A Kontakt-powered virtual six-string bass with over 10,000 samples, deep articulation mapping, and a built-in modular FX rack and mixer, recorded via a Universal Audio tube preamp.
Purpose and Tone
Shreddage 3 Abyss is a virtual bass instrument for Kontakt, capturing a custom six-string Muckelroy electric bass. It starts at drop A and spans four and a half octaves, offering a deep yet versatile range. Sessions bassist Tony Dickinson performed the recordings, which were captured through a Universal Audio Solo/610 tube preamp for a warm, punchy DI tone.
The library includes sustains, staccato, popping, tapping, harmonics, hammer-ons, pull-offs, portamento, and pitched release noises. Each fret was sampled at multiple dynamics with up to eight round-robin variations per note, aiming for realistic and expressive playback.
Key Capabilities
The S3 Engine introduces a poly input feature for realistic chords, multiple fret and string voicing algorithms, and a dedicated strumming tab for custom rhythm parts. TACT 2.0 lets you map or trigger any articulation exactly as you prefer, with adjustments for dynamic layers, mute levels, and per-articulation velocity.
The included Console is a modular FX rack and mixer with over 30 effects modules, including EQs, compressors, spatial effects, modulation, amps, distortion pedals, reverbs, and custom cabinet IRs. You can blend pickups, insert effects on each, and save or load FX chains across projects or other Shreddage 3 products.
Workflow and Editing
The interface is designed for easier editing, with a cleaner layout compared to previous versions. Strumming patterns can be customized in a dedicated tab, and the poly input allows for natural chord voicing. TACT 2.0 provides a flexible mapping system, so you can set up key switches, velocity layers, or MIDI CC triggers to match your DAW workflow.
Because the Console FX rack is integrated, you can process the bass entirely within the instrument without needing external plugins. Twenty-one production-ready tone snapshots are included to get you started quickly, and you can save your own presets for reuse.
Practical Applications
This bass is suitable for rock, metal, funk, and any genre needing a deep, punchy low end. The extensive articulation set supports fast picking, slides, and expressive techniques, while the poly input and strumming tools are useful for composing rhythmic chord stabs. The FX rack lets you shape tones from clean DI to distorted amp sounds.
For producers, the ability to map articulations and adjust velocity response makes it easier to create humanized performances. Session musicians can use the library for quick bass lines in any DAW that supports Kontakt 5.7 or higher, provided they have the required RAM and disk space.
Key features
- Over 10,000 samples of a custom six-string bass
- Multiple dynamics and up to 8x round-robin per note
- TACT 2.0 for full articulation mapping and triggering
- Poly input, fret voicing algorithms, and strumming tab
- Console FX rack with 30+ effects and custom cab IRs
- 21 production-ready tone snapshots
- Requires Kontakt 5.7 or higher
Best for
Best for producers and composers using Kontakt who need a versatile, deep-tuned six-string bass with realistic articulations and comprehensive built-in effects, ideal for rock, metal, and pop production without external processing.