The Fishman Fission Bass Powerchord FX is a bass pedal that builds chords from a single note. As the name suggests, it enables the stacking of notes in a chordal fashion: it adds fourth and fifth interval notes from the root of whatever you play, with the option of an upper octave on top1. Fishman showed the pedal at NAMM in January 2011, when it was expected soon with a street price of around $2492; by the time Premier Guitar reviewed it in August 2021, the street price was $2793.
Under the hood it is a digital design: the stompbox uses 32-bit signal processing and 24-bit audio conversion2. MusicRadar found note tracking fast and accurate, and described the unit as solidly built and well presented despite its modest proportions1.
The controls and footswitches
The pedal carries four knobs and three footswitches, and Premier Guitar's reviewer found that the knobs, footswitches and jacks all feel durable and reliable3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Noise Gate | Tames noise; one of the pedal's onboard controls21 |
| Overdrive | Adds drive to the sound2 |
| Tone | Shapes the tone of the effect2 |
| Effect Level | Sets the level of the generated harmony voices2 |
The three footswitches are the heart of the chord engine. Engaging the first and second footswitches together makes the Fission create a fifth above your note, along with the upper octave3. MusicRadar sums up the scheme as adding fourth and fifth interval notes from the root with an optional upper octave, and notes that although it may sound complicated, it is easy and logical to operate1.
The Fission works upward only. You can introduce a higher octave, but there is no facility to bring out the lower one, so this is not an octave-down pedal1. If you want octaves below, that is the territory of octave and pitch pedals rather than this one.
On power, Premier Guitar notes that the 9V battery lives underneath, with a snap-off lid and slip-in contacts, so there are no battery leads to get pulled out of the circuit board3.
The two output jacks give you routing choices: send a mixed signal of bass and effect, or just the effected sound1. MusicRadar also groups the noise gate, tone control and effect level as features that guarantee studio friendliness1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer came away taken with the character of the thing:
"It's the kind of sound that makes it virtually impossible to not start ripping out fat riffs that are both bass lines and crunchy power-chord rhythms all at once."
MusicRadar's verdict was similarly positive:
"A very useful tool indeed, and a new sound for the bass guitar. Add to that Fishman's renowned quality and this is one to check out."
Both reviews land on the same point from different angles: the pedal occupies ground that other bass effects, from overdrive to multi-effects units, do not, turning a single bass line into chordal rhythm parts in real time. For players curious where it sits among the wider field, the bass pedals page gathers the types side by side1.
Videos
Premier Guitar
Chicago Music Exchange
John Kontos
Questions
Does the Fishman Fission Bass Powerchord FX make an octave below the note?
No. MusicRadar's review notes that while you can introduce a higher octave, there is no facility to bring out the lower one, so the pedal is definitely not an octave pedal in the usual sense. It builds harmony above your note instead, adding fourth and fifth interval notes from the root, with an optional upper octave on top.
Can the Fission Bass Powerchord FX send the effect and dry bass to separate outputs?
It gives you two jack sockets, and MusicRadar describes them as providing the option of sending a mixed signal of bass and effect or just the effected sound. That makes it possible to run the harmony voices and your clean bass signal down different paths if your setup allows it.
How much did the Fission Bass Powerchord FX cost?
When No Treble reported the pedal's unveiling in January 2011, it was expected soon with a street price of around $249. By the time Premier Guitar reviewed it in August 2021, the street price was $279.
What does the Effect Level knob do on the Fission Bass Powerchord FX?
Effect Level is one of the pedal's four knobs, listed by No Treble alongside the noise gate, overdrive and tone controls. MusicRadar groups it with the noise gate and tone control as part of what makes the pedal studio friendly, so it sets how loud the generated harmony voices sit against your bass.
Sources (3)
- Fishman Fission Bass Powerchord FX review, MusicRadar, 2012-01-11
- Gear Watch: Fishman Fission Bass Powerchord FX Pedal, No Treble, 2011-01-21
- Fishman Fission Bass Powerchord FX Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-10-18