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Barge Concepts RC-3

5stringwonder

5stringwonder

Sep 24, 2006
1,313
304
Singapore
#1
I'm looking at getting a compressor to add to my board. Mainly want to even out my sound when I use my effect pedals.

I've done what all good Talkbassers should do and read through Bongo's write-ups.

Have narrowed the choices down to the following :

1. Demeter Compulator
2. EBS Multicomp
3. Barge Concepts RC-3

There's a lot of stuff about the Compulator & Multicomp but not much about the RC-2/RC-3 (which are supposed to be roughly the same 'cept for the packaging...)

Anyone tried the RC-3? Any comments?

Thanks.
 
#3
I've got a RC-3 on it's way but it takes forever or what seems like forever. I ordered one awhile back. All the time I spent reading about their pedals I never noticed anything about the lead time. I sent them an email asking about if the pedal had been shipped and they replied with "it hasn't been built yet".
I guess I need to be more thorough when researching stuff.
Any way when it arrives I plan to give it my thumbs up or thumbs done.
 
#4
I have the VFB-2, used to have the BB Jr. Both excellent. The RC-2/3 is on my short list.

I know one of the main guys at Barge Concepts - Geoff - good guy who makes great pedals. They are a small outfit and subject to the same fits and starts of any young company. He will deliver a well built pedal that delivers the goods.

It says 4-5 weeks lead time on the website. How long have you been waiting?
 
#5
BmoreTele said:
I have the VFB-2, used to have the BB Jr. Both excellent. The RC-2/3 is on my short list.

I know one of the main guys at Barge Concepts - Geoff - good guy who makes great pedals. They are a small outfit and subject to the same fits and starts of any young company. He will deliver a well built pedal that delivers the goods.

It says 4-5 weeks lead time on the website. How long have you been waiting?
Click to expand...

Just a couple of weeks. I just pulled a rookie move and didn't read thoroughly enough before ordering.
 
#8
So this arrived yesterday. I never got a shipment notification which is kind of annoying but it did arrive a week sooner than he had estimated which is cool. Maybe I expect to much but I prefer a dealer to notify buyers so the item doesn't end up sitting on the front porch during a rain storm while you're out of town for 3 days.
Now I'll climb down from the box.
I haven't had a lot of time with it yet so this is just a first impresion rating. I really like it so far. It doesn't squish as much as I like but it does work really well and is priced well for what it does. I'm more into tubes and squishiness but I like the transparent compression of this enough to use it for awhile hoping it will grow on me. Which I think it has little already. My favorite pedal compressor is big and can be noisy depending where I'm playing so I'm hoping this will replace the Retrospec in live settings.
I quit using the retrospec for live situations and have been using a Demeter VTCL 2(my favorite rack mount compressor), but the Demeter is heavier than my power amp. I don't expect a $150 pedal to be as good as the Demeter but for live situations I'm not as fussy because everything gets blurred in the mix.
Anyway so far so good. I know it's not much of a review but,
I'll post more after I use it for awhile.
 
#9
prsbass said:
So this arrived yesterday. I never got a shipment notification which is kind of annoying but it did arrive a week sooner than he had estimated which is cool. Maybe I expect to much but I prefer a dealer to notify buyers so the item doesn't end up sitting on the front porch during a rain storm while you're out of town for 3 days.
Now I'll climb down from the box.
I haven't had a lot of time with it yet so this is just a first impresion rating. I really like it so far. It doesn't squish as much as I like but it does work really well and is priced well for what it does. I'm more into tubes and squishiness but I like the transparent compression of this enough to use it for awhile hoping it will grow on me. Which I think it has little already. My favorite pedal compressor is big and can be noisy depending where I'm playing so I'm hoping this will replace the Retrospec in live settings.
I quit using the retrospec for live situations and have been using a Demeter VTCL 2(my favorite rack mount compressor), but the Demeter is heavier than my power amp. I don't expect a $150 pedal to be as good as the Demeter but for live situations I'm not as fussy because everything gets blurred in the mix.
Anyway so far so good. I know it's not much of a review but,
I'll post more after I use it for awhile.
Click to expand...

It's been a while since your first impressions on this pedal, so I'd like to hear more from you. Has it grown on you?
I'm very interested in your opinions since you declared you're more into squishiness. Does this pedal fully (or partially) satisfy you in this regard?
 
#10
michele said:
It's been a while since your first impressions on this pedal, so I'd like to hear more from you. Has it grown on you?
I'm very interested in your opinions since you declared you're more into squishiness. Does this pedal fully (or partially) satisfy you in this regard?
Click to expand...


I have grown fond of it. When I had the compulator it never really worked and I was turned off by the customer service when it needed fixed. The only reason I mention it is because when the compulator worked it was very similar to the RC-3 IIRC. I just thought I'd mention it because most people have better luck than I did with compulator so I think it's a good alternative to the RC-3. Not for me but maybe somebody else.
I am however spoiled by other compressors and might pick up another retrospec and sell the RC-3 the next time I see a retrospec turn up.
 
#12
i got the rc-3 not too long ago but unfortunately i've never tried the compulator before. i've only previously owned the dynacomp and the multicomp

it's an extremely quiet pedal. there's no noise whatsoever within the compression ratios that i would ever use. it is as quiet as the multicomp (which implies that i find the multicomp, mine at least, to be quiet) but capable of far greater compression ratios. i've yet to fully realise the possibilities of the 'release' knob, which unlike the 'volume' and 'sustain' knob, uses a pot that (how do i describe this???) 'clicks' when turned. i guess it's meant as a set-and-forget control, but for the moment i'm leaving it at noon, which will be the same as whatever it was cloned from, which i believe is the ross. internal switch is always set to 'bass', though i don't hear any low end loss in the standard position (just to be sure though :D )

my guess is that it draws alot of current, probably due to the high-quality buffer. i don't have any figures though, so it remains a guess.

this pedal is engaged most of the time, except when i use fuzz or if i decide it necessary otherwise.

umm... do you know the LED is red when disengaged and blue when engaged? :D
 
#13
Fyi, anyone interested in the Barge clone, I just received this email re: a "special" price:

From: BARGE CONCEPTS [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 12:38 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Barge Concepts Mailing List v13 - RC-3 Compressor SALE!

Hi Everybody!


Everyone is watching their pennies right now, so we're going to try to help out by offering specials and sales on a more regular basis - either discounts on existing products or introductory sales on new additions to the product line.

This month's special is our RC-3 Compressor. Those of you who know us also know that we rarely put out any sort of hype or over-the-top statements about our products, but we can say without equivocation that the RC-3 is THE BEST Ross-style compressor available. Built around a 4-layer circuit board with top quality, audio-grade components, and designed for improved frequency response, the RC-3 offers all of the trademarks of the classic Ross sound with a lower noise floor and better bass response; all at a modest price.

Until March 2nd, we're offering the RC-3 for $125 ($10 more for First Class international shipping). Orders can be placed on our website, or send us an email requesting a PayPal Invoice. Contact us if you need to upgrade shipping or if you'd like your RC-3 with the external toggle switch for bass enhancement. Please note - current build time is approximately 15-20 business days.

Keep your eyes peeled for next month's mailing - it will feature a new, limited edition product with a price tag of less than $100!


As always, thank you for supporting Barge Concepts!

~The Barge Crew~
 

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