Earthquaker Devices Scrolls Bass Odyssey Preamp Pedal

Welcome to the Scrolls Bass Odyssey from the EarthQuaker Devices family of sonic solutions! Scrolls was designed in partnership with Japan’s one and only master of bass tone—Kentaro Nakao! Scrolls is a powerful, modern tool capable of shaping the organic input signal of any bass to match the sonic profile of virtually any bass/amp combination you can think of. Want the precise sound of a California-born bass rocketing through a flip top amp with a 15" speaker? Scrolls has got you covered. Want the sting of an active bass punching its way through a solid state full-stack? Scrolls has got you covered. Want the sound of…you get the idea.

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.

Drive Channel
On the right side of Scrolls, you’ll find a Drive section 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 position of the Bandwidth knob determines where the clipping is most prevalent—lower frequencies counterclockwise and higher frequencies clockwise. Together, the Blend and Bandwidth knob can be adjusted to ensure the low-end response remains wide, deep, and full when using the Drive section.

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.

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 (including more dirt pedals) after the Drive channel, while still retaining all the tone-shaping capabilities of the EQ channel.

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.

Comprehensive EQ Control: Deeply customizable frequency shaping.
Flexible Routing: Seamless integration into any rig.
Tube-like Drive: A versatile gain channel with a suite of tone-shaping controls to ensure low-end response remains wide, deep, and intact.

EQ Controls
Level: Output volume control when the EQ controls are active. Set the knob at noon for unity, turn clockwise to boost the output signal, turn counterclockwise to cut the output signal.
Vari: Boosts or cuts the Variable Frequency control. Position this control at noon for unity (marked with a center detent in the potentiometer.) Turn clockwise from noon to boost the Vari-Freq, or counterclockwise to cut.
Vari-Freq: Variable frequency control for fine-tuning your tone. Adjustable from approximately 20 Hz to 10 kHz.
Treble: The center position is flat and marked with a center detent in the potentiometer. All settings above this point boost the treble and all settings below cut treble.
Bass: The center position is flat and marked with a center detent in the potentiometer. All settings above this point boost the bass and all settings below cut bass.
Middle: The center position is flat and marked with a center detent in the potentiometer. All settings above this point boost the middle and all settings below cut 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 between your clean signal with the Drive signal. Turn the knob fully clockwise for maximum crunchiness.
Drive: Controls the intensity of the overdrive.
Bandwidth: Determines where the clipping is most active. Turn the control counterclockwise to activate low-end clipping for a warmer, softer, rounded, and overall more subdued tone. Turn the control clockwise and activate High-end clipping for a present, focused crunch with a tighter low-end.
Tone: Low pass filter enabling you to shape the frequency of the Drive channel. Turn counterclockwise to reduce highs.
Drive Footswitch: Activates the Drive channel

Outputs
Parallel Out: Buffered output carrying your clean signal that is always active. This allows you to route your clean signal to external destinations (amp, DI, separate pedal chain, tuner, etc.)
Direct Out: Balanced XLR out with a subtle amount of analog filtering added to the signal path to simulate the tonal characteristics of 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 into the signal path and remains active at all times.

Switching
Scrolls uses relay-based true bypass switching. Since the switching is relay-based, it requires power to pass a signal. The EQ side uses standard on/off switching, the Drive side uses Flexi-Switch Technology.

Artwork
Artwork by Geoffrey Crowe

Dimensions: 4.75" (D) x 4.5" (W) x 2.25" (H)
Weight: 1.16 lbs.

Made in Akron, Ohio