The Phil Jones Bass PE-5 is a pedal that Phil Jones Bass (PJB) announced as a release for bass players1. Its rugged housing is constructed of die-cast aluminum alloy made to deliver years of service1. It carries a balanced line out with a ground lift switch: grounding of the balanced out socket can be disconnected, which is useful if you are experiencing hum caused by grounding loops or problems1. One thing to know about the DI output: changing the level on your instrument will vary the DI output1. It sits among equalization pedals and shares territory with preamp pedals.
The controls
The five EQ bands are laid out so that the two lowest ones address the fundamentals of specific strings rather than broad frequency areas. The LOW-BASS EQ control adjusts the fundamental tones of the E and A strings on 4-string basses, and the B, E and A strings on 5-string basses. The HIGH BASS EQ control adjusts the fundamental tones of the D and G strings on 4- and 5-string basses1.
Above those sit three more bands:
An INPUT GAIN control allows matching to weak or strong pickups, which is what lets the pedal work with both passive instruments and hotter active ones1.
Power and connections
The PE-5 can be powered by a standard 9-volt DC pedal adaptor, or run on its internal lithium-ion battery, which is charged through a USB Type-C socket. The DC IN connection is specified at 9VDC / 1A1.
The DC IN draws 1A, a heavier draw than many small pedals, so a standard daisy-chain supply may not suit it. The internal battery charged over USB Type-C is the alternative when a dedicated supply is not available.
Connections are as follows:
| Connection | What it does |
|---|---|
| 1/4-inch input jack | Accepts an unbalanced signal from your bass via a standard instrument cable1 |
| 1/4-inch output jack | Connects to a power amp, powered cabinet or the unbalanced input of other devices via a standard instrument cable1 |
| Balanced line out (XLR) | Low impedance 200-ohm balanced output for recording or PA mixing consoles; not controlled by the volume control1 |
| DC IN | External power supply connection, 9VDC / 1A1 |
| USB Type-C | Charges the internal lithium-ion battery1 |
The balanced line out can be set pre or post EQ, meaning the output can be either direct from the source or via the EQ circuit. One detail worth knowing: the output is not controlled by the volume control, but changing the level on your instrument will vary the DI output1.
Upright bass and the ground lift
Two features point at the double bass player in particular. The pedal is engineered with a switchable input impedance that allows it to match exactly to either a magnetic or a piezo pickup, the two pickup types found on upright basses1.
The ground lift switch on the balanced line out allows the grounding of the balanced output socket to be disconnected. This is useful if you are experiencing hum caused by grounding loops or grounding problems, a common situation when a DI output is patched into a PA or console1.
Footswitches and bypass
The PE-5 has two foot switches: one provides a mute function, handy for tuning or swapping instruments silently, and the other provides true bypass1.
"The rugged housing is constructed of die-cast aluminum alloy made to deliver years of service."
Related gear
Phil Jones Bass also makes the BOOSTEROOSTER Model PE-2, a smaller companion to the PE-5. Where the PE-5 is a pedal with a balanced line out and a ground lift switch on the DI output1, the PE-2 covers preamp and boost duties in a more compact form.
Videos
The Bass Channel
Deadbeat Studios
Deadbeat Studios
Questions
Is the Phil Jones Bass PE-5 true bypass?
Yes. The PE-5 has two foot switches: one provides a mute function and the other provides true bypass, so when bypassed the pedal takes itself out of the signal path. Steve Rosati's review for Bass Musician Magazine describes the two foot switches as providing a mute function and a true bypass.
Does the PE-5 have a battery?
Yes. The PE-5 can be powered by a standard 9-volt DC pedal adaptor, or it can run on its own internal lithium-ion battery, which is charged through a USB Type-C socket on the pedal. That makes it usable on gigs where a power supply is not convenient.
Can the PE-5 be used with an upright bass?
Yes. The pedal is designed for both bass guitar and upright bass. It has a switchable input impedance that lets the pedal match to either a magnetic or a piezo pickup, which matters for upright players, since piezo pickups behave very differently from magnetic ones.
What does the ground lift switch do on the PE-5?
The ground lift switch disconnects the grounding of the balanced output socket. It is useful when you are experiencing hum caused by grounding loops or grounding problems, typically when the pedal's balanced output is connected to a PA or recording console alongside other grounded equipment.
Does the PE-5 have an XLR output?
Yes. The PE-5 has a balanced line out on an XLR socket, a low impedance 200-ohm balanced output intended for use with recording or PA mixing consoles. The output can be taken pre or post EQ, and it is not controlled by the volume control, although changing the level on your instrument will vary the DI output.
Sources (1)
- Video Review: Phil Jones Bass PE-5, Bass EQ, Pre-Amp and DI, Bass Musician Magazine, 2021-03-22
