What compressor with tube amp?

Bunyo · #1 12-19-2009, 11:23 AM

HI,
I have Mesa Boogie 400+ with two 1x15 RR, Stingray 4 with piezo.
I am totally ignorant in the matter of compressors, but think about increasing sound quality of my rig.
What do you think, if compressor will be good addition to my rig?
Dont really know if compressors improve sound of all tube amps, and what about active electronics which is onboard of my Ray? Is it worth buying compressor in my situation?
What would be the best choice???

What do you think about BOSS LMB-3 ?

Zooberwerx · #2 12-19-2009, 11:32 AM

Compressor = good idea. You can buy a decent compressor for low-dough....check out Bongo's reviews here:

http://www.ovnilab.com/index.shtml

The BBE Opto-Stomp is great, simple pedal IMO.

Riis

Bunyo · #3 12-20-2009, 06:10 AM

OK I'm trying to decide between two options right now.
Mark Bass Compressore or Trace Elliot SMX.
Any thoughts?

Zooberwerx · #4 12-20-2009, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunyo

OK I'm trying to decide between two options right now.
Mark Bass Compressore or Trace Elliot SMX.
Any thoughts?

The Mark Bass is one of Bongo's top picks and, believe you me, he's done his homework!

Riis

jam.majors · #5 12-20-2009, 07:45 AM

Depends on what you want to do with it, man. I would REALLY, check out the ovnilab page. Bongo has SO many reviews.

I have a ray and I played on a Demeter Compulator for a while. Great little compressor. I'm probably going to wait for Bongo's review of the Compulator Pro and then get. Or I might just go ahead and get it.

brandau · #6 12-20-2009, 08:19 AM

I have a barber tone press. Its really great on bass, because it has a blend knob. With out it I loose my attack... I wouldn't say its a necessary pedal though. Unless your using it to create feed back or in conjunction with other pedals (octave, synth) I wouldn't worry about it.

JimmyM · #7 12-20-2009, 09:09 AM

i realize this goes against talkbass wisdom, but if you are ignorant about compressors, then you don't need one. a compressor can easily rob your amp of its great tone as easily as improve it. i used one for a while, but ditched it a year ago when i went back to all-tube and haven't missed it.

that said, you should go try out a handful in the music store and decide on your own if you could use it.

bongomania · #8 12-20-2009, 09:14 AM

I agree with Jimmy, more or less. The first thing to read on my pages is not the reviews, but the FAQ! The FAQ will help you learn what a compressor does, what it's good for, what its limitations are, and how misuse can make you sound worse, not better.

nad · #9 12-20-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

i realize this goes against talkbass wisdom, but if you are ignorant about compressors, then you don't need one.

I'd say that goes for any and every piece of gear really.

I've tried several compressors over the years, the only one I ever liked was the built-in one on a Thunderfunk amp. Since selling that amp I don't really miss that feature though.

James Hart · #10 12-20-2009, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nad

I'd say that goes for any and every piece of gear really.

Definitely NOT exclusive to compressors.

JimmyM · #11 12-20-2009, 10:36 AM

not exclusive to comps, mos def, but comps are probably the easiest way to unknowingly screw your sound. at least with a distortion pedal you know you're going to screw your sound

bassteban · #12 12-20-2009, 10:39 AM

Also, tube amps are known to impart a bit of natural compression- I tended not to use any when I ran my D-180.
Agreed on JimmyM's point(s).

Bunyo · #13 12-20-2009, 11:10 AM

The thing is that my style of playing is rather dense. I play many notes, and do it rather fast. My guitar guy plays similar so I wonder if compressor could do smtg that my playing would be even more clear. I mean that notes will not stick together if I could say that.
I wonder how tube compressor is different to dual band compresser in this moment.

scotch · #14 12-20-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunyo

The thing is that my style of playing is rather dense. I play many notes, and do it rather fast. My guitar guy plays similar so I wonder if compressor could do smtg that my playing would be even more clear. I mean that notes will not stick together if I could say that.
I wonder how tube compressor is different to dual band compresser in this moment.

Hmmm.... If you're saying that you "play many notes" and "rather fast" and are losing clarity, then I'm not sure what you need is a pedal. Methinks, respectfully, that a technique or strategic adjustment is in order! You should never rely on a compressor to 'fix' an aspect of your technique. Imo, of course!

Bunyo · #15 12-20-2009, 11:31 AM

OK here is what I play:

www.sertyzur.com

But note that this record was done on different rig than I possess now. I was using Marshall VBA400 with vintage Ibanez Musician.

James Hart · #16 12-20-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

not exclusive to comps, mos def, but comps are probably the easiest way to unknowingly screw your sound. at least with a distortion pedal you know you're going to screw your sound

good point... but it's all relative and subjective. Many find a level of dirt crucial to their 'sound'.

For me, the delay/chorus/flanger/reverb family of effects are the easiest to unknowingly screw up my sound.

JimmyM · #17 12-20-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunyo

The thing is that my style of playing is rather dense. I play many notes, and do it rather fast. My guitar guy plays similar so I wonder if compressor could do smtg that my playing would be even more clear. I mean that notes will not stick together if I could say that.
I wonder how tube compressor is different to dual band compresser in this moment.

your band is great and you can play the hell out of a bass, dude. but when you play fast on a bass, that's just the nature of the beast that the notes will run together sometimes, especially if you don't pick every note. a comp won't help with that. all it does is even out your levels a bit.

Tenma4 · #18 12-20-2009, 02:02 PM

Mushiness has always been my worst enemy, but I've never been a fan of more than a little natural tube compression. Sometimes I'm envious of bassists who have a thick tone with lots of definition. I have thick meaty hands, and a tone to match when playing fingerstyle. I crank out tons of lows, but usually wish I got more upper mid definition. Shaking the rafters is never a problem. I can hang with the fastest busiest players, but my playing turns into a ear-thumping pile of mud.

A couple of years ago I added a thick pick to my regular arsenal. It's the one thing I've found to easily add the definition I lack while retaining most of the bottom. Of course YMMV. I like the Carol Kaye method of picking quite a lot. Otherwise I've resolved to bring the mud!

All I know is when my bass is felt more than heard, everyone else grooves better, and that gets the chicks movin'.

Oh! Wait, I'm talking about shows other than my church worship leader gig. Well...I had better stop before I get myself in trouble. Haha!

Tenma4 · #19 12-20-2009, 02:03 PM

OK, my preceding post was a lot more useless than I intended after re-reading. I suppose what I'm saying is that everyone has a natural sound. Learn to know what your sound is and love it. Then balance it with what physically works for your own construction and what doesn't.

Now I sound bossy... Oh bother. Bass on!

bongomania · #20 12-20-2009, 06:00 PM

There are in fact ways certain compressors can be set up to provide more crisp/sharp note attack, making each note stand out and cut clearly. However, this adjusted attack effect works best with notes that are not played too quickly in succession. For notes played in fast runs, an expander may help. Set up properly, it would cause a momentary burst of higher level at the beginning peak of each note, making them sound more percussive and separated. That said, using a pick is probably easier and more effective.