The 3Leaf Audio Enabler is a bass preamp pedal that combines an EQ, a D.I. and a headphone amp in pedal form, announced by 3Leaf Audio in June 2012 and available at the time exclusively through Bass EFX for $2991. Premier Guitar later described it as "a DI, EQ, preamp, and headphone amp rolled into one"2. For a player, it is aimed at the kind of jobs a single pedal rarely covers: shaping tone, feeding a front-of-house desk, practicing silently through headphones, and jamming along to a music source through its aux input.
The controls
The Enabler's layout splits its controls into two rows. The top row's quartet of big knobs control the EQ and gain, while the smaller pair of knobs right below handle the auxiliary input volume and master volume2. No Treble's announcement described the EQ section as including Bass, Mid, and Treble knobs as well as deep switch and mid-frequency switches for more general tone enhancements1.
Three switches sit alongside the knobs2:
- One for boosting the bass (the deep switch)
- Another for choosing the center frequency of the mids
- A third that allows pre- or post-signal routing to the XLR out
Around the jacks, the pedal carries four 1/4-inch connectors for input, output, headphones, and aux input, with the XLR output and ground lift placed out of their way2. The balanced XLR output has a pre/post switch and a ground lift1, and the aux in has its own level control1.
The Enabler cannot run on a 9V battery. Premier Guitar's review explains that 3Leaf states the headphone amp produces such good sound because it uses a unique internal power supply that draws a significant amount of current, and that a 9V battery would provide about an hour of battery life before headroom dropped below a usable level2. Plan on a dedicated power supply rather than a shared daisy chain if you use the headphone amp heavily.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer tested the pedal in the studio with a Music Man double-humbucker StingRay and a vintage Framus Star hollowbody, an Eden WTX 500 amp with a 1x15 cab, and Ultrasone HFI-580 headphones, and later took it to a live acoustic show in a 1000-seat theater with a Gretsch Electromatic hollowbody2.
On the headphone amp side, the reviewer was impressed: "when using the Enabler as a stand-alone headphone amp, I was amazed with the quality of sound it produced"2. The aux input also drew praise: "Having the 1/4\" stereo aux input to plug in a music source for practicing is another great feature"2.
On the EQ, the reviewer found the pedal restrained in a useful way: "One of the Enabler's nicest features is how it can bring out an instrument's tonal subtleties without getting overbearing"2. The gain stage drew a caution alongside that: "The gain structure of the pedal is ridiculously hot, so a little goes a long way"2. Past a quarter turn the signal starts to break up, which requires care when recording, though the reviewer noted it can produce a nicely saturated overdriven tone when the gain is cranked2.
For live DI use at the theater show, the reviewer said: "I ran straight to front-of-house and really appreciated the added bonus of having the EQ control at my feet for easy adjustments"2, dialing tone quickly to in-ears while the front-of-house engineer confirmed the sound2.
The review's summary verdict: "Excellent EQ, well appointed, and packed with a lot of usable features."2 and "The Enabler already deserves kudos for being well constructed and tonally impressive"2, with the reviewer adding that the excellent EQ-shaping ability alone would make it a nice addition to any signal path2.
A reader comment on the No Treble announcement, from December 2012, took a more measured view of value: "I AGREE, the tone this pedal offers is very very good through a cabinet or headphones. And it is quiet."1, though the commenter was not sure they would recommend it overall at the cost1.
Videos
The Bass Hang
Bass Gear Demos by Dawghouse
The Bass Hang
Questions
What power supply does the Enabler use?
The Enabler runs on a 9V DC center-negative power supply. There is no option to power it with a 9V battery. Premier Guitar's review notes that the headphone amp uses a unique internal power supply that draws a significant amount of current, and that a 9V battery would provide only about an hour of use before headroom dropped below a usable level, which is why 3Leaf left the battery option out.
Does the Enabler have an XLR output?
Yes. The Enabler has a balanced XLR output with a pre/post switch and a ground lift. Premier Guitar's review also notes the XLR output and ground lift sit out of the way of the four 1/4-inch connectors for input, output, headphones, and aux input.
Can I plug a music player into the Enabler?
Yes. The Enabler has a 1/4-inch stereo aux input for plugging in a music source for practicing, with its own level control. Premier Guitar's reviewer called having the aux input to plug in a music source for practicing another great feature of the pedal.
What does the ground lift do on the Enabler?
The ground lift is associated with the Enabler's balanced XLR output. It is used to separate the ground connection when a hum or buzz appears between the pedal and the mixing console or PA it is feeding, a common issue in live DI situations. The XLR output and its ground lift are placed out of the way of the pedal's four 1/4-inch connectors.
Sources (2)
- 3Leaf Audio Introduces The Enabler Preamp Pedal, No Treble, 2012-06-30
- 3Leaf The Enabler Bass DI/EQ Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2013-02-06