The El Oso Bass Distortion is a distortion pedal from Heavy Electronics, built by hand in Minnesota1. It carries the usual Level and Gain knobs found on many fuzz and distortion pedals, plus a Mix knob that blends the clean signal with the distorted one, and it uses true bypass switching with a single point mounted PCB1. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the older model, which uses a bigger enclosure, still very pedalboard-friendly in build and size, though the newer one is even smaller1.
What it does
The El Oso takes a bass signal and adds distortion while trying to avoid the harshness that plagues many bass dirt pedals. No Treble's Kevin Johnson reported at launch that "the distortion top-end is rolled off and contoured to reduce the harshness found in most bass distortion pedals"2. The pedal also carries a JFET input signal buffer, which Pedal of the Day noted "helps match up with the wide variety of impedances found in both guitar and bass pickups"1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the level1 |
| Gain | Sets the gain1 |
| Mix | Blends the clean signal with the distorted one1 |
The Mix knob is the control bass players will care about most. Pedal of the Day put it plainly: "having the option to blend your clean signal with the distorted one is pure bliss"1. A clean blend lets you keep the fundamental and low-end punch of the bass intact underneath the distorted layer, which is the usual challenge with bass distortion.
Build and versions
The pedal uses true bypass switching and a single point mounted PCB, and Pedal of the Day described it as "Made with high-quality components by hand in Minnesota"1. Two versions exist: an older model with a bigger enclosure and a newer one that is even smaller. The reviewer used the older model for their write-up and found it "still very pedalboard-friendly, though the newer one is even smaller"1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day called "the El Oso is a monster distortion pedal" and found it "adds some great dirt and crunch to both instruments, but somehow manages to walk the fine line between the two without overpowering either one"1. That dual-instrument character matches the maker's own positioning: the pedal was announced under the headline "Voiced Openly for Guitar, Bass or any Instrument"3.
Two versions of the El Oso exist, an older larger-enclosure model and a newer smaller one. They differ in size, not in the control set.
Videos
Bass Club Chicago
Prymaxe
Chris Igidbashian
Questions
Does the El Oso work for guitar as well as bass?
Yes. Heavy Electronics voiced it openly for guitar, bass or any instrument, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer found it adds dirt and crunch to both instruments while walking the line between them without overpowering either. A JFET input buffer helps it match the wide variety of impedances found in both guitar and bass pickups.
What are the controls on the El Oso?
Three knobs: Level sets the output level, Gain sets the amount of distortion, and Mix blends the clean signal with the distorted one. The clean blend is the standout control for bass players, since it lets you keep low-end definition under the dirt.
When did the El Oso come out and what did it cost?
Heavy Electronics released the El Oso in July 2011 with a street price of $149. Pedal of the Day later noted two versions: an older model in a bigger enclosure and a newer one that is even smaller.
Sources (3)
- Heavy Electronics El Oso Bass Distortion, Pedal of the Day, 2016-11-11
- Heavy Electronics Releases El Oso Bass Distortion, No Treble, 2011-07-16
- Heavy Electronics Releases El Oso Distortion Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2011-07-16
