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Origin Effects Unveils the BASSRIG Fifteen

A Faithful All-Analogue Homage to the Legendary Ampeg® B-15 November 2025 — Origin Effects has expanded its acclaimed BASSRIG series with the launch of the BASSRIG Fifteen, an all-analogue preamp & DI designed to deliver the definitive studio bass tone of the iconic Ampeg® B-15 Portaflex®. With its unmistakable warmth and vintage character, the B-15 has been the foundation of countless classic soul, R&B, and Motown recordings. Now, Origin Effects brings that unmistakable sound to modern players in a compact, studio-ready pedal. A Legacy of Studio-Ready Tone: The BASSRIG Series When Origin Effects introduced the BASSRIG lineup, the company’s mission was clear: recreate the world’s most influential bass amps in studio-grade, all-analogue form. The first releases—the BASSRIG ’64 Black Panel and the BASSRIG Super Vintage—set a new benchmark in the bass community. The ’64 Black Panel captured the clean punch, clarity, and mid-scooped American tones of classic Fender® amps, while the Super Vintage delivered the woolly growl and authoritative low-mid presence of the Ampeg® SVT—another titan of bass history. Praised for their authenticity, low noise floor, cabinet simulation, and mix-ready DI output, the original BASSRIG pedals quickly became essential tools for bassists on stage and in the studio. Now, Origin Effects completes the trio with a preamp inspired not by arena bass rigs, but by the small, soulful combo that helped define recorded bass tone as we know it. Introducing the BASSRIG Fifteen With the BASSRIG Fifteen, Origin Effects turns its attention to the Ampeg® B-15, the world’s first purpose-built bass combo amp and perhaps the most recorded bass amplifier of all time. Loved for its warm cleans, smooth breakup, and uniquely musical compression, the B-15 became the secret weapon of countless session players throughout the 1960s and beyond. Its low-powered tube architecture and distinctive folded-horn cabinet made it a natural studio favorite—and a timeless piece of gear that still commands reverence today. All-Analogue B-15 Feel The BASSRIG Fifteen recreates the feel, tone, and responsiveness of the Portaflex with all-analogue circuitry—no impulse responses, no digital processing, just pure electrical artistry. Players can expect: Modern Tools for Modern Players While it captures vintage tone, the BASSRIG Fifteen is engineered for contemporary workflows: A Modern Classic in the Making The BASSRIG Fifteen bridges the golden age of recorded bass tone with the demands of modern players. Whether you’re chasing the warm thump of classic soul, vintage rock roundness, or simply a beautifully musical bass foundation for any genre, the BASSRIG Fifteen brings the B-15 magic into a rugged, pedalboard-friendly enclosure. With the release of the BASSRIG Fifteen, Origin Effects now offers a complete analogue toolkit for bassists seeking the world’s most iconic amplifier voices—each captured with uncompromising detail, studio-grade polish, and road-ready reliability. The BASSRIG Fifteen is available now from Origin Effects and authorized dealers worldwide.

News

JHS Black Friday Sale is Here!

25% Off All Pedals and Merch Bass players, get ready — JHS Pedals is kicking off its Black Friday sale with 25% off all pedals and merch from November 14th to December 7th at JHSpedals.com. Why It Matters for Bassists JHS is one of the most respected names in effects, known for creative, high-quality pedals that deliver real tone versatility. From the clean boost and drive options that keep your low end tight, to experimental sounds for modern players, JHS pedals hold up beautifully on bass as well as guitar. The Deal Whether you’ve been eyeing a 3 Series Fuzz, a Colour Box, or just want to stock up on JHS gear, now’s the time. Sales like this don’t come around often — grab your tone upgrade before it’s gone!

News

IK Multimedia Launches TONEX Plug

Studio-Quality Tone in Your Pocket Modena, Italy – November 2025 – IK Multimedia has unveiled the TONEX Plug, a new portable headphone amplifier designed for guitar and bass players seeking premium tone anywhere, anytime. Powered by IK’s award-winning AI Machine Modeling™ technology, TONEX Plug delivers the same studio-grade sound found in the acclaimed TONEX Pedal and TONEX ONE—now in an ultra-compact, travel-ready format. With over 40,000 free Tone Models available via ToneNET, plus access to premium and signature collections, players can explore an ever-expanding sonic universe. The device stores 30 user presets across 10 color-coded banks, letting musicians switch tones instantly. Built-in Bluetooth connectivity and the TONEX Control app (iOS/Android) enable wireless preset browsing, editing, and audio playback from any device. TONEX Plug also doubles as a high-quality USB-C audio interface, ideal for recording or practice. Additional onboard features include EQ, gate, compressor, delay, modulation, reverb, and a chromatic tuner with LED indication. Compact yet powerful, the rechargeable unit provides up to six hours of continuous playtime, making it perfect for late-night sessions, rehearsals, or travel. Each unit ships with TONEX SE and AmpliTube 5 SE software for capturing, recording, and performing. Available now from IK Multimedia and authorized dealers worldwide. For more information, visit www.ikmultimedia.com/tonexplug.

