Barber Tonepress Problem

[rootshock]

I have a Barber Tonepress, which I've used on guitar and I love the results.

I tried it on the bass, and it doesn't seem to respond properly. It seems like it may be tuned for guitar frequencies? It seems to do a better job on the bass in the upper registers, but doesn't sound particularly good on the lower notes. When I went between it on and off, I preferred it off, whereas with guitar, I'd definitely like it to be on.

Is there an internal trim pot that may improve my experience? Am I overlooking something? Does anyone have any (positive) experience using a Tonepress on bass? Maybe I'm just unfamiliar with compressing bass in general, and am getting the expected results, but I just don't particularly care for what it does...?



-Thx

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by rootshock

Maybe I'm just unfamiliar with compressing bass in general, and am getting the expected results, but I just don't particularly care for what it does...?

That's highly likely, TBH. For my tastes I found it to be noisy, but otherwise the compression action typically needed for bass is honestly quite different from what is typically needed for guitar.

[rootshock]

I agree that it is noisy.

Does anyone have any experience successfully using a Tonepress on bass?


I'm looking for it to even out volume more than add sustain. In fact I don't want any added sustain, so maybe I'd be better off with a limiter?


Barber claimed they were going to make a bass specific compressor, but it never materialized.

Didn't Dave Barber used to post here?

[bongomania]

One of his minions posts here, but Dave hasn't been here that I can recall.

[rootshock]

I'm going to try Mr. Pickles settings and see what I think.

Bongomania, it seems in another tread that you've had personal experience w/ the Tonepress?



Quote:
Originally Posted by AqueousView11 View Post
What settings do you usually use? Also, how does this compare to other compressors you have used?
I set vol. at unity gain (around 1 o'clock for me). Blend is about 10 o'clock as is sustain. I like it subtle and as transparent as possible and use it to tame peaks and even out my playing in the studio and live.

I also use it to sustain notes as an ambience effect when running reverb.

Most of my experience is with rack mount studio compressors by TL Audio, Focusrite, and the RNC and RNLA. This is my first foray into pedal compression for bass.
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[RickenBoogie]

If it's possible, try out a Trex Squeezer. It's bass specific, I've had zero noise issues, and it has all the control you really need, and nothing else. Makes my playing sound much better than it should, and my tone is superb, in part because of this pedal. Just an fyi.