attack transients for a softer approach. The OUTPUT knob offers up to +16db of overall boost above unity gain or up to -6db of cut. Whatever your bass model or musical genre, ZIO offers tremendous tonal range.

The Official Source Audio ZIO Analog Bass Preamp + DI Demo Video

More Epic ZIO Demos

Nathan Navarro

Bass the World

The Bass Channel

Patrick Hunter

Natural Drive
The GRIT toggle captures the magic of transformer-style breakup, the tone that occurs when a vintage tube amp gets pushed to overdrive. Adjust the amount of grit with a "set-it-and-forget-it” GAIN control located on the side of the pedal. It's not a fuzz, it's a natural crunch that adds just enough overdrive to lift your bass tone to a new level of aggression.

Punch & Clarity
Based on a time-honored studio maneuver, the SCOOP toggle enhances clarity by engaging an EQ curve based on the famous "Pultec Trick" (used by studio engineers from the 1950s right through today). Activating SCOOP mode triggers a low-mid cut to remove "mud" frequencies, a gentle presence boost in the upper midrange, and a natural-sounding high pass filter, to reduce low frequency rumble. It's a more "polished" sound to establish your bass more clearly in the mix.

Direct Impact
Enjoy the natural characteristics of a high-end bass amplifier when connected directly to a front-of-house mixer or audio interface. ZIO's DIRECT OUT is a balanced XLR output with a ground LIFT switch that delivers a low-noise, yet amp-like signal, equally effective in the studio or on stage. The inclusion of a standard 1/4 output allows for a parallel signal running directly to a pedalboard or the front of your bass amp.

A Higher Quality OP-AMP
After bench-testing about half a dozen popular op-amp chips spanning back to the 1970s, we selected the Burr Brown OPA1656 for its pure tonality, dynamic range, frequency response, and overall feel.  Its rail to rail output with a higher current capability delivers unmatched transparency and headroom. This 8-legged OPA chip was the perfect match for the ZIO's mission of delivering supreme amp-like bass tone in a compact housing.

Bassists are talking about ZIO...

"I loved my sound before, but ZIO gives so much body to my tone whilst keeping it the same. I really like what the SCOOP switch does and how it works with the BASS & FOCUS controls. The controls look simple, but they are very clever and well designed in their execution, enabling great sounds to be achieved very quickly.."
- _Tay_ on TalkBass.com

"I’ve found it hard to sound bad when using the Bass ZIO. It sounds great either straight into the effects return, or the power amp. I like keeping stuff simple and this does most everything I need."
- lowendrv on TalkBass.com

"Nice natural feel to the GAIN. I like that the GRIT switch adds some tube-y drive without being overpowering or messing with the other knobs’ EQ-ing. The BASS knob is really nice for adding punch without getting muddy." 
- LSMFT6 on TalkBass.com

"For me Bass ZIO adds detail and punch to all of my basses even with very subtle tonal tweaks. I also like using the GRIT switch and have the side trim-pot on a pretty low setting."
- johnk_10 on TalkBass.com

"I've bought and sold more preamp pedals than I want to remember. All left me with a very lukewarm feeling or just ambivalence about them. Zio on the other hand sounds like a bass preamp to me. Low end fundamentals really shine. This is a keeper."
- BadMonk on TalkBass.com

Features and Specifications