Two Notes ReVolt Bass Review (short take)
Verdict and Review Summary
Functionality outshines tone quality, which is still good. There's just a ton of flexibility between the three channels, including a wet/dry mix for the drive channel. Two Notes adds an analog signal path with a warm 12AX7 tube to round things out. It's not cheap, but the ReVolt is a beast of a bass preamp pedal and one of my new favs in this category.
BEST FOR: Live performances, larger venues, going direct to a PA system, recording, modern bass tones, tube amp fans, and intermediate to advanced bass players.
TONE
93
CONTROL
96
VERSATILITY
92
PRICE/VALUE
89
- An actual 12AX7 tube running the show
- All-analog circuit
- Tons of warm and modern low-end
- Sounds great in a live environment and larger room
- Three channels gives you a ton of flexibility
- None. The price is high, but fair
For a lot of bass players, an amp simulator pedal makes more sense than a full-scale combo amp. With the Two Notes ReVolt bass preamp, you still get a lot of the benefits of a conventional bass combo amp, including three channels, drive controls, and even a 12AX7 tube at 200 volts.
That's what I found most impressive about the ReVolt, that it seemed to give you a lot more control and movement than other bass preamp pedals.
The tone is warm and full, whether going through headphones or an actual speaker cab/PA system. Here are the devices I used to test:
- Small combo amp (all EQ set to 12 o'clock on the amp)
- Headphones via the ReVolt's headphone jack
- Mixer/PA system in church (balanced out)
To my ear, the ReVolt was at its best on the live setting at my church, with a larger room and a balanced output going into our mixing board. It was full, very warm, and as loud as you could want.
There's really nothing to complain about here, but if you want me to explain myself, read on for the rest of my Two Notes ReVolt bass review.
Compare to similar bass preamps
This comparison table lets you look at pricing and basic specs of the ReVolt and a few other similar bass preamp pedals.
Preamp | Name | Rate | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two Notes ReVolt Bass | 92.6 | |
 | Radial Bassbone OD | 91.3 | |
 | Aguilar Tone Hammer | 88.5 | |
 | Ampeg SCR-DI | 87.8 |
Good luck finding something to legitimately complain about.
ReVolt Bass Tone Quality
The lower frequencies are definitely felt more than they're heard, which is the way bass should be. Personally, I like that heavier bass tone, but if you want something a little more melodic that cuts through the rumble, it's easy to EQ your way out of that thickness. As a bass player you'll spend most of your time on the clean channel, so that was my main concern and what I tested the most.
I've often had trouble getting a lot of sustain out of bass pedal preamps, and the ReVolt seems to be the same in this regard. It rumbles for awhile, just not to the extent that I would like, almost like a dampening effect.
My buddy has a Gallien-Krueger combo bass amp that just pours on the sustain.
Maybe it's just something I'm doing wrong, or my own bass.
Not a big deal either way.
Besides, this was much better with the PA system connection. That's where the ReVolt really got going.
I liked the ReVolt a lot playing through a PA system. The sound was really full and warm. It's definitely a bass tone that you can feel as much as hear.
Dirt and Drive Channels
The gain on the dirt channel is subtle, even if you push it really hard and bring down the output (volume). I'd be more likely to use it as a second form of EQ for another clean-ish sound. Subtle breakup is just generally harder to hear on bass, but you can certainly detect it and use it for some on-the-fly EQ changes.
On the drive channel your bass's distortion is a lot heavier with clear saturation. The gain handles well on lower notes. I have no complaints about the tone, but if you don't want to use bass distortion or breakup, you might be better off looking at other options where you're not paying for a drive channel.
Controls, channels, and functionality
The dirt and drive channels add a mids knob and share a three-band EQ. Here are how the controls are broken up:
- Clean channel: Two-band EQ (bass/treble)
- Dirt and Drive channels: Three-band EQ (bass/mid/treble)
- Wet/Dry mix: Dirt and drive channels
- Volume/Gain: Individual for all three channels
The distortion channels are a big selling point, but you can turn the gain down and use them simply for the flexibility of having additional EQs. The dirt channel, in particular, can stay really subtle if needed.
This is probably more flexibility than I need for bass, though I do like using distortion for a lot of my bass stuff. I'm giving big points for a wet/dry mix knob and the separate gain/volume controls for each channel. And this is all before you even get to the cab sims. So all the functionality you would have with a full bass amp can be replaced by the ReVolt. You can even incorporate an effects loop and MIDI control.
Dimensions and power supply
Height: 2.8" - Width: 7.6" - Depth: 4.6" - Weight: 1.65 lbs.
The power supply for this pedal is included - a 12V DC power supply with a 600 mA draw.
Two Notes ReVolt Bass Review Conclusion
Buy for the control and drive channels first. Even if you won't use the heavier drive channel, you can make use of all three with lower gain settings and mixing gain out with the wet/dry control. Keep in mind that you're paying for the tube and analog circuit as well, since it costs more to manufacture those at scale.
Currently it's one of the best bass preamp pedals we've tested, up there with the Radial Bassbone OD.
If you plan to go straight into a PA system most of the time, this is a particularly good choice. And even if the price seems high to you, keep in mind that it's an amp replacement and not just a bass distortion pedal. You've got to take what I say with a grain of salt and apply it to your own situation to decide if the ReVolt is right for your rig.
For questions and thoughts, share in the comments section below. Thanks for your support and for enjoying our content.
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Written by Guitar Chalk on Bass Pedals & Roundups
Written by Guitar Chalk on Bass & FAQ
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