Why Bassists Love the Bass-X
The SoloDallas BASS-X is a pedal designed to enhance bass guitar tones by emulating the classic Schaffer-Vega Diversity System used by legendary musicians in the '70s and '80s. It offers a 100% analog signal path with five interactive circuits: Gain, Boost, Limiter, EQ Expander, and Harmonic Clipping. These features allow bassists to achieve a range of tones, from punchy lows to clear, powerful mids.
Users have praised the BASS-X for its ability to add depth and clarity to their bass sound. For example, one user noted that it "maintains great clarity and punch in the low end," with mids that have "a clear, powerful aggression that helps to cut through the mix." Another user mentioned that the pedal "somehow makes my bass sound 3D."
Artists such as Rudy Sarzo have also endorsed the BASS-X, stating that it helped them achieve the tone they had with their Schaffer-Vega wireless systems in the '80s.
The Bass-X has quickly become a go-to pedal for pro bassists worldwide.
Bass legends like:
Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy, Whitesnake)
Rex Brown (Pantera, Down), John Campbell (Lamb of God)
Tanner Erickson (Daughtry), JT Cure (Chris Stapleton)
Billy Sheehan, Victor Wooten
…and many more now swear by the Bass-X for its rich harmonics, deep low-end, and amp-pushing saturation.
Find out more about the Bass-X here: The Schaffer Replica Bass-X
The Schaffer-Vega Diversity System: The Accidental Revolution of Guitar Tone
In 1974, American inventor Ken Schaffer introduced the Schaffer-Vega Diversity System (SVDS)—the first commercially viable wireless system for electric guitar and bass. What he didn’t realize was that his creation would accidentally redefine the sound of recorded music for decades to come.
How the SVDS Transformed Guitar Tone
Ken Schaffer, a perfectionist, designed the SVDS to preserve wireless signal integrity with a suite of built-in effects:
Compressor & Expander – Enhances sustain and clarity.
Optical Limiter – Smooths peaks for a natural, dynamic response.
Goalpost EQ – Restores the full frequency range.
Line Buffer & Gain Adjustments – Allows for smooth, musical clipping.
One unexpected discovery changed everything: The monitor out on the receiver—intended for headphones—could also boost a guitar or bass signal when routed into an amp. This extra harmonic saturation, tighter attack, and enhanced sustain created a tone unlike anything musicians had ever heard before.
It was the first documented use of a full-frequency boost as an effect!
The Legendary Players Who Used the SVDS
Once guitarists and bassists realized what the SVDS could do, it became a must-have tool for rock, blues, funk, and beyond. The client list reads like a who’s who of legendary musicians:
AC/DC (Angus Young)
Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, KISS, Boston, ZZ Top
Pink Floyd (David Gilmour, Roger Waters), Black Sabbath, Foreigner, Styx
Bootsy Collins, Earth Wind & Fire, The Beach Boys, The Grateful Dead (Jerry Garcia) Eddie Van Halen, Frank Zappa, Peter Frampton, Billy Joel, Bob Seger
…and countless others.
The SVDS Disappears… Then Returns
In 1982, new FCC regulations on FM transmissions forced the SVDS out of production, and musicians had to abandon their secret weapon. The legendary “Schaffer Sound” faded into obscurity—until nearly 40 years later.
That’s when Fil “SoloDallas” Olivieri, a renowned AC/DC tone expert, stumbled upon an old Guitar Player Magazine interview where Angus Young credited his Schaffer wireless as his only effect on Back in Black.
Determined to bring this tone back, Fil tracked down Ken Schaffer, who still had a working SVDS unit. When Fil plugged his SG into the system and ran the headphone output into his Plexi, the result was instant Angus!
The Schaffer Replica: Bringing Back the Sound
After an intense reverse engineering process, SoloDallas introduced The Schaffer Replica:
EX Tower – A visual replica of the original SVDS receiver (minus the wireless function).
The Storm Pedal – A pedalboard-friendly version of the Schaffer circuit, minus the compander.
Bass-X – A version specifically designed for bass, inspired by Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne).
Final Thoughts
The Schaffer Sound is back, and it's better than ever. Whether you're chasing the classic AC/DC tone, the perfect mid-boost, or a harmonically rich bass sound, the SoloDallas lineup delivers.
Explore more legendary gear at www.solodallas.com
