The Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion is an Electro-Harmonix overdrive pedal, currently around $85.36. Close alternatives include the EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls V1 and the Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive. It pairs well with the Swart Star-Base 1 and the Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp.
Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion
Electro-Harmonix · pedal
The Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion is a compact bass preamp and overdrive pedal designed specifically for bass guitar, featuring controls for Drive, Blend, Volume, Bass, and Treble alongside an active EQ section. The clean blend allows bass players to add harmonic overdrive without sacrificing fundamental low-end content. The bass and treble controls provide frequency shaping suited to correcting the frequency response of different basses and amplifiers. Used in rock, metal, and alternative bass contexts where a consistent, defined, and optionally gritty bass preamp tone is needed.
What stands out
“The Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion is a compact bass preamp and overdrive pedal designed specifically for bass guitar, featuring controls for Drive, Blend, Volume, Bass, and Treble alongside an active EQ section”
— from the listing
“The active EQ provides useful frequency shaping for different bass and amp combinations”
— from the reviews
“The clean blend allows bass players to add harmonic overdrive”
— from the listing
“The active EQ is more functional than decorative, providing meaningful frequency adjustment”
— from the community notes
“Used in rock, metal, and alternative bass contexts where a consistent, defined, and optionally gritty bass preamp tone is needed”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“Build quality is consistent with EHX standard production”
— from the reviews
- overdrive
- frequency
- bass
- eq
- consistent
- low end
- frequency response
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion is commonly used in
- Rock
- Metal
- Alternative Rock
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion
Swart Star-Base 1
Swart
13% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Swart Star-Base 1 leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Comes later in the signal chain
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp
Ampeg
12% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
The Nano Battalion's own EQ'd overdrive stacks with the RB-115's massive preamp for a fuller push.
Comes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W
Hiwatt
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Orange Terror Bass's warm balances out the bright tone
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Orange Little Bass Thing leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Gibson GA-50 after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Victory Amplifiers V50 The Earl
amplifier
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Victory Amplifiers V50 The Earl leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion
Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser
Spaceman
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 Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser after Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
BBE OptiComp
Bbe
17% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
What BBE OptiComp brings here leans toward dynamic — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Greer Mizuki blue
Greer
16% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Where this leans bright, Greer Mizuki blue answers back warm
Comes later in the signal chain
Catalinbread SFT
Catalinbread
16% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Catalinbread SFT leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler
pedal
13% 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 Line 6 DL4 Delay Modeler after Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Suhr Discovery
Suhr
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Suhr Discovery after Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchRun SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
Dunlop
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans bright, Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo answers back warm
Boutique & premium upgrades
Ampeg Classic Analog Bass Preamp
Ampeg
57% similarityShared character: tone shaping, bass, treble
Xotic BRC-v2
Xotic
54% similarityShared character: bass
Master Effects Manta Ray 2-band Bass Preamp
Master Effects
52% similarityShared character: treble, bass
Carl Martin Bass Drive
Carl Martin
52% similarityShared character: blend, bass, grit
Ashdown Triple Shot
Ashdown
51% similarityShared character: bass, definition, treble
Electro-Harmonix Battalion Bass Preamp
Electro-Harmonix
51% similarityShared character: grit, bass, overdrive
Similar character
EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls V1
EarthQuaker Devices
59% similarityShared character: bass, definition, grit
Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive
Ashdown
49% similarityShared character: bass, definition, grit
Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord
Electro-Harmonix
46% similarityShared character: bass, definition, treble
AnalogWorkshop TB5
Analogworkshop
46% similarityShared character: bass
Dunlop MXR Distortion III, model M115
Dunlop
45% similarityShared character: bass, definition
Ashdown Double Shot
Ashdown
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion?+
The closest matches in character are the EarthQuaker Devices Scrolls V1, the Ashdown James LoMenzo Mega Drive, the Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord. Boutique upgrades: Ampeg Classic Analog Bass Preamp, Xotic BRC-v2, Master Effects Manta Ray 2-band Bass Preamp.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Swart Star-Base 1, Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115 Combo Bass Amp, Hiwatt Park P18LH 'Little 45' Handwired18W — Swart Star-Base 1 leans warm right where the bright tone needs it.
How much does the Electro-Harmonix Nano Battalion cost?+
Around $85.36 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).