Novation Bass Station II Swifty Edition: Limited Edition Station Gets Mo’ Wax Makeover
New presets from Legowelt and others too!
4,2 / 5,0 | 
Legendary Mo’ Wax graphic designer Ian “Swifty” Swift transforms the classic analog synthesizer into the Novation Bass Station II Swifty Edition.
Novation Bass Station II Swifty Edition
The Novation Bass Station II is a modern classic. The analog monosynth (with paraphonic powers) first debuted in 2013, and it’s now recognized as a solid contender for most useful monosynth ever. Whether you’re doing house, funk, bass music or pop, it can do what you need and with room to spare.
Now, 12 years on, the British company has announced a new limited-edition version, the Novation Bass Station II Swifty Edition.
Back in Time
Before we get into the details of the Bass Station II Swifty Edition (no, it doesn’t have anything to do with Taylor Swift), let’s look at the history of the Bass Station.
The Bass Station is inextricably tied into the history of Novation, which I went into in detail in this story. But quickly, the original Bass Station came out in 1993, at a time when no one wanted analog synths – or so they initially thought. Popular with ravers and electronic musicians, it brought hands-on control back for a new generation who wanted to make acid.
The Bass Station lives on in GForce’s software version – and in the DNA of its successor, the Bass Station II, which expands on and improves almost every aspect of the original.
Mo’ Synths, Mo’ Wax
The new Bass Station II Swifty Edition is the second limited edition reskin of the synth, following on from the extremely cool Aphex Twin-designed AFX Station of 2019. As with that synth, the new one also features a celebrity collaboration, this time with artist and graphic designer Ian “Swifty” Swift.
Not familiar with Swifty? I didn’t know the name either, but I was certainly familiar with his work. A prolific graphic designer, he worked at publications like The Face and Straight No Chaser in the 1980s and ‘90s, and for record labels like Mo’Wax and Talkin’ Loud, developing a visual language to complement their unique ‘90s sounds. The Bass Station II Swifty Edition reflects this style and reminds me of an animated title sequence from a 1960s movie like Charade.
Along with the Swifty style, the synth features 60+ new patches from Dutch techno don Legowelt, alt-pop duo Pecq and jazz/electronic fusion artist Maria Chiara Argirò.
Price and Availability
The Novation Bass Station II Swifty Edition is available now to order from Thomann* for €489.
More Information
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One response to “Novation Bass Station II Swifty Edition: Limited Edition Station Gets Mo’ Wax Makeover”
USB-A??????? Really???????
What year is it?