EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls Bass Odyssey Bass Overdrive & EQ Guitar Effects Pedal

The EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls Bass Odyssey is a powerful bass preamp, overdrive, EQ and DI developed in collaboration with bassist Kentaro Nakao.

Designed as a complete bass-rig solution, Scrolls combines a tube amp-style Drive channel, active EQ, sweepable frequency control, balanced XLR direct output, analogue speaker-style filtering, buffered Parallel Out and onboard effects loop.

It can be used in front of a traditional bass amp, directly into a PA or audio interface, or as the centre of a compact fly rig.

Tube Amp-Style Drive

The Drive section ranges from subtle warmth and breakup to much heavier overdrive.

Controls include:

• Level

• Blend

• Drive

• Bandwidth

• Tone

The Blend control mixes clean bass back into the driven signal, helping retain low-end weight and definition even at higher gain settings.

The Bandwidth control changes the frequency area where clipping is most active, allowing the drive character to move from warmer and fuller to tighter and more focused.

Powerful Active EQ

Scrolls includes a flexible EQ section with:

• Bass

• Middle

• Treble

• Vari

• Vari-Freq

• Level

The main Bass, Middle and Treble controls are centre-detented, with noon providing a flat starting point.

Sweepable Vari-Freq EQ

The Variable Frequency section lets you select frequencies from approximately 20Hz to 10kHz, then boost or cut that area using the Vari control.

This makes Scrolls useful for:

• Removing muddy frequencies

• Adding low-end weight

• Increasing pick attack

• Improving fingerstyle definition

• Shaping midrange presence

• Taming harsh frequencies

• Matching different basses and amps

• Correcting difficult rooms or backline

Three Instant Voicing Options

Scrolls also provides three push-button tone-shaping options.

Deep
Adds an 80Hz boost for more low-frequency weight.

Process
Scoops the low mids for a more polished, modern bass tone.

Bright
Adds a 5kHz boost for extra presence and attack.

Balanced XLR Direct Output

The balanced XLR output allows Scrolls to connect directly to:

• PA systems

• Front of house

• Mixing consoles

• Audio interfaces

• Recording equipment

The XLR output includes analogue filtering designed to smooth the direct signal in a speaker-like way, making it especially useful for amp-free live and recording setups.

A Ground Lift is also provided.

Parallel Clean Output

The dedicated Parallel Out provides an always-active buffered clean signal.

Use it to feed:

• A second amp

• Tuner

• Separate effects chain

• Recording input

• Additional DI

This makes Scrolls particularly useful for wet/dry and dual-path bass rigs.

Onboard Effects Loop

The effects loop sits between the Drive and EQ sections.

This lets you run additional effects after the overdrive while still shaping the combined signal with the Scrolls EQ.

Ideal for:

• Chorus

• Delay

• Reverb

• Modulation

• Compression

• Additional drive pedals

Flexible Routing

Scrolls can feed several destinations at the same time.

For example:

• Standard output to your bass amp

• XLR output to front of house

• Parallel Out to a tuner, second amp or clean signal path

That makes it a highly practical hub for live and studio setups.

Key Features

• EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls Bass Odyssey

• Developed with Kentaro Nakao

• Bass preamp / overdrive / EQ / DI

• Tube amp-style Drive channel

• Clean Blend control

• Bandwidth clipping control

• Active 3-band EQ

• Sweepable 20Hz–10kHz Vari-Freq EQ

• Deep 80Hz boost

• Process low-mid scoop

• Bright 5kHz boost

• Balanced XLR Direct Out

• Analogue speaker-style filtering

• XLR Ground Lift

• Buffered Parallel Out

• Onboard effects loop

• Multiple simultaneous outputs

• Flexible live and studio routing

Power Requirements

• 9V DC

• Centre negative

• Approx. 70mA current draw

No power supply is included.

Ideal For

• Live bass rigs

• Direct-to-PA setups

• Studio recording

• Fly rigs

• Session work

• Rock

• Funk

• Soul

• Alternative

• Punk

• Doom

• Metal

• Players working with unfamiliar backline

Fair Deal Music Verdict

The EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls Bass Odyssey is much more than an overdrive pedal.

Its combination of tube-style drive, clean blending, extensive active EQ and sweepable frequency control makes it a powerful tone-shaping tool, while the XLR DI, speaker filtering, Parallel Out and effects loop allow it to function as the centre of an entire bass rig.

For gigging or session bassists who want a consistent sound regardless of the available backline, Scrolls is an exceptionally capable compact solution.

Fair Deal Music is an independent, family-run music retailer established in Birmingham in 1987.