ELECTRO HARMONIX Battalion Bass Preamp

ELECTRO-HARMONIX Battalion Bass Preamp & DI

Electro-Harmonix Battalion is a powerful bass preamplifier and DI (Direct Injection) unit designed to provide maximum tonal control in a compact format. This pedal allows you to sculpt any sound – from clean and deep jazz to aggressive, saturated rock or metal tones.

At the heart of the pedal is a 4-band equalizer, specially designed for bass frequencies, and an analog MOSFET distortion section. The distortion circuit features a unique three-position switch that alters the signal path: Pre EQ (distortion before EQ), Post EQ (distortion after EQ), and Dry EQ (only the clean signal is affected by the EQ, while the distorted signal remains unchanged). The integrated Compressor smooths out dynamics and adds a "thump" effect, while the Noise Gate ensures silence during pauses, even with high gain settings.

Key Features

• 4-band EQ:
  • Bass: below 200 Hz.
  • Lo Mid: at 280 Hz.
  • Hi Mid: at 750 Hz.
  • Treble: above 2 kHz.
• MOSFET Distortion section: With Level, Blend, Drive, and Tone controls and a dedicated footswitch.
• Distortion modes:
  • Pre EQ: Distortion is before the EQ circuit.
  • Post EQ: Distortion is after the EQ circuit.
  • Dry EQ: EQ affects only the clean signal (mixed via Blend), while the distorted signal remains untouched.
• Compressor: Single-knob control with an on/off button and a blue LED.
• Noise Gate: Adjustable threshold to eliminate unwanted noise.
• Flexible I/O: Input with 10dB pad switch for active basses, headphone output, "Dry" output, and balanced XLR DI output.

Technical Specifications

• Manufacturer: Electro-Harmonix (EHX)
• Model: Battalion
• Type: Bass Preamp / DI / Distortion / Compressor / Gate
• Circuitry: Analog
• Bypass: Buffered Bypass
• Connections:
  • 1 x Input (1/4" female) (with -10dB Pad)
  • 1 x Output (1/4" female)
  • 1 x Dry Output (1/4" female)
  • 1 x XLR DI Output (male) (with level control, Ground Lift, and Bypass functions)
  • 1 x Headphone Output (1/8" / 3.5 mm stereo)
• Power: 9.6VDC-200mA adapter (included)
• Current consumption: 100 mA
• Dimensions: ~146 x 121 x 64 mm (5.75" x 4.75" x 2.5")
• Release Year: 2017

What's in the box?

• 1 x Electro-Harmonix Battalion pedal
• 1 x EHX 9.6DC-200mA power supply
• 1 x User Manual

Who is it for?

• Bassists looking for a versatile "all-in-one" solution for studio and live performances.
• Performers who need a DI box with the ability to shape their tone before sending the signal to the mixer.
• Those playing heavy rock or metal, where controlled distortion and noise suppression are essential.