When it was time to transition to the Nash for a Motown-tribute show, the Epifani rig nicely presented what the warm P-style bass had to offer and allowed me to attempt my best James Jamerson and Bob Babbitt impressions. The Epifani rig loved bridge-pickup sounds, and with a slight boost of the mid and bass EQ dials, I conjured up a beefy, barky tone that delivered 16th-note lines ideal for a jazz/fusion setting. I realized this when I took the amp (along with two U元 112s) to different stages, and split time between a Nash P-style bass, an F Bass BN6, and the aforementioned Jazz bass. Not only does this bring the woody character back to amplified uprights, but it assists in creating a pleasing replication of an upright sound from EUBs.Īnother key ingredient to the Epifani sound is characteristically clean tones, and the Piccolo 999 continues in this tradition. Epifani has voiced this dial to near perfection by providing the means to scoop out the artificial-sounding honks and clacks of upright pickups. I’ve long been impressed with the capabilities of Epifani’s mid-cut circuitry-particularly when using an upright bass or EUB. Punchy, responsive amplifier with clean tone and easy-to-use features. As a result of this responsiveness, I could play with a lighter touch and serve up dynamic, articulated lines-all while maintaining a consistent low-end foundation.
Historically, Epifani’s wares have been known for quick tonal transmission, and I was impressed by how the 999 actually improved on sonic sensitivity. This is not to say the mids were harsh, but both basses produced an authoritative voice in that region. As I listened for differences between the rigs, I alternated between a Fender American Standard Jazz and an F Bass BN6.Īll three elicited pleasing tones, but the Piccolo 999 stood out with its responsive delivery of each note by conveying tight lows, clean top-end, and punchy, aggressive midrange. I ran the Piccolo 999 up against two of Epifani’s other designs-a Piccolo 600 and a UL 501-with each amp plugged into an Epifani U元 112 cabinet. Only the essentials are packed into this pint-sized powerhouse. The Piccolo 999 component set makes it clear that Epifani understands the needs of the working bassist. The rear panel contains an effects loop with a mix control, a tuner out, pedal input, and a DI section. Below the trio of tone controls is a switch for the company’s proprietary vintage circuit, which Epifani contends will adjust the frequencies of the amp to replicate the timbres of classic bass amplifiers. Despite the section’s simplicity, the bass, mid, and treble controls are expertly voiced for quick tone-shaping with significant shelving capabilities. To the right of the master volume (the large, guitar-pick-shaped dial with an Art Deco-esque “E” in the middle) lies the EQ section. Bassists will find the mid-cut section handy when seeking classic slap-and-pop timbres, or mellowing out the harsh mids that some upright pickups produce.
Neighboring the gain is a mid-cut dial and an adjacent mid-cut activation switch, which provides up to -8 dB at 800 Hz. The front panel lays out the necessities for tone sculpting, including a gain section that’s tied to an active/passive switch to optimize a variety of bass pickups. While the Piccolo moniker is befitting for the 4 1/2-pound class-D amp ( piccolo is Italian for small), it contains full-bodied features and big power. The company’s latest amplifier, the Piccolo 999, borrows characteristics from their popular Piccolo 600, but boosts the power to a massive 1,000 watts.
#Saffire mixcontrol bass boost portable#
Long recognized for excellence in cabinet design, Nick Epifani and his team have developed a number of products that cater to players who are serious about their sound and appreciate straightforward features in a portable package. For a number of years now, their instruments-and those of other top bassists-have been plugged into Epifani amplification. How would you like to sound like Matt Garrison? Or Ron Carter? Well, that’s a tall order, but you can employ the equipment used by Garrison and Carter to make a best attempt at replicating their signature sounds.
Riff is played without Vintage switch engaged, and then played again with Vintage switch engaged. Riff played on both pickups, then neck pickup, followed by bridge pickup.Ĭlip 2 - Nash P-style: Flat EQ.
#Saffire mixcontrol bass boost pro#
Recorded with bass amp into Focusrite Saffire 6 interface into MacBook Pro using GarageBand.Ĭlip 1 - Fender American Standard Jazz Bass: Slight mid boost.