MXR MB301 Bass Synth

The MXR Bass Synth (MB301) is a dedicated bass effects pedal developed in collaboration with bassist and tone specialist Ian Martin Allison. It is suited to bass players across a wide range of styles — from funk and soul through to pop, church, and touring applications — who want instant access to classic monophonic synth bass tones with reliable tracking and sustain.

The pedal provides a comprehensive set of controls including Sub Mix (sub-octave blend), Mod (modulation depth), Envelope (filter response), Mix (dry/wet blend), Cutoff (filter cutoff frequency), and Resonance (frequency boost). A Voice button adds harmonically tuned oscillators for more complex tones, while a Shape button cycles through triangle, sawtooth, and square waveforms. Eight built-in presets — designed by Ian Martin Allison and inspired by classic recordings from artists including Michael Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Peter Gabriel, and Nine Inch Nails — allow players to get up and running immediately. Additional parameters covering oscillator and modulation mix, compression, and tracking style are accessible for more detailed editing.

The MXR Bass Synth supports stereo output and is compatible with off-board switches such as the MXR TRS Split + Tap or Tap Tempo Switch for preset cycling, and a Volume(X) Series Pedal for blending setting configurations. The pedal requires a 9-volt (330 mA) centre-negative power supply — compatible with the Dunlop ECB003 adaptor, MXR Iso-Brick, Iso-Brick Pro, and Iso-Brick Mini — and cannot be powered by a battery.