Amps with built in compression?

[la bam]

It's a good skill to learn when starting - playing without compression - as you do learn to balance much better. But it's always worth having a tad of compression no matter how good and balanced you are.

[MrTea]

27 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Not if you are swapping between fingers / pick / slap.

Fair point (ducks head back into the trenches). 

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 8, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Woodinblack]

4 minutes ago, Jus Lukin said:

One thing to note about the TC bass amps, I believe, is that the toneprint editor doesn't work with them, so you're stuck with the one preset.

When I had a TC BC250 bass amp and although it didn't have an editor, it had a lot of different presets.

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 8, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[grandad]

A bit of revision on compression for me reminds me why I prefer my BH250 with it's 1 control knob.

https://music.tutsplus.com/tutorials/the-beginners-guide-to-compression--audio-953

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, Jus Lukin said:

How do you mean? I don't own one, but did look into it. I got the impression that you could load any toneprint with a one knob control, but not delve any deeper into parameters, unlike the pedals which you can really dig deep into by hooking them up to a computer.

No, you cant change the parameters but there are many different presets of how the thing is setup within what that knob does, so there are loads of different default toneprints, so a spectacomp by some artist, or something like that. You still can't adjust much, but the bass effects are different.

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 8, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Woodinblack]

26 minutes ago, Jus Lukin said:

That does give it additional flexibility, but I do find it odd that with such flexibility available they won't let the user tweak the amp toneprints the same as the pedals. That said, I'm a compression nerd and I don't sell amps for a living- I'm sure they know what they're doing!

The flexibility is good, I am sure, if you have an effect pedal, but with the amps you just pick up the phone, send the toneprint and you are done, it works well with two effects, each with one knob without too much faff.

[andy67]

Bugera Veyron BV1001m & BV1001t

[Rich]

For me, the Trace Elliot SMX is and always will be the daddy when it comes to onboard amp compression. Still my favourite pre-amp ever.

[fretmeister]

I've updated the list in the first post.

 

Need to find out more about Markbass's new controllable Limiters on their new models to see if it is just a limiter or if there is more going on.

[Pow_22]

My Mesa MPulse 360 has built in and very usable compression that i leave as an “always on” effect. Lovely warm growly vintage/valvey tone with my P or J

[BassAdder60]

Orange Little Bass Thing has a decent compressor built in 

My RM800 EVO II has one as well 

[fretmeister]

5 minutes ago, BassAdder27 said:

Orange Little Bass Thing has a decent compressor built in 

My RM800 EVO II has one as well 

Those are already on the list.

 

[BassAdder60]

4 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Those are already on the list.

 

Sorry you are right .. my mistake 

[JPJ]

The PJB one-knob is I believe technically a limiter rather than a compressor? That said, it’s the most musical one-knob compressor I’ve used. The Spectracomp is my go to for everything (unless I’m using either my SWR Marcus Miller preamp or SM1500, both of which have full five-knob compressors). 
There are a few TC heads and combos (I had a 2x10 one a while ago) that include the Spectracomp circuit.

[ped]

Blackstar U500 (and possibly others in the 'Unity' range)

Actually a very pleasing compressor - single knob, threshold and ratio changes as you turn. Works better at higher settings, sounds more like a limiter. 

[jimmy23cricket]

Laney.

 

Nexus range. Both AB and Full valve stuff.

[StickyDBRmf]

Roland SIP-301 Bass Preamp had the best built-in compressor. A great working pre-amp had Becks spilled init and didn't even flintch. I miss that sucker, I might hafta find an Orange Squeezer build to get that Tony Levin Stick sound again.

Oh, and they are expensive on Reverb/Ebay. (as is everything "vintage") $549 US. And that's no amp. No speakers. Pretty tight for a compressor. Never mind. 

Edited October 28, 2021 by StickyDBRmf
addition

[Downunderwonder]

Not on your list:

 

Quilter BassBlock.

 

In the vein of overdriven tube amps, the variable master output level lets the input gain control act as an overdrive / quasi compressor. The difference to tube amps is the effect is available at all output levels not just balls out.

 

Old Kiwi made Jansen solid state amps do the same trick.

[Merton]

The new Trace Elliot TE-1200, if it ever gets released, has dual band compression on it

[thodrik]

6 hours ago, Merton said:

The new Trace Elliot TE-1200, if it ever gets released, has dual band compression on it

Yepp, I am waiting for an update on that front too. Mostly, though I am hoping that the cabinet includes a 4 ohm lightweight 4x10 I can pair with my V6. 

On topic again, I believe that the Mesa M9 has onboard compression too.

[beans-on-toast]

Since you want to avoid weight,  a tube amp sounds like it would be out of the question. They do naturally compress when pushed. Having a tube rectifier helps even more.

 

But a simple way to compress is to mechanically dampen with a sponge mute at the bridge. It worked for James Jamerson. If you have a tweeter turn it down. Again, a mechanical damper, padding placed in front of the tweeter  helps. These kind of things are fun to try.

 

 

[fretmeister]

Anyone tried the new Mark Bass Vintage 1000 or AG1000 yet?

 

They have adjustable Limiters and I can’t find details of the settings - it might be as useful.