The Trondheim Audio Devices SkarBassOne is an analog pedal for bass that combines three effects in one box: a compressor, an EQ and a multiband overdrive. Pedal of the Day described it as a pedal that "wraps three pedals into one, giving you a perfect tone shaper with a little bit of bite if you need it"1. It was designed by Jon Tore Dombu, designer and CEO of Trondheim Audio Devices, funded through Kickstarter and shipping since July 20212.
What makes it unusual is how the three parts interact. The compression, EQ and drive sections are not three separate pedals in one enclosure; the internal circuit is what Pedal of the Day called "a wild matrix created and perfected over years of" development1, and the nature of the pedal design was still patent-pending at the time of the Bass Gear Magazine review in October 20212.
The controls: Comp, Mid, Mix, Drive and Tone
The pedal has five knobs, and each one does something a little different from what its label might suggest12.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Comp | Controls the threshold of the compressor circuit2 |
| Mid | Mid EQ; flat when fully clockwise1 |
| Mix | Tonal balance between low end and high end, not a dry/wet blend1 |
| Drive | Saturation; works in combination with Tone2 |
| Tone | A high cut filter1 |
The compression section is a hard-ratio FET compressor with fast attack and release times, inspired by the classic FET compressors, and the single Comp knob controls the threshold of the circuit2. That means one knob sets how hard the compressor grabs the signal rather than offering separate ratio, attack and release controls.
The Mix knob deserves a note because its name is misleading. Pedal of the Day was direct about it: "Mix is NOT dry/wet blend, but the tonal balance between low-end and hi-end"1. Bass Gear Magazine's reviewer Dan Veall added that "the Mix is a bit more than just a tilt filter, but is easiest described that way": from noon, clockwise favors the top end and counterclockwise favors the low end2.
The Mid control is flat when it is fully clockwise, so the knob cuts mids as you turn it back rather than boosting from a center detent1. Tone is a high cut filter, and the Drive and Tone knobs work in combination2.
Blue and red modes
The footswitch does not bypass the pedal. Instead it selects between two modes, and which controls are active depends on the mode21:
- Blue mode: the Compression, Mix and Mid functions are in the circuit2.
- Red mode: the saturation (Drive) and Tone circuits are engaged2.
Pedal of the Day describes the same split from the player's side: "Comp, Mid and Mix are always active, with Drive and Tone only active in Red (light) mode"1. In practice, Blue is the cleaner compression and EQ voice, and Red adds the drive section on top.
There is no true bypass. The signal path is always engaged, in the same way a channel strip on a console is always on2. If you want the pedal completely out of your signal chain, you will need a separate switching solution.
The overdrive and the low end
The drive section is a multiband overdrive, which is what lets it add grit without eating the bottom of the bass. Pedal of the Day credits "the precise filters in SkarBassOne" with giving "the extremely surgical tone and the wide range of possibilities" while keeping "the clean powerful low end with this multiband overdrive"1. Bass Gear Magazine describes it as multi-band saturation that leaves the low end alone without a blend knob2, which is worth noting: many bass overdrives need a dry/wet blend to keep the low end solid, and this one approaches the problem by splitting the saturation across bands instead.
Power and connections
The SkarBassOne runs on a 9V DC power supply jack drawing 30mA2. Connections are simple: one 1/4" input, one 1/4" output, and the power jack2. With a 30mA draw it is an easy load for most pedalboard power supplies.
History: Jon Tore Dombu and the Kickstarter
The SkarBassOne came out of a Kickstarter campaign created in November 2020, and the finished devices began shipping in July 20212. The designer is Jon Tore Dombu, who is also CEO of Trondheim Audio Devices2.
The name has an origin story worth knowing. As Bass Gear Magazine's reviewer recounted: "SkarBassOne was so named by a young student that Jon works with whilst volunteering for a special needs group"2.
What reviewers said
Both published reviews were positive about the build. Pedal of the Day wrote: "You can tell it's a high-quality build upon first glance, and that is confirmed in spades once you plug it into your rig"1. The same review pointed players to the Trondheim Audio Devices website for in-depth documentation1. Bass Gear Magazine's review, published 11 October 2021, walked through the circuit design in detail, including the FET compressor topology and the always-engaged signal path, and noted the patent-pending status of the design2.
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Questions
Does the SkarBassOne have a bypass?
No. The signal path is always engaged, in the same way a channel strip on a mixing desk is always on. The footswitch does not bypass the signal; it switches the pedal between its two modes, Blue and Red, which change which parts of the circuit are active.
Is the Mix knob on the SkarBassOne a dry/wet blend?
No. Mix is not a dry/wet blend. It is the tonal balance between the low end and the high end, a bit more than a tilt filter but easiest described that way: from noon, clockwise favors the top end and counterclockwise favors the low end.
Where did the SkarBassOne get its name?
The name came from a young student that designer Jon Tore Dombu works with while volunteering for a special needs group. The student named the pedal, and the name stuck.
How much does the SkarBassOne cost?
The list price at the time of Bass Gear Magazine's October 2021 review was $359. The pedal carries a 2-year warranty.
Does the SkarBassOne overdrive affect the low end?
The overdrive is multiband, and reviewers describe it as leaving the low end alone without needing a blend knob. The Drive and Tone circuits work in combination, and the design keeps the clean, powerful low end intact while adding saturation.
Sources (2)
- Trondheim Audio Devices SkarBassOne Analog Bass Compressor EQ Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2024-11-09
- Bassic Review, Bass Gear Magazine, 2021-10-11