Peavey BAC-2 Bi-Amp Bass Chorus
[NOTE: I'm reviewing the BAC-2 for use with a normal 6-string electric guitar.]
The BAC-2 Bi-Amp Bass Chorus employs a fully companded, low noise design and Peavey state that it is equipped to handle high input signal levels - i.e. it is fine with line level signals.
The Bi-Amp function is mainly aimed at bass players, but it could probably be useful if you wanted to run an electric piano through it for example, or use it as a studio processor.
While using both outputs, the BAC-2 splits the signal at a crossover frequency of 350Hz; everything below that (the low frequencies) are sent to Output B and remain uneffected, while the mid and high frequencies (everything above 350Hz) are processed and sent to Output A.
This means that with a bass instrument, the low-end will remain intact, resulting in a cleaner processed sound with no low-end loss due to phase cancellations.
Or, you can use the BAC-2 in mono, whereby Output B provides a full range effect.
[NOTE: The bi-amp frequency split remains while the pedal is in bypass too.
The BAC-2 is an easy to use pedal with just two controls to worry about; the usual, self-explanatory Speed and Depth. These controls have a considerable range from slow to very fast and barely-there to heavily-detuned respectively; so there's plenty of scope to dial in a wide range of chorus tones.
The resulting effects are very rich and complex. There is definitely some added sparkle - this is an 80s chorus pedal after all - but it isn't overly bright like some can be, and thanks to the companded design, it is 'studio quiet'... So maybe Peavey weren't too far off with their claims!
As I alluded to earlier, you can dial in a multitude of chorus effects with this pedal, from subtle shimmers and ripples to springy wobbles and over the top detuned undulations. These effects aren't always pleasant, but if you follow the general guideline with chorus pedals of low-speed/high-depth and high-speed/low depth you can't really go very far wrong.
In my tests, I didn't find bi-amping useful with a 6-string guitar in standard tuning - probably as the crossover frequency is so low (there typically isn't a lot going on below 350Hz) - but in full-range (mono) mode, I really like it. It has such a wide range with lots of sweet spots, a pleasing hi-fi sound and will stand out when compared to many other chorus pedals.
[NOTE: I'm reviewing the BAC-2 for use with a normal 6-string electric guitar.]
- Made in the USA
- (Discofreq’s Effects Database page.)
The BAC-2 Bi-Amp Bass Chorus employs a fully companded, low noise design and Peavey state that it is equipped to handle high input signal levels - i.e. it is fine with line level signals.The Bi-Amp function is mainly aimed at bass players, but it could probably be useful if you wanted to run an electric piano through it for example, or use it as a studio processor.
While using both outputs, the BAC-2 splits the signal at a crossover frequency of 350Hz; everything below that (the low frequencies) are sent to Output B and remain uneffected, while the mid and high frequencies (everything above 350Hz) are processed and sent to Output A.
This means that with a bass instrument, the low-end will remain intact, resulting in a cleaner processed sound with no low-end loss due to phase cancellations.
Or, you can use the BAC-2 in mono, whereby Output B provides a full range effect.
[NOTE: The bi-amp frequency split remains while the pedal is in bypass too.
Peavey were obviously very proud of the range of effects which included the BAC-2...
Those are just two slogans they were throwing around as part of their marketing for these pedals.
"Hand crafted in the USA"
"Rack Mount Performance... Floor Pedal Convenience"
Those are just two slogans they were throwing around as part of their marketing for these pedals.
The BAC-2 is an easy to use pedal with just two controls to worry about; the usual, self-explanatory Speed and Depth. These controls have a considerable range from slow to very fast and barely-there to heavily-detuned respectively; so there's plenty of scope to dial in a wide range of chorus tones.
The resulting effects are very rich and complex. There is definitely some added sparkle - this is an 80s chorus pedal after all - but it isn't overly bright like some can be, and thanks to the companded design, it is 'studio quiet'... So maybe Peavey weren't too far off with their claims!As I alluded to earlier, you can dial in a multitude of chorus effects with this pedal, from subtle shimmers and ripples to springy wobbles and over the top detuned undulations. These effects aren't always pleasant, but if you follow the general guideline with chorus pedals of low-speed/high-depth and high-speed/low depth you can't really go very far wrong.
In my tests, I didn't find bi-amping useful with a 6-string guitar in standard tuning - probably as the crossover frequency is so low (there typically isn't a lot going on below 350Hz) - but in full-range (mono) mode, I really like it. It has such a wide range with lots of sweet spots, a pleasing hi-fi sound and will stand out when compared to many other chorus pedals.
