Radial Engineering Radial Bassbone V2

The Radial Bassbone V2 is a two-channel bass preamp, EQ, booster and DI box from Radial Engineering, built as a compact floor unit for players who carry more than one instrument or want a full tone-shaping and direct-out station at their feet. 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. It is a buffered preamp rather than a true-bypass effect: Radial says specially designed buffers drive the two preamp channels, the EQ, the power booster, the tuner out and the effects loop with no signal level loss².

The core idea is simple. One bass goes into input 1 and a second into input 2, and the Select footswitch moves between them, each with its own level and tone settings. With a single bass, the same switch moves between two voiced channels. Radial positions it as a "bass command center" that switches between any two basses, including active, passive magnetic and piezo-equipped uprights³. Guitar World's 2026 guide to bass preamp pedals highlighted it for touring players and anyone switching between multiple instruments⁴.

What it does to your sound

The two channels are voiced differently. Channel 1 keeps things simple: a three-position EQ-1 switch selects between flat and two preset EQ contour curves, and Radial notes that setting it to Flat bypasses the EQ so the instrument's original tone passes unaltered⁷². Channel 2 carries a full 3-band active EQ that Radial says lets you carve your tone to suit any playing style or instrument, plus a high-pass filter switch with 60Hz, 80Hz and off positions to roll off excessive low-frequency resonance⁷.

Bass Gear Magazine's Tom Bowlus, reviewing the V2, found the EQ musical rather than surgical. "Cutting the Mids resulted in a very pleasing tone that didn't lose all of the power behind the notes," he wrote of channel 2⁵. His summary of the sonic profile: lows offer great control via EQ or high-pass filtering, mids are solid and clear with good control, and highs show no high-end loss, with the ability to emulate a passive tone cut⁵.

The magazine's Amp Lab bench review by Dan Kropp measured the channel 1 contour settings. The Tone-B setting showed a tighter mid scoop than Tone-A, shifted down to about 350Hz, with slightly attenuated but extended bass and a treble bump centered around 8kHz⁸. He also noted that channel 2 appears to have a bit more gain, and thus a bit less headroom, than channel 1⁸.

The controls and footswitches

There are three footswitches and a set of knobs and recessed switches:

Two details are worth knowing. The Boost level and Loop Wet/Dry knobs apply to both channels, as Bass Gear Magazine noted⁵. And when the recessed Blend switch is engaged, the Select footswitch is disengaged and channels 1 and 2 are blended together, a mode Dan Kropp documented in the Amp Lab review⁸. The tuner out is always on for tuning on the fly, or can be used with the mute function for silent tuning⁷.

Inputs, outputs and the XLR direct out

The rear panel carries two 1/4" instrument inputs. Input 1 is the primary; when nothing is plugged into input 2, its signal is automatically sent to channel 2 as well. Input 2 is for a second bass⁷. Input impedance is 220K ohms on input A and 220K/10M ohms on input B, the 10 meg-ohm setting being the one that suits piezo pickups⁶.

Outputs are a 1/4" instrument jack for your bass amp, a balanced XLR direct out, and a tuner out, with 1/4" send and receive jacks for the effects loop on the top edge⁷⁵. The XLR sends the post-EQ Bassbone sound to the PA or recording console⁷. Radial says the DI output is active and similar to the Radial J48 direct box². The ground lift and phase-shift buttons affect only the balanced XLR output⁵.

Measured performance from Radial's spec sheet⁶:

Power: 15V, 400mA

The Bassbone V2 runs on a Radial 15V DC, 400mA power supply, which is included, with a cable clamp on the unit that locks down the adapter cable to prevent accidental power disconnection⁷. The connector is center negative⁶. Radial explains the reasoning behind the higher voltage on the related Bassbone OD: "By using a 15V - 400 mA power supply, we can increase the headroom and reduce distortion for a more natural bass tone"⁹.

History: from the original Tonebone Bassbone

The original Tonebone Bassbone was introduced in 2003⁵. The Bassbone V2 followed in 2015 as its replacement, made by Radial Engineering⁵. Radial says the V2 uses the same audio circuit as the original Bassbone, with new features added².

Radial artist Martin Isenberg, a double bassist, uses the V2 as his preamp and to switch between channels for his P Bass and his upright¹. The unit is built in a 14 gauge steel enclosure, carries Radial's transferable 3-year warranty, and is rated for dry locations between 5°C and 40°C⁶.

Bassbone V2 versus Bassbone OD

Both are two-channel bass preamps, but they aim at different players. The V2 is billed by Radial as a bass preamp and boost¹: its tone tools include a channel 1 contour switch, where the Flat setting bypasses the EQ so the instrument's original tone passes through unaltered¹⁷², and a boost knob that controls the amount of signal boost from unity-gain to +8dB¹⁷². It is not true bypass; specially designed buffers manage the audio signal to drive two preamp channels, EQ, power booster, tuner and effects loop with no signal level loss². The Bassbone OD adds overdrive in the same box, where the V2 covers clean switching, EQ and boost.

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