Bass Compressor, Which One?

[BassBeginer64]

I am torn between a few, I am just a beginner and getting better, I am mainly just playing at home and just looking for a very good compressor *Help me sound better in front of the wife* they all have great reviews, the list as follows - yeah I know they are not cheap, looking for quality and functionality :
MXR-M87WHT (M76BLK)
BASS COMPRESSOR
STUDIO COMPRESSOR

Keeley Bassist Compressor
Bassist Compressor - Robert Keeley

Diamond BCP-1 Bass Compressor
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Diamond BCP-1 JR Bass Compressor
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Empress Bass Compressor
Compressor

 

[BassBeginer64]

I am leaning towards the MXR-M87WHT (M76BLK) due to T/B chat and reviews, plus its size and bells and whistles.

 

[lowplaces]

The Keeley does it for me. Gigged with it for the first time tonight. Very pleased with it. So easy to dial in.

The only other two compressors I've owned are the Barber Tone Press and the DOD Milkbox.

Those were decent but the Bassist ended the hunt.

 

[GMC]

They are all good, they just have slightly different personalities. There aren't any bad choices in your list.

 

[BassBeginer64]

This one has really peaked my interest: Dark Glass Hyper Lumina Compressor, there has been no word on this compressor yet? Pricing is not bad for all the options, with the USB pc hookup with Dark Glass for custom set ups, the video states Dark Glass will add more software updates.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[JimboP]

Two pretty formidable references for compressors on bass:

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

Compressor Reviews

 

[Northfear]

I am torn between a few, I am just a beginner and getting better, I am mainly just playing at home and just looking for a very good compressor *Help me sound better in front of the wife* they all have great reviews, the list as follows - yeah I know they are not cheap, looking for quality and functionality :
MXR-M87WHT (M76BLK)
BASS COMPRESSOR
STUDIO COMPRESSOR

Keeley Bassist Compressor
Bassist Compressor - Robert Keeley

Diamond BCP-1 Bass Compressor
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Diamond BCP-1 JR Bass Compressor
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Empress Bass Compressor
Compressor

If you want to learn how compression works, get M76 or Empress. Visual metering is very useful if you haven't used compression before. And full range of controls will help you to understand how compressors work in general.
Played both. They were roughly the same in therms of tone and noise. Empress had better functionality (sidechain, parallel compression and wider attack range). M76 has more ratios tho (so it's kind of better as a limiter). But generally if size and cost is not an issue, get Empress (Keeley Compressor Pro is a nice full featured alternative too).

 

[fasterpussycat]

Had a Diamond BCP-1 and sold it to fund a new bass because I 'didn't really need it'. May not need it but I miss it. A Bass Comp Jr will be incoming as soon as they are available locally and I have the funds.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I had the MXR it got replaced by the Keeley, it's just more what I was looking for. Try them out and get the one that does it for you, reading reviews is not bad but could be misleading since what does it for one may not be what does it for you...

 

[Zooberwerx]

I own both the Empress and Diamond (not the Jr.). For sheer ease of use, I'd go with the Diamond.

Riis

 

[Fuzzbass]

Of your choices I would go with Empress (which I own) or Darkglass (which I've read about). I tried the Diamond BCP1 but returned it because it was too squishy with my active basses (sounded great with my passives).

 

[Sid the Kid]

I went from the MXR m87 to the Lehle Basswitch Dual Band Compressor and couldn’t be more happy. Works a treat with my active and passive basses.

It really does it all from tone enhancing punchy magic to full limiting and it plain sounds good. Not a ton of knobs to fumble with, but a ton of sweet spots.

 

[mmbongo]

Was not a fan of the M87 at all. Never could get a good sound out of it.

Long story short...Keeley Bassist for the win. You just can't beat the simplicity. Then later if you want to get fancy, look into something like the Darkglass.

 

[Ethan Crank]

Have you looked at the new Darkglass hyper luminal compressor?

 

[SLO Surfer]

Keely for me because I just wanted a transparent and quiet peak limiting compression to tame my envelope filter spikes. I used a diamond for a bit, but realized I don’t want or need a tone enhancing compressor.

What do you want out of your compression? That would narrow your choices down very quickly.

 

[bass40hz]

FEA DE-CL.
Rock on.

 

[DavC]

if i was a beginner again ... i'd do what i did back in the 70's ... work on my technique first to fix mechanical issues ... and learn to setup my bass ... those things can help 'level' out your sound/volume levels ... IF that is what you want a comp pedal to do for you .!? if you want a comp pedal to use for a certain type of sound/effect , go for it ..!!

for the price , the Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Comp works very well ..!

 

[hardtop]

I've tried a few of those, and they're all good. This may not be the fanciest, but it is my favorite among the ones I've tried. Our engineer has used it instead of his serious rack mounted studio equipment.
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[Aidenn7]

Any FEA LABS. Lehle. Origin. smoothie/ Empress.Diamond. Keeley. Mxr. Dbx overeasy/Dod milkbox. Ross. Dan Armstrong. Boss cs-2. Bbe optistomp.

That's the levels kiddo. Based and sound and features. I use an fea optifret.. All these are good to great.. But you gotta start some where. I got with the Fealabs De-Cl. smoothie. Keeley in that order.. If you don't like those you don't like compression

 

[Medicine Man]

If you want a bunch of knobs to twiddle and metering to learn about compression: Empress

If you want something that runs almost automatically and is transparent: Keeley

If you want something subtle and warm: Diamond.

Compression comes down to personal taste....