EBS MicroBass 3 Professional Bass Preamp

When your bass tone has to deliver every single time, consistency becomes everything. The EBS MicroBass 3 Professional Bass Preamp is designed to put complete control of your sound at your feet, combining a fully analogue signal path with studio-grade flexibility and the legendary EBS bass tone that's earned a place on stages and recordings around the world.

More than just a DI or preamp, the MicroBass 3 is effectively the heart of an entire bass rig. Built around two completely independent channels—Clean and Drive—it allows you to shape pristine, articulate bass tones alongside rich, harmonically detailed overdrive. Better still, the channels can be run in series or parallel, opening up an enormous range of tonal possibilities, from subtle warmth to aggressive, cutting drive without sacrificing low-end definition.

The Clean channel offers a highly musical EQ section inspired by EBS's renowned bass amplifiers, complete with Character and Bright switches, a powerful semi-parametric mid control, and the company's acclaimed onboard compressor. Whether you're tightening up slap tones, adding punch to fingerstyle grooves, or creating a beautifully balanced recording signal, every control feels purposeful and intuitive.

Switch over to the Drive channel and you'll discover a remarkably versatile overdrive section capable of everything from subtle valve-like warmth to modern, high-gain grit. With selectable Hi and Lo gain modes, a blend control, multiple drive voicings, and dedicated EQ, it's easy to dial in a driven sound that enhances your bass rather than masking it. Blending clean and overdriven signals helps retain the clarity, punch, and low-end presence that every bassist relies on.

Connectivity is where the MicroBass 3 really comes into its own. Dual balanced XLR outputs allow simultaneous pre- and post-EQ feeds—or stereo operation—making it equally comfortable feeding a front-of-house console, recording interface, or power amp. Add a stereo effects loop, headphone output, auxiliary input, dedicated tuner output, and a high-impedance input capable of handling passive, active, and piezo-equipped instruments, and you've got a preamp that's ready for virtually any playing situation.

Engineered in Sweden and built with premium components throughout, the MicroBass 3 is every bit as rugged as you'd expect from EBS. Whether it's living permanently on your pedalboard or travelling from studio to stage night after night, it's built to provide dependable performance wherever your music takes you.

At Musicmaker, we know that bass players need equipment they can trust. The EBS MicroBass 3 isn't simply another pedal—it's a professional command centre for your tone, offering exceptional sound quality, incredible flexibility, and the confidence that comes from knowing your bass will sound exactly the way you intended, every single time.

Features

• 100% analog professional preamp.

• Dual channels – Clean and Drive.

• Run in parallel or series.

• Blend control for the drive.

• Dual Balanced XLR-out (pre & post EQ or Stereo).

• Effects loop (mono or stereo).

• Character and Bright filters (clean channel).

• HI or LO gain drive engines.

• Thin or Deep type (drive channel).

• Tuner, Aux-input, Headphones out.

• 10 Mohms input impedance (main input).

• 9V DC, 450 mA required (power supply included).

Specifications 

Clean Channel:     

• Input Impedance  

  • Parallel mode  1.5 Mohms // 44 pF

  • Serial mode  10 Mohms // 22 pF

• Gain:

  • Gain Range min/max -oo/ +30 dB

  • Gain Peak LED +10 dBv

  • Frequency Response  +0 / -3 dB  20 - 20.000 Hz

• CHARACTER:

  • Filter Type  Shelving High/Low Pass

  • Gain:  Lo  +6 dB @ 80 Hz
    Mid  -2 dB @ 900 Hz
    Hi  +3 dB @ 7.5 kHz

• BRIGHT:

  • Filter Type  Shelving.  Gain:  +10 dB @ 10 kHz

• FILTER SECTION: 

  • Bass Filter:  Type   12 dB/oct. Shelving. Gain Range  +/- 18 dB @ 60 Hz

  • Middle Filter: Type  Bandpass Filter. Freq Range  50 - 5.000 Hz. Q - Boost  0.5 - 1.3,  Q - Cut  0.5 - >5.  Gain Range +/- 12-15 dB

• Treble Filter: Type  Shelving. Gain Range +/- 18 dB @ 8 kHz

• COMP/LIMIT: Comp Gain  0 dB

  • Attenuation max  24 dB

  • Compression Ratio max  3:1

  • Attack (80%) typ  <10 ms

  • Release (80%) typ  100 ms

Drive Channel:

• INPUT: Input Impedance   1.8 Mohms // 22 pF

• DRIVE: Gain Range  40 dB

• ENGINES:

  • Lo: Type   2nd harmonics soft

  • Hi: Type   Symmetrical 2-stage with +18 dB gain

• TYPE:  Thin/Normal/Deep   Pre Drive EQ

• FILTER SECTION: 

  • Tone Filter:   Type  6 dB/oct.   Low Pass. Frequency Range  700 - 20k Hz

  • Middle Filter:   Type   Bandpass Filter. Frequency Range 100 - 4.500 Hz. Q  1.2,   Gain Range  +/- 15 dB

EFFECTS LOOP:

• Loop Signal Level nominal  -10 dBv

• Gain  Unity (1:1)

• Output Impedance  <100 ohms

• Input Impedance  >200 kohms // 22 pF

PHONES OUT:   

• Recommended Impedance  32 - 200 ohms

AUX INPUT:  

• Input Impedance  20 kohms

• Nominal Level  -10 dBv

OUTPUT: 

• Output Impedance  <1 kohms

• Signal Level  nominal  0 dBv

BALANCED OUTPUTS:

• Output Level  nominal  -20dBv

• XLR Connections  1-GND, 2-Hot, 3-Cold

• Options  Pre/Post EQ, L/R Ch. in stereo mode

AUXILIARY INFO:   

• Power Requirements   Idle  450mA @9V. Max  750mA @9V (with headphones at max output level)

Dimensions (WxDxH):   max  168 x 124 x 53 mm / 6.6” x 4.9” x 2.1”

Weight:  660 g ( 1.5 lbs.)