Radial Bassbone V2

The Radial Bassbone V2 is a two-channel bass preamp pedal from Radial Engineering that combines a preamp, EQ, DI and power booster in one box. Radial describes it as "a power-packed bass preamp that combines on-stage efficiency, amazing tonal control and superb audio performance in a compact box"¹. Its core job is letting a player run two instruments, such as an electric bass and a piezo-equipped upright, through one rig and switch between them with a footswitch, while sending a balanced post-EQ signal to the PA or a recording console²³.

Bass Gear Magazine described the Bassbone V2 as "the latest iteration of the now-classic Bassbone" in the preamp category, noting that it replaces the venerable original⁴⁵.

What it does

The Bassbone V2 is built around two independent preamp channels. Channel 1 has a three-position EQ-1 contour switch that selects between flat and two preset EQ curves; set to flat, it passes the instrument's tone unaltered²⁹. Channel 2 has a full three-band active EQ (bass, mid, high) plus a three-position high-pass filter switch, so you can carve a very different tone for a second instrument²⁸. Each channel has its own level knob².

Radial positions the V2 as a "bass command center" that lets you switch between any two basses, including active, passive magnetic and piezo upright basses⁶. Bassist Martin Isenberg, featured on Radial's artist pages, uses it exactly that way: "I use the V2 as my preamp and to switch between channels for my P Bass and my upright"¹.

Beyond the preamp, the V2 carries:

• A power booster, adjustable from unity gain to +8dB²
• A parallel effects loop with a wet/dry mix knob²⁴
• An active balanced XLR DI output, post-EQ, which Radial says is similar to its J48 direct box⁹
• An always-on tuner out, usable with the mute function for silent tuning²
• A 180-degree polarity reverse and a ground lift on the XLR output²³

The controls and footswitches

The front panel is organized around three footswitches and a set of knobs and recessed switches⁴.

The three footswitches:

1. Select: switches between channels with one bass, or between instruments with two basses².
2. Loop: turns the effects loop on and off².
3. Boost: activates the power booster or the mute function, with a large, easy-to-see LED indicator².

Bass Gear Magazine's reviewer noted that the Boost level knob and the wet/dry Loop knob apply to both channels, and that the recessed Boost/Mute button lets the third footswitch work as a mute instead of a boost⁴. The parallel effects loop, dialed in "a little or a lot" via the Loop knob, replaced the original Bassbone's serial TRS loop⁴.

Power and connections

The Bassbone V2 runs on 15V DC, center negative, from the included Radial 15VDC/400mA supply². Radial says the higher-voltage supply increases headroom and reduces distortion for a more natural bass tone¹⁰. A cable clamp locks the adapter cable in place to prevent accidental power disconnection².

Connections on the rear panel²³:

• Input-1: primary 1/4" instrument input; the signal automatically feeds channel 2 when nothing is plugged into Input-2
• Input-2: 1/4" input for a second bass
• Out: 1/4" instrument output to your bass amplifier
• Send and Receive: 1/4" jacks for the effects loop
• Tuner out: always on for tuning on the fly
• Balanced Out: XLR DI output, post-EQ, to the PA or recording console

Measured specifications from Radial's spec sheet³:

Buffered, not true bypass

The Bassbone V2 is not true bypass. Radial's own answer on the question is direct: "No, the Bassbone V2 is a preamp. Specially designed buffers are used to manage the audio signal"⁹. Those buffers drive the two preamp channels, the EQ, the power booster, the tuner out and the effects loop with no signal level loss⁹.

One consequence players notice: the V2 can sound slightly quieter than plugging a bass straight into the amp. Radial says this is normal, because the output was deliberately backed down to compensate for the power of the EQ at full settings; the unit produces an instrument level output between -30dB and -15dB depending on the instrument's own output⁹. The V2 is a unity gain device overall³.

From the original Bassbone to the V2

The original Bassbone was Radial's earlier two-channel bass preamp, and the Bassbone V2 replaces it. Radial says it faithfully reproduced the same award-winning tone while adding features by incorporating new internal design, and the V2 is slightly smaller than the original, with an overall size that is very similar⁴⁹. Bass Gear Magazine reviewed the V2 in 2015, the year of its origin⁸.

The V2 is slightly smaller than the original overall, though the size is very similar⁴. The 2022 refresh was purely cosmetic: Bass Musician Magazine reported that Radial refreshed the artwork of the Bassbone V2 and HotShot DM-1 "to complement modern pedalboards," with features and operation unchanged and nothing touched internally¹¹.

Radial also makes the Bassbone OD, a bass preamp and overdrive built on the same basic circuit as the original Bassbone but with more headroom and an overdrive circuit added¹⁰. The V2 and the OD are distinct products: the V2 is the preamp, EQ, DI and boost version without overdrive.

What reviewers said

Guitar World's July 2026 guide to the best bass preamp pedals named the Bassbone V2 its choice for touring and multiple instruments, citing its 15V DC power and two-channel design⁵.

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