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Best Compressor Pedal
- Thread starter bezo420
- Start date
Or the one you've JUST sold... speaking from experience
.. and it can be apply to the general effects too.
I wouldn't give up my JoeMeek FloorQ for anything else. It does exactly what I need. It is a tad chunky 
My SR5 sounds best into the TLC, then my Aguilar Tone Hammer 500. Not sure if that works best for everyone, but I've sold two other SR users on this combination. Just seems to tighten the SR tone and even it out. A very punchy combination.
The Diamond has a great 'voice' that just works best with my Sadowsky, which has humbucking jazz pickups. The Sadowsky doesn't have a mid control; the Diamond seems to fit in the low mid and push the Sadowsky there, which makes the bass sound big and punchy.
Not sure how the TLC would work on a HH SR, but it should sound great with the bridge soloed.
The Diamond has a great 'voice' that just works best with my Sadowsky, which has humbucking jazz pickups. The Sadowsky doesn't have a mid control; the Diamond seems to fit in the low mid and push the Sadowsky there, which makes the bass sound big and punchy.
Not sure how the TLC would work on a HH SR, but it should sound great with the bridge soloed.
You're welcome, Tele. Part of me really wants to find another Whirlwind OC Bass. It's a very well made and well designed unit.
Of all the folks who opine on gear here at TB, I have found our compression guru at Ovnilab to be one of the very most reliable. If he is steering you toward something, give it a serious look.
Of all the folks who opine on gear here at TB, I have found our compression guru at Ovnilab to be one of the very most reliable. If he is steering you toward something, give it a serious look.
I'm curious... I'm not so much interested in sustain, I'm looking for something that's relatively easy to use, that would provide a bit more punch, but not color the tone. I just got rid of my Bass Philosopher, as I couldn't really get anything I liked out of it. Ideas?
I've tried a few, I currently use three (no, not all at the same time) out of those three I have, for what you want I'd suggest the Maxon cp-9 pro+ dialed very conservatively.
Look at the Keeley Bassist. I love mine.
I have an mxr that I just got..first addition to my board in 10 years--I dig it---if Sheehan uses it --it cant be bad! however: in general opinion should it be first in line or last in line in the signal path?
The most common choice is first in the chain, but as always it depends on what you want to do - compress the sound from your bass before going into the effects chain, or even out the resulting sound after all the effects. Many place the compressor early in the chain but after envelope filters where you may want to have the full dynamics going into the effect.
Another thumbs up for the Keeley Bassist. I've tried compressors a few times over the last couple decades of playing and never found anything that worked for me. After reading tons of reviews and comments about the Keeley (and having found one at a killer price) I thought I would give it a shot. It is really great. I have it set for a very subtle effect and it is the first compressor that I have tried that makes me sound "better", for lack of a better expression. It tames big peaks just a bit and brings up lower levels for a nice consistent "feel".
It is also very easy to use; not a lot of knobs, meters, etc. For me that is a plus. I know some like lots of controls to fine tune their compressor but for me, this is a very simple "set and forget" pedal.
I find it to be the most transparent and quiet compressor that I have tried as well.
As always, just my $.02.
It is also very easy to use; not a lot of knobs, meters, etc. For me that is a plus. I know some like lots of controls to fine tune their compressor but for me, this is a very simple "set and forget" pedal.
I find it to be the most transparent and quiet compressor that I have tried as well.
As always, just my $.02.
As i have started to do mixing i realised i need a compressor pedal. I don't need it for evening out dynamics but for tightening up the "downstairs" of my sound and bring more definition to it. To the lows, that is. Hence, i've reasoned that what i need must be a multi/dual-band compressor - am i on the right track there?
I use an active bass with a humbucker so that may have already ruled out EBS MultiComp and for example the cheap Ashdown Dual Band Compressor...
So far i have only fiddled with bass compression in my DAW. Haven't tried any pedals (or racks) yet but i have a Zoom B3 and i just realised that there are a few compressor modelings there; Punch Factory, MXR Dyna Comp, what seems to be the aforementioned EBS MultiComp, a dual band compressor that i don't recognize and a dbx 160A, so one of these days i'll definitely go to the rehearsal place with the B3 to test them.
The B3 is too big for my pedal board and for some reason i'm not comfortable with using it in general, so i am looking for a separate pedal.
I use an active bass with a humbucker so that may have already ruled out EBS MultiComp and for example the cheap Ashdown Dual Band Compressor...
So far i have only fiddled with bass compression in my DAW. Haven't tried any pedals (or racks) yet but i have a Zoom B3 and i just realised that there are a few compressor modelings there; Punch Factory, MXR Dyna Comp, what seems to be the aforementioned EBS MultiComp, a dual band compressor that i don't recognize and a dbx 160A, so one of these days i'll definitely go to the rehearsal place with the B3 to test them.
The B3 is too big for my pedal board and for some reason i'm not comfortable with using it in general, so i am looking for a separate pedal.
I tested the B3's compressors today and based on that session the winner was the dual band compressor! I found out that it models the Trace Elliot SMX... And the actual (and accessible) pedal closest to that is probably the Ashdown Dual Band Compressor... And i have an active bass with a humbucker... You see where i'm going with this? --> So much mixed info about that Ashdown pedal whether it works with active/hot basses or not that i don't think i wanna risk bying it without first testing it with my bass.
The price would be tempting, though.Any other suggestions? And since i had both Hi and Low knobs set to about the same in that B3's dual compressor i'm not sure if a dual band is what i really need. What do you guys think...?
I've owned and gigged the Aguilar TLC, MXR Comp, Diamond Bass Comp (and the guitar version), Pigtronix and the Keeley Bassist.....by far the Keeley is my favorite. Active basses (4 and 6) and a passive fretless Jazz into an Aguilar TH500 and the Keeley Bassist is by far my fave.....IMHO the best bass-centric compressor pedal on the market. Once apon a time I ran a dbx160 rack unit thru my SVT w/8x10"....and played Gibson Thunderbirds ('76ers)....dayam!
I have an Aguilar TLC, DBX 160A, Symetrix 501, SD Double Back, and I have recently picked up the Seymour Duncan Studio Bass and I am well impressed with it. Transparent, reacts well to adjustments, and quieter than many pedal compressors. Very happy.
