New Earthquaker Devices Scrolls Bass Odyssey Preamp Guitar Effects Pedal

From EarthQuaker Devices:

A collaboration between EarthQuaker Devices and Kentaro Nakao.
Scrolls Bass Odyssey is a sonic pilgrimage through the entire universe of electric bass tone. From Motown to Metal and everywhere between and beyond. With a tube amp-like drive channel, an active EQ channel with three push-button switches for one-click tone sculpting, buffered parallel out, onboard effects loop, and balanced XLR out featuring just a splash of analog filtering to emulate a speaker cabinet, Scrolls is a powerful, modern tool that's compact and versatile enough to be the only thing you need to play a session or show other than a bass.

EQ Channel
The left side of Scrolls features a full suite of active EQ controls including audiophile-quality Bass, Middle, and Treble controls. The secret weapon of Scrolls' EQ section is the Variable Frequency control with the ability to cut/boost frequencies from around 20 Hz to 10 kHz, making it the perfect tool for cutting out the mud and boosting the high-end. Within the EQ section, you'll find three push button switches that serve as potent assets for one-click tone sculpting.

Drive Channel
On the right side of Scrolls, you'll find the Drive channel featuring a versatile, tube amp-like distortion. Key amongst the Drive section features are the Blend knob, which enables you to adjust the amount of clean signal present in the overdriven signal, and the Bandwidth knob, which determines where the clipping is most prevalent (lower frequencies counterclockwise and higher frequencies clockwise). Together, the Blend and Bandwidth knobs can be adjusted to ensure the low-end response remains wide, deep, and full when using the Drive section.

The Brains of Your Signal Chain
Scrolls features three outputs that all work simultaneously: 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 a standard 1/4" output. Scrolls also features an effects loop that lives between the Drive and EQ channels. This enables you to place modulation, time-based, or any other effects you'd normally place after dirt pedals after the Drive channel, while still retaining all the tone-shaping capabilities of the EQ channel.

Design Notes
The Scrolls Bass Odyssey was born from a partnership with Japanese bassist and longtime EarthQuaker Devices friend Kentaro Nakao (Number Girl, Crypt City). His vision was to consolidate vintage and modern bass tones into a single, highly portable unit. The EQ channel is designed to be completely transparent when the knobs are set to noon, ensuring the bass retains its inherent tone. Three push buttons offer quick tone sculpting: Deep boosts 80 Hz for booming lows, Process scoops mids for a punchy modern tone, and Bright activates a 5 kHz boost for attack. Inspired by a rare overdrive in Kentaro's collection, the Drive channel delivers versatile, tube amp-like distortion with precise low-end command. Scrolls includes an effects loop right between the Drive and EQ channels, a buffered parallel out, and a balanced XLR out featuring a 100% analog speaker cabinet simulation.

Controls
EQ Controls
Level: Output volume control when the EQ controls are active. Set the knob at noon for unity.
Vari: Boosts or cuts the Variable Frequency control. Position at noon for unity.
Vari-Freq: Variable frequency control for fine-tuning your tone. Adjustable from approximately 20 Hz to 10 kHz.
Treble: Center position is flat; above boosts treble, below cuts treble.
Bass: Center position is flat; above boosts bass, below cuts bass.
Middle: Center position is flat; above boosts middle, below cuts middle.
Deep: 80 Hz Boost.
Process: Low-mid scoop for a more modern sound.
Bright: 5 kHz Boost
EQ Footswitch: Activates the EQ channel

Drive Controls
Level: Output volume control for the Drive channel.
Blend: Blends your clean signal with the Drive signal. Turn fully clockwise for maximum crunchiness.
Drive: Controls the intensity of the overdrive.
Bandwidth: Determines where the clipping is most active. Counterclockwise for low-end clipping (warmer, softer), clockwise for high-end clipping (present, focused crunch with tighter low-end).
Tone: Low pass filter to shape the frequency of the Drive channel.
Drive Footswitch: Activates the Drive channel

Outputs
Parallel Out: Buffered output carrying your always-active clean signal.
Direct Out: Balanced XLR out with subtle analog filtering to simulate a bass speaker cabinet.
Ground Lift: Press for ground lift on the XLR output.
Effects Loop: Situated between the Drive and EQ stages; hard-wired and always active.

Tech Specs
Dimensions: 4.75 x 4.50 x 2.25 in. (121 × 114 × 57 mm) with knobs
Current Draw: 70 mA
EQ Input Impedance: 10 MΩ / EQ Output Impedance: <1 kΩ
Drive Input Impedance: 500 kΩ / Drive Output Impedance: 100 Ω
Parallel Input Impedance: 10 MΩ / Parallel Output Impedance: 100 Ω
Direct Output Impedance: 100 Ω

Switching: Scrolls uses relay-based true bypass switching. The EQ side uses standard on/off switching, the Drive side uses Flexi-Switch Technology.

Power: This device takes a standard 9-volt DC power supply with a 2.1 mm negative center barrel (power supply not included). We always recommend pedal-specific, transformer-isolated wall-wart power supplies. DO NOT RUN AT HIGHER VOLTAGES!

Artwork by Geoffrey Crowe