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Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, Lusithand & more

#5,903
Well. I spent about an HR with the Florence 1176. They have a legit pedal here. It's big, but has some serious features. Even the "magic eye" is very good. I tried every idea I could through at it and it took it. It adds a little noise at max settings, especially with the tone knob cranked but at useable settings it's very quiet.

It is about 2 inches longer than the Effectrode La1a so it's not small but the features make it worth while. I need to spend more time with it. But so far I'm super impressed and I don't impress easily with compressors.

On a strange note I have 2 Cornish Oc1 clones. One works perfectly and the second doesn't. Only the volume knob works. But. And Im dead serious. I think I have found the best boost pedal I've ever tried. Its staying on my board just for the one thing it does. Weird. So I tried the one that works and turned the blend and compression all the way down and while it sounds good it's not nearly as good as the "broken" one
 
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#5,904
DirtyDuke said:
Well. I spent about an HR with the Florence 1176. They have a legit pedal here. It's big, but has some serious features. Even the "magic eye" is very good. I tried every idea I could through at it and it took it. It adds a little noise at max settings, especially with the tone knob cranked but at useable settings it's very quiet.

It is about 2 inches longer than the Effectrode La1a so it's not small but the features make it worth while. I need to spend more time with it. But so far I'm super impressed and I don't impress easily with compressors.

On a strange note I have 2 Cornish Oc1 clones. One works perfectly and the second doesn't. Only the volume knob works. But. And I dead serious. I think I have found the best boost pedal I've ever tired. Its staying on my board just for the one thing it does. Weird. So I tried the one that works and turned the blend and compression all the way down and while it sounds good it's not nearly as good as the "broken" one
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That's wild. You should clone what's happening :)
 
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#5,905
BunchyMutt said:
Posted this in the LAB thread, but would the Union Tube and Transistor LAB be a step in chasing the gooey, bouncy compression of Abbey Road?

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A step, yes. It's spongy, but probably not along the spongier comps out. I presume, as spongy ain't my vibe and I liked that the Union was fairly unobtrusive for an optical ciruit and there was no real grit unless hitting it quite hard.

Maybe it's more spongy on more extreme settings. Not sure if I tried it that way, as I probably set it quite light as I tend to prefer.

This is not much, if any, help I realize, but since no one replied and ew have tried it I'm at least offering my 2c.
 
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#5,907
StayLow said:
A step, yes. It's spongy, but probably not along the spongier comps out. I presume, as spongy ain't my vibe and I liked that the Union was fairly unobtrusive for an optical ciruit and there was no real grit unless hitting it quite hard.

Maybe it's more spongy on more extreme settings. Not sure if I tried it that way, as I probably set it quite light as I tend to prefer.

This is not much, if any, help I realize, but since no one replied and ew have tried it I'm at least offering my 2c.
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Thanks for your thoughts! It's odd to me that there isn't more compressor talk re: Abbey Road and what pedals could get there. So it goes. Hopefully others chime in
 
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#5,908
Am I crazy? I'm very new to compressors, even though I'm 45 and have been playing for over 30 years. I've had the Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor (my first compressor pedal) since April. I just bought a Darkglass Hyper Luminal a few weeks ago to compare. I prefer the Bus setting on the DGHL, but I really don't think I like it better than the SDSBC overall. Am I crazy?

Given those two facts, is there a compressor I should try? I started this journey looking more for tone enhancement than compression, I think. Maybe the Diamond? I play a Warrior 4 (Bartolini MM/J pickups and Nordstrand Pre) and a US EBMM Sterling 4 into a Euphonic Audio iAmp 500.

Thoughts?
 
#5,909
GrooveWarrior said:
Am I crazy? I'm very new to compressors, even though I'm 45 and have been playing for over 30 years. I've had the Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor (my first compressor pedal) since April. I just bought a Darkglass Hyper Luminal a few weeks ago to compare. I prefer the Bus setting on the DGHL, but I really don't think I like it better than the SDSBC overall. Am I crazy?

Given those two facts, is there a compressor I should try? I started this journey looking more for tone enhancement than compression, I think. Maybe the Diamond? I play a Warrior 4 (Bartolini MM/J pickups and Nordstrand Pre) and a US EBMM Sterling 4 into a Euphonic Audio iAmp 500.

Thoughts?
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You're not crazy. The Duncan Studio Bass Comp. is fantastic. Exceptionally quiet, easy to set, low power draw, can run on battery, and highly ..err... effective per its unique EQ switch for the clean blend. All at a great price.

The BOSS BCx-1 is awesome too, if you want clean & clear compression, with retained high end, and can't-go-wrong settings. Who wants something off-the-shelf from a popular brand though? Only the pros who don't spend most of their free ... or should I say work ...time on Shopbass.

This site is about chasing things that cost more and do less, or don't perform as well, as things widely available. It's fun chasing Unobtanium. Done it plenty myself, which is why I'm so sure about the Duncan (and the BOSS).

For color compression though, the Doc Lloyd Photon and especially the Diamond seem very popular bets.
 
