Compressor Selection

[flyingwalrus]

Hello folks,

Given the expertise on this forum (not least bongomania, very many thanks for the extremely impressive review site, by the way) I thought I'd see if I can pick your brains on something.

I've been using a Line6 Constrictor as the compressor in my nearly bare-bones rig (bass > compressor > MXR Bass DI > TC Electronic BG250) which works as advertised, but I wouldn't mind being able to open the attack a little and up the release time.

The wrinkle here is that I play both electric (a Line6 Variax 705 and Ibanez SRT705DX, both 5-strings) where I'm looking to even things out a bit, and a Michael Kelly Club Custom Acoustic 4 string which appreciates some sustain. I do fingerstyle with both, a very little picking and absolutely no slapping.

Given this, what compressors do your recommend? I'm looking for a pedal rather than a rack unit, and unfortunately no-where around here (North Virginia) seems to actually have top-end units I can actually try out. I've been thinking about the Empress or the JoeMeek FloorQ.

Any thoughts very much appreciated,

Ian

[caeman]

The floorQ would seem to give you option very well. With it's 6.8MOhm input, it would might work better than than the Empress. With the BG250's features and tone print capability, is the Bass DI even needed?

[flyingwalrus]

Hello Chad,

Good point about the TonePrint. I have the Spectracomp loaded on the amp, and for a 1-knob compressor it works for me. However with the variety of stuff I do I DI about half of the time as churches and folk gigs in particular like keeping stage volume down.

Ian

[caeman]

So you don't use the balanced out on the BG250, then? The balanced out level is usually disconnected from the power amp stage level.

[mjac28]

FEA DE-CL done.

[mjac28]

I also sent you a PM about joining the Variax Bass Club I have a 700 and love it and if you don't like the FEA DE-CL the Empress or MXR compressors are my next choice I had both but the FEA is tops in my book.

[flyingwalrus]

Originally Posted by caeman

So you don't use the balanced out on the BG250, then? The balanced out level is usually disconnected from the power amp stage level.

Chad,

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't, not being a particular tone snob (trust the front end of the signal chain...) I'm happy to go with whatever the venue wants, so a fair amount of the time the amp doesn't even come out of the car. Also I've played a fair bit in central London where you can't park and have to use whatever sketchy backline the venue has scammed up, so being flexible is useful...

Ian

[eddododo]

I got a compressore by Markbass recently. It is basically what I kept wishing other compressors would be.. I feel like it gives my tone a 'finished' sound, like a studio track.