The Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors is an Electro-Harmonix preamp pedal, currently around $60.84. Close alternatives include the Source Audio SA250-US and the Ampeg F17-1. It pairs well with the Greer Black Mountain and the JHS Smiley.
Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors
Electro-Harmonix · pedal
The Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors is a multi-effect bass preamp pedal from Electro-Harmonix, combining a compressor, overdrive, and three-band EQ in a single unit designed for live bass players who want complete bass tone control in one pedal. Controls include Comp (compression), Drive (overdrive), Blend (dry/overdrive mix), Bass, Mid, and Treble EQ plus a Volume control. Provides comprehensive bass signal chain in a single stompbox.
What stands out
“The Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors is a multi-effect bass preamp pedal from Electro-Harmonix, combining a compressor, overdrive, and three-band EQ in a single unit designed for live bass players who want complete bass tone control in one p…”
— from the listing
“Blend control mixes dry and driven signal for natural-sounding bass overdrive”
— from the reviews
“Its standout strength is the combined compressor, overdrive, and three-band EQ in one bass preamp”
— from the community notes
“Controls include Comp (compression), Drive (overdrive), Blend (dry/overdrive mix), Bass, Mid, and Treble EQ plus a Volume control”
— from the listing
“Use-case wise it suits live bass players who want compression, drive, and EQ in a single unit for simplified live performance”
— from the community notes
- eq
- bass
- compressor
- overdrive
- drive
- compression
- mix
Good for
- Live
- Silent Recording
- Studio
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors is commonly used in
- Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Gospel
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
21% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
Run Greer Black Mountain into that transparent platform and it finally leans toward fuzzy
Comes earlier in the signal chain
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals
20% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
Run JHS Smiley into that transparent platform and it finally leans toward fuzzy
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Monument CS
Walrus Audio
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Walrus Audio Monument CS after Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive
Vox
13% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive leans toward smooth, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb
Alexander Pedals
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb after Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Eventide Modulated Delay after Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Into Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors, Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz
Behringer
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors gives it exactly that
Boutique & premium upgrades
Electro-Harmonix Battalion Bass Preamp/DI
Electro-Harmonix
63% similarityShared character: blend, treble, natural
Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord
Electro-Harmonix
57% similarityShared character: treble, mix, middle
Orange Bass Butler Bi-Amp Bass Preamp
Orange
54% similarityShared character: signal, compression, bass
Sonicake B Factory Analog Bass Preamp Comp and Overdrive
Sonicake
50% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, bass
ISP Technologies Beta Bass Preamp
Isp Technologies
48% similarityShared character: bass
Ampeg Classic Analog Bass Preamp pedal
Ampeg
48% similarityShared character: treble, compression, middle
Similar character
Source Audio SA250-US
Source Audio
54% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, bass
Ampeg F17-1
Ampeg
53% similarityShared character: volume control, treble, compression
EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls V1
EarthQuaker Devices
52% similarityShared character: compression, natural, bass
Dunlop MXR M282 Dyna Comp Bass
Dunlop
46% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, bass
Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive
Ashdown
45% similarityShared character: signal, natural, mix
Hotone B Station
Hotone
42% similarityShared character: treble, middle, bass
See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors?+
The closest matches in character are the Source Audio SA250-US, the Ampeg F17-1, the EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls V1. Boutique upgrades: Electro-Harmonix Battalion Bass Preamp/DI, Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord, Orange Bass Butler Bi-Amp Bass Preamp.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Black Mountain, JHS Smiley, Walrus Audio Monument CS — Run Greer Black Mountain into that transparent platform and it finally leans toward fuzzy.
How much does the Electro-Harmonix Bass Metaphors cost?+
Around $60.84 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).