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#5,910
GrooveWarrior said:
Am I crazy? I'm very new to compressors, even though I'm 45 and have been playing for over 30 years. I've had the Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor (my first compressor pedal) since April. I just bought a Darkglass Hyper Luminal a few weeks ago to compare. I prefer the Bus setting on the DGHL, but I really don't think I like it better than the SDSBC overall. Am I crazy?

Given those two facts, is there a compressor I should try? I started this journey looking more for tone enhancement than compression, I think. Maybe the Diamond? I play a Warrior 4 (Bartolini MM/J pickups and Nordstrand Pre) and a US EBMM Sterling 4 into a Euphonic Audio iAmp 500.

Thoughts?
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I vote not crazy... though I don't know you. :D

I've been through a lot of compressors and this thread is a testimony to that fact. That might actually make me the crazy one. :)

Seriously now, I have come to the conclusion that there is no one-size-fits-all compressor. Why? Because we all have a different ear, play differently, use different gear, and have a different threshold (play on words intended there) of what we are willing to invest (whether that be time, money, or experience). Both the Duncan Studio Bass and the Darkglass HyperLuminal would serve you well. Play what you love!
 
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#5,911
BunchyMutt said:
Thanks for your thoughts! It's odd to me that there isn't more compressor talk re: Abbey Road and what pedals could get there. So it goes. Hopefully others chime in
Click to expand...

Agreed. It's worth trying, but if buying it expecting a big "EFFECT!" someone might be disappointed for the same reasons I was pleasantly surprised.

I linked a good interview with the Union main man a few months ago in this thread, which had some demo'ing of the pedal on bass if I recall correctly. That might be of interest if you've not already seen it.

I'm not sure why, and may be wrong, but a dim voice in my head is suggesting there was a BBE (bass?) comp. that might get you at least a bit closer and for a lot less money. I also think I recall that there was two versions, one of which was preferred.

Someone must know something.
 
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#5,912
StayLow said:
Agreed. It's worth trying, but if buying it expecting a big "EFFECT!" someone might be disappointed for the same reasons I was pleasantly surprised.

I linked a good interview with the Union main man a few months ago in this thread, which had some demo'ing of the pedal on bass if I recall correctly. That might be of interest if you've not already seen it.

I'm not sure why, and may be wrong, but a dim voice in my head is suggesting there was a BBE (bass?) comp. that might get you at least a bit closer and for a lot less money. I also think I recall that there was two versions, one of which was preferred.

Someone must know something.
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thanks!
 
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#5,913
GrooveWarrior said:
Am I crazy? I'm very new to compressors, even though I'm 45 and have been playing for over 30 years. I've had the Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor (my first compressor pedal) since April. I just bought a Darkglass Hyper Luminal a few weeks ago to compare. I prefer the Bus setting on the DGHL, but I really don't think I like it better than the SDSBC overall. Am I crazy?

Given those two facts, is there a compressor I should try? I started this journey looking more for tone enhancement than compression, I think. Maybe the Diamond? I play a Warrior 4 (Bartolini MM/J pickups and Nordstrand Pre) and a US EBMM Sterling 4 into a Euphonic Audio iAmp 500.

Thoughts?
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I'm crazy about the Whirlwind OC Optical Compressor/Limiter. It sounds great and enhances the overall tone of my basses. It reminds me of the LA2A, it has nice fat sound with a lot of versatility. It's almost impossible to make it sound bad too. Handbuilt in the USA, 18V, quiet, and as durably built as a tank. It's simple and easy to use on the fly as well. I've used it live and in the studio with excellent results and engineers love it. It would certainly be worth consideration. I own the Cali76 CB and it's wonderful too but is more complicated and better suited for my pit work where I'm stationary for about a month on the gig.
 
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#5,915
StayLow said:
This site is about chasing things that cost more and do less, or don't perform as well, as things widely available. It's fun chasing Unobtanium. Done it plenty myself, which is why I'm so sure about the Duncan (and the BOSS).
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Quote of the day....
 
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#5,916
StayLow said:
Agreed. It's worth trying, but if buying it expecting a big "EFFECT!" someone might be disappointed for the same reasons I was pleasantly surprised.

I linked a good interview with the Union main man a few months ago in this thread, which had some demo'ing of the pedal on bass if I recall correctly. That might be of interest if you've not already seen it.

I'm not sure why, and may be wrong, but a dim voice in my head is suggesting there was a BBE (bass?) comp. that might get you at least a bit closer and for a lot less money. I also think I recall that there was two versions, one of which was preferred.

Someone must know something.[/QUO

BBE has made 3 models of compressors. One was the Orange Squeezer clones the Orange Squash and Main Squeeze, both now discontinued, and the more popular Opto Stomp; replaced by the current OptiComp pedal, and a Ross clone, VariComp. The Opti versions are the most used for bass and there are numerous versions and revisions with different graphics over the years. The word is if you can find a used original version with the -15db pad switch, white painted edges and blue led, buy it. According to some, it's the holy grail of these compressors. Personally, I used one for a long time and I really liked it. The only reason I sold it was that I needed a smaller footprint for my pedal board, I kinda wish that I'd kept it. I don't have any experience with the newer Opti models or the Varicomp. When buying any used pedal, check it out thoroughly. You'll find thought that the BBE's are extremely well made and durable when compared to other brands the same age.
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