Shockwave Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 (edited) Hey guys. Currently wanting to invest in a decent compressor. I currently have an Ashdown Dual band. But was hoping to go single band with better threshold controls. The Markbass compressor is going for a great price but I hear it loses those high end frequencies that I love. What would be some compressors to check out? Edited April 24, 2015 by Shockwave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I found the MXR Compressor to be great depending on what bass I was using. With brighter sounding basses it kept the high end really well but since I got my thumb bass I found it dulled the sound a little. With all other basses I used I found it excellent though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I recently reviewed the Seymour Duncan Studio bass. I wanna buy one! I've been a massive fan of the TC Electronic Nova Dynamics pedal that I'd recommend in a heart beat, but they are getting harder to come by. The SD has turned out to be a bit of a dark horse. It's pricey, but certainly in the time I had to review it I was very impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shockwave Posted March 29, 2015 Author Share Posted March 29, 2015 To improve on my original request, I am looking for something very aggressive with plenty of top end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I have the much maligned Boss LMB. It seems to work for me. Cheap too. Plenty of top end I find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTB Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I like the Demeter Optocompulator. It's simple, effective and there's no issues with the top end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 +1 for the TC Nova Dynamics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 [quote name='Shockwave' timestamp='1427641675' post='2732582'] To improve on my original request, I am looking for something very aggressive with plenty of top end. [/quote] The SD isn't aggressive toned in the top end, so maybe not a choice you are after then. It's a super clean machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I get good results with the Aguilar TLC. Doesn't add any aggression but it certainly works for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I find the EBS Multicomp brings out the top end nicely, not compared it to many other compressors but it works well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkfinger Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Bit of compressor newbie but did lots of research before I bought. Got myself a Budda Chakra and really don't see myself using anything else. Simple, sounds great and really transparent (or aggressive if you turn up the gain). £60 delivered from Amazon. Job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 markbass compressore is a brilliant transparent pedal BUT its big and will want its own pedal socket so if pedalboard space is an issue.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 Have you thought about something with a mix control for a bit of parallel compression ? I've got a VFE White Horse and I'm not sure if it would fit the bill for you in terms of style of compression, but I find the blend control's great for bringing back some the initial attack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 I'd have thought the EBS one would suit your needs. Isn't it the pedal version of what's on the EBS heads ? It suits Marcus Miller's twangy tone ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmorris Posted March 29, 2015 Share Posted March 29, 2015 (edited) Does it have to be a pedal ? You'll get a lot more flexibility / tweakability / value if you can use a rackmount. Also any price limits ? Sounds like an Empirical Labs Distressor would fit the bill but you'd need £1000+ to go shopping for one ! Edited March 29, 2015 by rmorris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disssa Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 +1 for the Nova Dynamic NDY-1. IMO one of the best pedal-compressors! I can recommend a [url="http://disssa.jimdo.com/reviews/effekte/origin-effects-cali76-tx-kompressor/"]Cali76[/url]. Versatile and really nice sounding compression with a lot of settings. But this pedal is huge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewisK1975 Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) +1 for the MXR M87 - its got all the control you'll need and is very transparent (and small!) There's a new one coming from Keeley too which is supposed to be very good: [url="https://robertkeeley.com/product/keeley-compressor-pro-namm-2015/"]https://robertkeeley...-pro-namm-2015/[/url] Billy Sheehan is a true compression guru and he's raving about this one! Edited March 30, 2015 by LewisK1975 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Empress Compressor. Best I've ever found, and I'm a compression junkie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51m0n Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Lots of nice compressors out there. The thing is the brightness is as often as not a function of the attack time. A very short attack will catch the input sound quickly enough to cut out a lot of the transient, and that is where a huge amount of perceived brightness, particularly aggressive brightness, is found. If you dont have a seperate attack control you are stuffed, but if you get a decent compressor it will have one, and you want to roll it back to no less than 30ms on the attack. In order for the attack to function on every note the release must also be fast, otherwise the compressor action never resets between the notes, so the transient of subsequent notes its affected by the compressor. A starting point for the release (for me) would be around 60 to 80ms, remember the release only starts once the input level drops below the threshold. Getting the release (or indeed the attack) too fast can cause unwanted artifacts so listen carefully as you shorten the release for distortions and glitchy levels. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBassBob Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 [quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1427661860' post='2732843'] markbass compressore is a brilliant transparent pedal BUT its big and will want its own pedal socket so if pedalboard space is an issue.... [/quote] While I'm sure the Compressore works for you to describe it as transparent is misinformation. It sounds great but it definitely adds a lot of colour to your tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBassBob Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1427713498' post='2733257'] Empress Compressor. Best I've ever found, and I'm a compression junkie. [/quote] This is currently my favourite compressor. Incredibly transparent and putting a passive HPF in the sidechain really lets the low B on fives punch through without getting squished too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Worth a trawl through Ovni Labs for reviews of lots, and lots, of compressors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyxtiger Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 Again the empress is my current fave. Looking at the new keeley pro tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1427713498' post='2733257'] Empress Compressor. [/quote] [quote name='tonyxtiger' timestamp='1427749633' post='2733930'] Again the empress is my current fave. [/quote] Empress or Diamond for me. Not sure if either would be suitable for the OP, though. Edited March 30, 2015 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnermo Posted March 30, 2015 Share Posted March 30, 2015 I use an old Ibanez BP10 that fits the bill pretty good if you keep the level up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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