krispn

With the latest two “amp modeller in a box” offerings being released from UA has anyone read anything about UA doing a bass version? With the popularity of the Origin gear I feel like UA would be missing a trick if they didn’t use their experience and expertise to look at something for the bassist. I think Tore from TC went over to UA a few years back to develop this stuff. Would any of you guys be interested in something like that from UA for bass players? The guitar amp versions come with a heap of cab options and are very tweak-able via an extensive but user friendly app and well designed on pedal options with switches and knob - no screens or serious menu diving. They seem to go for about £300-£350 which might just push people to a multi-fx but they do sound fantastic in their guitar versions and I think designed for going direct as much as adding versatility to a live rig. What’s folks thoughts?

I’m a bit giddy with a mark bass comp first and after my preamp there’s a hyper luminal going to my foh. As the signal moves along I have a Basswitch Dual Band comp near the end of the board. It’s excessive but as I had them I thought I’d add them and honestly with a little touch of mild comp I’m getting a big sound with dynamics intact. I’ll pair it down but it’s actually fun. I can switch them on and off and generally leave the hyper luminal on all the time.

It’s fun once you start to blend int he drive section. All that pleasing fat fundament robe just gets a wee lift from adding a touch of gain. It’ll go heavier but that ‘finishing touch’ which a wee nudge of drive can offer is tone heaven.

Very well written and it’s the type of head people ‘tone chase’ a lifetime for (especially with a p bass).

Just chime in after some great suggestions. Well all have different needs and wants, preferences and things we see as pro’s or cons. As @Osiris says if it’s overly noticeable you either want that effect or you’ve set it ‘wrong’. I currently have three comps on my boards and it’s an overindulgence but… Hyper Luminal sitting right after my preamp and before the DI signal for the FOH output. BUS setting with very little compression but just enough to catch anything overly unruly. I think I have reasonable control of my right hand technique and this still allows my dynamics etc. Nice thing about the HL is the onboard control with three types of comp and deeper setting to tailor the unit for each ‘type of comp’ so three setting (pre sets?) in the one unit. Markbass Compressor- recently acquired and I love it. It’s equally effective as a characterful tube stage as it is a wonderful easily tweak-able comp. I have it set up to barely grab peaks but just find the whole signal chain sounds better with it in line. It’s now first thing on the board. If you want tube character it sounds as good and better than almost any ‘tube drive’ units I’ve tried or those amps with the tube pre which doesn’t really do much. Honestly I feel this is a sleeper pedal for folks wanting tube character without fizzy drive, thickness with out loss of top end and a wonderful actual tube doing the work compression. It’s a big unit and needs 12v 600 mA power but if you have space and the right power it’s a winner. Basswitch Dual band comp - @Osiris has had a play on this and finds it similar to the Boss LMB but with a slightly different flavour. Very punchy and simple to dial in - some pre set things going on under the hood so the four controls make it really simple to set up quickly. Again I’ve it set up to be not so grabby and much like gain staging drive units I can have all three compressors on without tone suck and all just adding in a wee touch of ‘more’.

Another transaction with Peter and again a pleasure to communicate with. Thanks again Peter!

I have a Basswitch EQ DI if you fancy a loaner to see if it’s any use but looks like a good solution with the mesa. It has a ton of features and options including A/B inputs impedance switch on the input boost mute full eq etc

What don’t you like about the MB Comp other than the size? It’s a wonderful tube stage and can add quite a nice character to the sound as I’m sure you noticed. Everyone will have a different idea of what is a better unit but if you can source a Bass witch Dual band comp it will do a lovely punchy sound. The hyper liminal is a great unit too. The Sym mode does some of that tone shaping and makes things a wee touch darker but not in a bad way. But the MB does the tone sweetening better than IMO. BUS is where it’s at for me. Again punchy and makes things better. I just got a MB comp ad I really like it. Even using it in the last few gigs and just have it on the floor beside my main pedal board. I’ve shifted a few things to make it fit because I love what it brings overall, not just as a comp but as part of the signal chain. I’ve not used a comp which sounds quite like it not that I’ve used heaps of comps. I’m sorely tempted to use all three on my board for the next couple of gigs just for fun.