Compression or boost?

[chokeslam512]

So, here's the sitcheeation:

I switch between two basses at shows fairly regularly. The output of one is much hotter than the other, both active basses. I have always been a believer in the "dime your bass volume and adjust output volume at the amp" school of thought. I do not want to have to turn knobs on my amp, and I don't think I want to turn the bass input volume down.

So, given my dilemma, am I looking for a boost pedal or a compressor?

[Rumblefisher]

Originally Posted by chokeslam512

So, here's the sitcheeation:

I switch between two basses at shows fairly regularly. The output of one is much hotter than the other, both active basses. I have always been a believer in the "dime your bass volume and adjust output volume at the amp" school of thought. I do not want to have to turn knobs on my amp, and I don't think I want to turn the bass input volume down.

So, given my dilemma, am I looking for a boost pedal or a compressor?

Between the two, compressor.

But a cheaper solution would be to twiddle the volume knob for 2 seconds

[FromTheBassMent]

Assuming that the output difference between the two basses is fairly significant, you've got challenges with either choice. If you crank a compressor enough to tame the loud bass, it's also going to be pretty squashy sounding, and you may not like the effect it has on your dynamics (flattens them, basically). If you go with boost for the quiet bass, you'll just have to make sure it's adjusted correctly at the pedal and the amp imput so you're not clipping your preamp.

Is the louder bass active? Because unlike passive basses, active systems do not suffer any tone loss when you turn them down with the volume knob.

[Smurf-o-Deth]

The "dime your onboard volume" school of thought primarily deals with the tone change resulting from rolling down the volume on a passive bass. Your basses are active, so this is a non-issue. If you really have to use a pedal, though, you can use a volume pedal to match down to the lower output bass, or a clean boost to match up to the higher output bass. This doesn't seem like a good place for compression to me.

Edit: beaten to the punch!

[Swift713]

you could use something like the Radial Bassbone

[HolmeBass]

Others have said it: volume knob doesn't change tone on an active bass. Just turn the louder bass down. Or get a volume pedal. The volume pedal can be more useful than just balancing between two basses, too.

[chokeslam512]

It sounds like twiddling my knobs will be the answer.... Also pedal board space is best saved for weirdness and/or fuzz.

I shouldn't have even wasted bandwidth for this thread as I came up with a solution on my own. I am using a shuttlemax 12.0, two pre amps that are footswitchable.... I'll go back to not wasting your time now.

Reason #481 that I like the effects forum: the majority of people will not talk me out of getting a new pedal

Thanks everyone!!

[SteveC]

This:

Radial BigShot i/o true bypass instrument selector

[chokeslam512]

Originally Posted by SteveC

This:

Radial BigShot i/o true bypass instrument selector

Mmmm daddy likes...

[walker rosewood]

even though you've already solved the issue...

There are several boxes out there that switch between two inputs, with volume for each.

carl_martin_match_box

Or any dual looper with knobs, like an LS-2

[chokeslam512]

Originally Posted by walker rosewood

even though you've already solved the issue...

There are several boxes out there that switch between two inputs, with volume for each.

carl_martin_match_box

Or any dual looper with knobs, like an LS-2

I may have to go this route as I am no the biggest fan of the fet channel.

[jpTron]

Boss bass eq. Cheap on the used market and does 15 db of boost or cut.