Compressor for bass?

azrael · #1 05-30-2011, 12:18 PM

What sort of compressor sound do you guys likes for bass?
I built my bassist a highly modified Big Muff, sort of like a modified Ram's Head with MOSFET clipping and an extra gain stage like the Blackout Effectors Musket, and flat mids. Now, i want to build him a compressor to go with it, since his birthday is coming up.

What kind of compressor sounds good for bass? You can name tones, or you can name specific pedals.

thanks guys!

carlos840 · #2 05-30-2011, 12:33 PM

I use the Aguilar TLC, great pedal...

Everything you need to know about compressors is there!

Compressor Reviews

Bassist30 · #3 05-30-2011, 01:47 PM

Empirical Labs EL8-X. If your asking for an opinion. But as far as pedals nothing come close but aguilar, demeter , 1960 , maxon, and Diamond make nice bass friendly compressors.

azrael · #4 05-30-2011, 05:28 PM

It's important to note that I said I would be building it for him....

James Hart · #5 05-30-2011, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azrael

It's important to note that I said I would be building it for him....

Ross and Orange Squeezer clones can work well... you can even do both with some bass tweaks in the same box and make is an analog.man Bicomprossor clone.

Analog Man Compressor Pedal Page
YouTube - ‪ANALOGMAN BICOMPROSSOR‬&rlm;

bassboysam · #6 05-30-2011, 06:14 PM

If you want transparent then the Rothwell Love Squeeze should be on your list of pedals to clone.

enricogaletta · #7 05-31-2011, 12:19 AM

Well it just depend of what kind of compressor you are looking for, if you need particular settings for release and attack and some color on the sound you should start to look for a rack "format machine" if you need something of more standard setting to have a good balanced sound some pedal are really good now.
The first case off course is much more expensive, personally i like TLAudio, I love the Distressor from Empirical Labs, (the best fast release I ever heard) but also here I found some exception, for example the FMR Audio make two really nice and compact rack compressors really not expensive, just like a good pedal price.
From the pedal side, I think the Aguilar one is a good option, and recently I had the chance to try the new MXR M87 that sound's pretty good.
Enrico Galetta - Home

bongomania · #8 05-31-2011, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azrael

It's important to note that I said I would be building it for him....

Go optical. Good results on bass, easy to build. Look at the BYOC optical kit for a basic starting point.

TheVoiceless · #9 05-31-2011, 11:28 AM

The Keeley 4 knob compressor pedal is really nice IMO. Always on, fattens tone and is super clear, very little coloration.

azrael · #10 06-02-2011, 12:15 PM

Why is optical good for bass?
Probably won't build from a kit, I've got plenty of parts on my workbench, as long as I have a schematic, it should be just fine, I'll be able to build from it.

Basically, I really don't know what a bassist usually looks for in a compressor. So that's essentially what I'm asking:
What should you be looking for in a compressor? What kind of tones? Do I want transparent? Or do I wanna squish it?

stflbn · #11 06-02-2011, 12:18 PM

"I" want the ability to chose if it's transparent or squished.

"To Me" compression isn't an effect... it's a subtle peak and volume control.

I'm currently really digging my FEA Dual Band SMX Compressor. Fantastic compressor.

bongomania · #12 06-02-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azrael

Why is optical good for bass?

The response characteristics tend to work well with the envelopes from a bass guitar, and the circuit doesn't necessarily/inherently roll off the lows (see the Ross/Dyna and Orange Squeezer types for examples that do inherently lose some lows).

Also take note of the Urei LA2A and LA3A, two of the most popular and successful studio compressors for bass--they are optical, and many pedal comps, like the popular Demeter, try to emulate those circuits.

John Webb · #13 06-02-2011, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheVoiceless

The Keeley 4 knob compressor pedal is really nice IMO. Always on, fattens tone and is super clear, very little coloration.

+1
I use a Keeley also..........never turn if off during a gig.

MuzikMan · #14 06-02-2011, 03:01 PM

I've had good luck with optical compressors and I have heard from others that it is a good choice for bass. I can't say I know why but I can say it works.

catfishplatter · #15 06-02-2011, 03:49 PM

The mark bass comp may be the best stomp box comp I have ever used. Maybe even better the my DBX actually.....true tube comp!!!

karter2000 · #16 06-02-2011, 11:00 PM

Are you familiar with the Flatline Compressor?:

http://www.hollis.co.uk/john/flatline.jpg

I've built one based on a pcb layout at diystompboxes.com. Very simple optical compressor and sounds great as well. Transparent with lots of lows, and even fattens things up a bit.

blastjv · #17 06-03-2011, 07:18 AM

I can't say what ALL bassists are looking for in general, but for me it was a simple to use tool to help me control varying levels which could not otherwise be controled with playing dynamics. My sound is bright, growly, and aggressive, but with huge thick lows, so I wanted something that would preserve the attack of each note, but keep the bigger low notes from jumping out so much more than the others, while still allowing the tone overall to be huge. I was lucky enough to have found what I needed in the BBE Opto Stomp, used for $60, but I think the BBE has a pretty narrow window of use, meaning it does an excellent job of subtle and transparent gain riding, but doesn't do a whole lot else (which again, I don't care about since it does what I want it to perfectly).

I think the new MXR pedal (if it delivers what it is supposed to deliver) looks like just about a perfect Bass Compressor as far as features and ability. I'm interested to try one, but honestly, I'm happy enough with the much simpler and cheaper BBE that I may not bother...but the added control the MXR may provide is tempting.....

So, I'd say the features that I (and I would think most bassists) would want would be:

- Simplicity (but not TOO simple - with control of all the necessary parameters)
- Clear labeling of functions
- Meter to observe gain reduction
- NO loss of low end
- Transparency (with maybe a 'character' or 'tone' knob if you want 'thickening' or whatever)

-JV

Emperor Elite · #18 06-03-2011, 07:22 AM

My favorite is the Demeter Optical Compressor. Excellent, well-made, and great sounding pedal. Perfect for bass.

ThudThudThud · #19 06-03-2011, 07:35 AM

Loving my Seymour Duncan Doubleback. Very transparent, and you can dial in some or all of your unprocessed signal. Tons of volume if you need it too.

Kindly Killer · #20 06-03-2011, 09:17 AM

you can find a schemo for the carl martin compressor, which is built on a comp-on-a-chip IC from ThatCorp.

IMO bass can benefit from a legit, clean comp like producers use on vocal and drum channels. you can get the color effects from them, but you can't get good clean compression from pedal type effects.

there is a company that makes optocouplers that has a schemo for what is reputedly a nice comp... can't think of name, let me search my electronics folder real quick...

Silonex NSL-32

i don't vouch for it b/c i haven't built it, but heard on teh intarwebs it is nice

speaking of which you will get more help from diyaudio and diystompboxes than here

another thought: one reason i haven't built a lot of compressors is that it isn't worth the time. you can buy a really nice - i mean unhyphenated nice - comp for $200 that you will never touch, quality wise, with less than a hundred hours of R&D/tinkering. plus you are going to spend that much on parts, anyway - better to just buy a RNC or ART or even JoeMeek