News

Seymour Duncan Introduces the Duff McKagan Signature PJ Pickup Set

Punch, clarity, and stage-ready tone! Seymour Duncan has announced the launch of the Duff McKagan Signature PJ Pickup Set, designed to deliver a versatile and reliable bass tone suited for a wide range of high-energy playing environments. Developed in collaboration with McKagan, the set focuses on clarity, punch, and consistency—whether on stage or in the studio. The new signature set pairs a Quarter Pound P-style pickup in the neck position with a Hot Stack J-style pickup in the bridge. The Quarter Pound model features large Alnico 5 magnets for increased presence and strong midrange projection, while the Hot Stack Jazz pickup provides articulate response with full hum-canceling performance. Together, the two pickups create a balanced tonal foundation that remains defined even in dense mixes. Each pickup is hand-built at Seymour Duncan’s facility in Santa Barbara, California and includes McKagan’s distinctive skull-and-crossbones logo. The set is designed to fit standard PJ-style routing, allowing for straightforward installation and compatibility with both passive and active bass configurations. The Duff McKagan Signature PJ Pickup Set is positioned for players working in rock, punk, metal, and other high-intensity styles, but offers enough flexibility to adapt to varied musical settings and tonal shaping approaches. The pickup set is now available through authorized Seymour Duncan dealers and directly at SeymourDuncan.com.

News

IK Multimedia Unveils TONEX Bass Edition

A New Era of Bass Tone Modeling Modena, Italy — 30/09/2025 — IK Multimedia has announced the launch of the TONEX Bass Edition, the company’s first modeling pedal range designed specifically for bass players. Built with both stage and studio performance in mind, the new series delivers a dedicated collection of bass-optimized tone models, effects, and software integration—all inside rugged, gig-ready enclosures. At the heart of TONEX Bass Edition is the Signature Bass Collection, a meticulously curated library of 150 Tone Models. The collection captures the unique character of classic and modern bass amps, cabinets, and pedals, including legendary tube giants like the Ampeg SVT, Fender Bassman, and Orange AD200, as well as modern icons from Markbass, Gallien-Krueger, Trace Elliot, Tech 21, and Darkglass. Each model is created using IK’s new TONEX Modeler engine, which ensures exceptional clarity, punch, and authentic feel. A standout feature for bassists is the enhanced dry/wet in-phase blending, which maintains the power of clean low-end fundamentals while introducing grind, drive, or saturation for mix-ready tones that retain full presence in both live and recording settings. Two pedal formats are available: Both pedals feature IK Multimedia’s premium build: 24-bit/192 kHz audio processing, a massive 5 Hz–24 kHz response range, whisper-quiet operation, and a rugged aluminum chassis designed to withstand years of gigging. TONEX Bass Edition pedals come bundled with IK’s powerful software suite, including TONEX Modeler, TONEX Editor, AmpliTube 5, and the SVX bass collections. Players can also browse and download thousands of user-created Tone Models from ToneNET, expanding their tonal palette endlessly. “Bass players have always wanted more than just ‘guitar modeling adapted for bass,’” says the team at IK Multimedia. “TONEX Bass Edition is built from the ground up for the instrument, ensuring the clarity, depth, and feel bassists need both on stage and in the studio.” The TONEX Bass Edition pedals are available now, designed and crafted in Italy. Other IK Multimedia Gear You Might Like If you enjoyed checking out this IK Multimedia pedal, here are more IK Multimedia products worth exploring — all tested and reviewed here on BassGearReviews: – IK Multimedia Tonex Pedal – Amp Modeler + Interface – IK Multimedia Tonex One – Compact Amp Modeler + Interface – IK Multimedia Axe I/O One – Portable Interface – IK Multimedia Axe I/O – Feature Rich Interface