fretmeister Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 (edited) Not that I have anything to carry anywhere at the moment, but maybe for the future.. I'm trying to put together a list of amps that have built in compression to limit the stuff I need to carry. So far... ( I realise some are heavy, but if I'm doing a list I might as well do it properly) AER Amp One / Two / Three Ampeg PF500 Ampeg PF800 Ampeg SVT-4 Pro Ampeg SVT-7 Pro Ashdown ABM series Ashdown Rootmaster Ashdown Shavo 22 Bergantino Forte HP Bergantino B-Amp Bugera Veyron Darkglass MT900 V2 Darkglass Alpha Omega 900 EBS Reidmar series EBS HD series Eden WTP900 Eich T-1000 Hartke TX8500 Markbass Evo 1 Marshall MB range Mesa M Pulse 360 Orange 4 stroke Orange Little Bass Thing PJB Briefcase SWR Headlight TC BQ series TC BH series (using a Tone Print slot) TC RH Series TC Blacksmith Tech21 dUg Ultrabass 1000 Trace Elliot SMX series Warwick LWA 500 Warwick LWA 1000 That's all I've found so far - what else is there? Edited October 27, 2021 by fretmeister Added more amps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 (edited) 56 minutes ago, fretmeister said: .....built in compression to limit the stuff I need to carry. Saw what you did there... Edited August 26, 2020 by ahpook 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 I have both the ampeg PF-500 and Ashdown RM500 EVO II. These days the Ashdown is my goto. It's VERY light and sounds fab. Ampeg is now my spare and unused in 2 years 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Phil Jones Briefcase has one, so some of his other stuff might do too. Cue 17-page discussion on whether there is any point to single-knob compression systems. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 I'd have thought anything with valves in would add some compression ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Just now, pete.young said: Phil Jones Briefcase has one, so some of his other stuff might do too. Cue 17-page discussion on whether there is any point to single-knob compression systems. Using my Briefcase a lot during Lockdown and the post-Covid wasteland of low-volume social distancing. That one-knob compressor is surprisingly effective. If I was feeling pretentious, then I might even say 'musical'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Much as I enjoy my Ashdown RM500, the compressor isn't in the same class as the optical compressor I used to have. I sold it because the Ashdown had a built-in compressor, but I'll be getting another when the time is right. It would be interesting to know which head manufacturer fits a genuinely high quality compressor to their product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fitzmaurice Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 7 minutes ago, Happy Jack said: I'd have thought anything with valves in would add some compression ... True, and if it has a tube rectifier you get more compression than with diodes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Bergantino Forte HP 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazhowe Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 The Bergantino B|Amp has parallel compression among many other fantastic features. Well worth checking out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 It’s funny, and probably more an indication of my (lack of) understanding of compressors but I’ve always preferred single control compressors on amps to separate dedicated compressors. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 With regards to the TC BH550 - The toneprint is modelled on the Spectracomp and is without doubt, the best compressor I have used. I even tested out a few compressor pedals before CV struck in a local shop and didn't think any of them were near the level of the onboard Spectracomp Toneprint. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandad Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, 40hz said: With regards to the TC BH550 - The toneprint is modelled on the Spectracomp and is without doubt, the best compressor I have used. I even tested out a few compressor pedals before CV struck in a local shop and didn't think any of them were near the level of the onboard Spectracomp Toneprint. TC BH250 here with Spectracomp loaded as my only effect, no pedals. About 9 o'clock does me which just thickens up the sound. Suits me as I just want light-weight & simple allowing the tone of whichever instrument I plug in to shine. Edited August 26, 2020 by grandad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalpy Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Hartkes often have onboard compression- the new class D 800w job certainly does. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bam Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Markbass evo 1. Superb compressor and completely configurable on pc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Some of the old Trace Elliot heads had compressors. Hi and Low, as I recall. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baldwinbass Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 Add Warwick LWA 500 (£185) and LWA 1000 (£275) to the end of your list! Clean sounding amps with built in compression - bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japhet Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 A TC Spectracomp mini weighs less than a fairie's fart. No hardship carrying that around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkin Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 3 hours ago, scalpy said: Hartkes often have onboard compression- the new class D 800w job certainly does. Some, if not all, of the HA series do too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 EBS HD series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 3 hours ago, scalpy said: Hartkes often have onboard compression- the new class D 800w job certainly does. Yep the New Hartke TX8500 has a compressor. tech21 dUg Ultrabass 1000 Has one Without derailing and getting into massive battles I always thought tubes are not actually technically compressors one the truest sense of what compression is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted August 26, 2020 Share Posted August 26, 2020 (edited) Marshall MB range... I have a MB15 - 2 Channel, Modern with Comp, Classic with Gain... Nice little practice amp. MB30 version is Channel foot switchable... and the 60, 150 and 300 have ECC83 Valve Pre. Edited August 26, 2020 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandad Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Apart from the TC BH250 the other amps I've owned with one knob built in compression were - a PJB Briefcase and a Roland cube. Both were good, quite smooth subtle as you turned it up if I remember correctly without changing the sound too drastically. The Spectracomp is the one that can be subtle or heavy, all with one knob control. I think TC got it right. At least try the Spectracomp and compare with any other if you can before you decide. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Just now, grandad said: Apart from the TC BH250 the other amps I've owned with one knob built in compression were - a PJB Briefcase and a Roland cube. Both were good, quite smooth subtle as you turned it up if I remember correctly without changing the sound too drastically. The Spectracomp is the one that can be subtle or heavy, all with one knob control. I think TC got it right. At least try the Spectracomp and compare with any other if you can before you decide. I like this about the Spectracomp. It's like having 3 distinct compressor characters with one turn of the control. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 12 hours ago, Japhet said: A TC Spectracomp mini weighs less than a fairie's fart. No hardship carrying that around. It's still a faff. IIRC it's power supply only. So that's the pedal, power supply, couple of patch cables. One of the reasons I'm doing the list is because I volunteer at a music trust and when (if) we get back to it then I have to move rooms every 40 minutes. So I have to break it all down and set it up again. Every 40 minutes. I have a new cab on wheels and a head stock tuner. If I can get an amp with compression in it then there's only a power cable and guitar cable to worry about. The head can stay on the cab while I wheel it about. It's all about speed of moving rooms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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