Which Compressor to buy?

[cLepto-bass]

I've finally decided that after all these years I am going to invest in a Compressor pedal.

Only question is, which one?

If anyone has any suggestions and perhaps maybe a reason or two for your suggestion then I'd be more than happy to hear it.

Just so that you know, I've been looking at the EBS Multi-comp so if anyone can give me advice on that one too, that would be great.

Cheers people.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I depends what you want to use it for.

As an example I use a Behringer BLE100 bass limiter/enhancer and since I got my first one (which was £20 new) I am no longer seeking my perfect compressor. For a long time I thought I wanted a compressor to even out my volume, and tried every one I could get my hands on and even bought a few, but all along it turns out that this cheap little limiter pedal is exactly the right tool for the job I need it to do, ie to even out my fingerstyle playing so I can play with a light touch and let the amp do all the hard work without getting massive peaks in the sound when I do hit a bit harder.

I now have two BLE100s as I scored a spare one on ebay a few days ago for £9 including delivery. I think the original owner may have been disappointed that he couldn't hear what it was doing, but the transparency is one the main things I like about it - it doesn't make the bass sound 'squashed' like some compressors do.

[skankdelvar]

I've had feasible results with a similarly stupid-cheap Behringer CS100. Slight bottom end loss, but that's not a huge issue for me. BLE would probably be better. YMMV.

Edited September 19, 2009 by skankdelvar

[EskimoBassist]

I've got an EBS MultiComp and it really is the dog's dangly bits. Fantastic pedal and really worth every penny. I got one second hand off these very forums for £80, in perfect nick! I literally never turn it off and can proudly call itself one of my essential pedals.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='602434' date='Sep 18 2009, 06:53 PM']I depends what you want to use it for.[/quote]
+1

If you want transparency the Aphex Punch Factory is good.

If you want more of a old school sixties motown type valve compression try an Electro-Harmonix Black Finger - which I use.

As I'm sure many people here will say, you might need to go through a few different ones 'til you find what you want.

[M4L666]

Is that Ashdown dual band one any good?

[Silent Fly]

[url="http://www.ovnilab.com"]Here[/url] you can find some interesting reviews.

[Silent Fly]

[quote name='M4L666' post='603111' date='Sep 19 2009, 08:10 PM']Is that Ashdown dual band one any good?[/quote]

Never tried it but I must admit it does look cool

[M4L666]

[quote name='Silent Fly' post='603138' date='Sep 19 2009, 08:44 PM']Never tried it but I must admit it does look cool [/quote]
The ovnilabs guy doesn't seem into it, but it looks like a nice idea.

[cLepto-bass]

Cheers guys, now I have a starting point.

I'll get back to you with what I decide to go for.

[ezbass]

[quote name='uzzell' post='602409' date='Sep 18 2009, 06:13 PM']I've been looking at the EBS Multi-comp so if anyone can give me advice on that one too, that would be great.[/quote]


Very good compressor as you can set the high and low comp rates separately via the internal trim pots for use in multiband mode. Plus you've got the other 2 settings making this a very versatile piece of kit. Great with active basses especially.

[51m0n]

Personally I've never found a compressor pedal that really did the job right.

Since they all have less than all the controls required to properly tweak the device to you, your bass the way you play - its always a compromise.

Not until I got the focusrite compounder rack jobbie. Obviously that means going rack, and they may well not be for you, but it can be so transparent, or crush the knackers out of it depending on what I need.

Not saying dont try comp pedals, just that you can expect to go through a fair few trying to get exactly what you want, only to discover that no one pedal can do everything you might need off a compressor.

[voxpop]

[quote name='51m0n' post='604167' date='Sep 21 2009, 12:32 AM']Personally I've never found a compressor pedal that really did the job right.

Since they all have less than all the controls required to properly tweak the device to you, your bass the way you play - its always a compromise.

Not until I got the focusrite compounder rack jobbie. Obviously that means going rack, and they may well not be for you, but it can be so transparent, or crush the knackers out of it depending on what I need.

Not saying dont try comp pedals, just that you can expect to go through a fair few trying to get exactly what you want, only to discover that no one pedal can do everything you might need off a compressor.[/quote]


+1 on the rack idea.
I couldnt find a pedal that gave me the transparency and control that is required so I also went the rack way.

I find BSS Audio compressors to be the very best.

[Low End Bee]

[quote name='M4L666' post='603111' date='Sep 19 2009, 08:10 PM']Is that Ashdown dual band one any good?[/quote]

I've got one. The high and low split is useful. I use it for smoothing out the highs and leave it virtually off for the lows.
Mains only. Eats batteries.

[fatback]

Trace Elliot SMX dual. Amazing, and you'll get on on ebay for about £80. I love mine to bits.

It doesn't mangle the lows, never pumps, and if you like your compression subtle, you can use the switch to cut out the high compression altogether.

Biggest plus of all is it's got a tone control that's amazing, especially if your bass is passive.

Oh, and it's built like a tank (it is a Trace).

[url="http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Effects/product/Trace+Elliot/SMX+Dual+Compressor/10/1"]http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...Compressor/10/1[/url]

Did I mention that I love mine to bits?

fatback

Edited September 21, 2009 by fatback

[mep]

[quote name='M4L666' post='603111' date='Sep 19 2009, 07:10 PM']Is that Ashdown dual band one any good?[/quote]

I've got the Ashdown dual band compression pedal. It's very similar to the Trace one, and made by the guys from Trace who set up Ashdown. It's part of my live set up now and I leave it on one setting to subtlety tweek my sound. High & Low on 2 o'clock & Eq balance on 12 o'clock. Mains only.

[url="http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/section.asp?section=pedal"]http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/section.asp?section=pedal[/url]

[Dread Bass]

The usual suggestions are for the EBS multicomp. BBE OptoStomp and if your budget will stretch the Demeter COmpulator. I use the BBE and it is all i need in a compressor.

[Metal-Mariachi]

I don’t know if you can get them in the UK, but the barber Tone Press is the most natural sounding one I’ve tried.
[url="http://www.barberelectronics.com/tonepress.htm"]http://www.barberelectronics.com/tonepress.htm[/url]

The blend makes all the difference in the world for keeping the low end.


MM

[nick]

I got myself a cheap Boss CS-3 which sounded crap as stock, & did the [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/cs3modding.shtml"]Ovnilab Mod[/url] on it, which I'm led to believe is very similar to the Humphrey Mod, but bass friendly(?) .
Quite like it, does everything I need, though I still think I can hear a touch of low end loss, but I'm happy with it.
I still want to try out an EBS MultiComp though & would probably snap up an EHX White Finger if I found one s/h.

Edited October 26, 2009 by nick

[krispn]

I see Aguilar are releasing a new comp in the new year but I guess we will have to see and hear how it sounds

Looks pretty tho

[url="http://www.aguilaramp.com/products_tlc_compressor.htm"]http://www.aguilaramp.com/products_tlc_compressor.htm[/url]