Best Compressor pedals?

[Nowyn]

Keeley Bassist for transparent comp, prob DG Super Symmetry / Smoothie for colored comp.

 

[AshInAmsterdam]

I also play punk and hard rock, and find my Boss CS-3 indispensable. I've read a lot lately that the CS-2 is better, but that's standard talk when discussing Boss - people like to say the older ones are better. It doesn't do a lot with the tone, and it levels out the volume peaks nicely when I'm playing hard.

It is essential when playing with drive too, to keep a consistent distorted sound.

 

[robbroncs]

i play the same kind of music. i love the markbass compressore. it's a bit big, but i love the way it "warms" up the sound as well as doing what it needs to do.

but yea, make yourself a pot of tea and cozy on up to this site
Compressor and Audio Gear FAQ
more information than a human being should be allowed to have. but any question can be detailed there.
some serious passion and research

 

[chaak]

Whirlwind OC Optical Compressor Bass

MXR M87 Compressor

Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone

 

[Rockbobmel]

It depends highly on your needs. Plain compressor= Keeley. If you want color, look elsewhere. I had The Accountant. Was not my thing.

Step one: read this website in its entirety

Compressor Reviews

Having said that, I play the same style of music, and I've had great success with the Diamond, the Broughton Monocle, and my current choice an FEA OptiFet. I'd also recommend the Empress, the Aguilar TLC, and many many more.

 

[NortyFiner]

Based on the OP's statement of punk/rock, I assume the OP is using a pick. Bouncing that off the reviews, I see that the Boss BC-1X is said to work great for short, sharp notes and bringing out pick attack.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

FEA Labs DB-CL if you want a lot of control, but I also liked the Empress Compressor I had before.

 

[Berk Evren]

If you use overdrive / distortion and tube amps, maybe you don't need it?
http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/necessary.shtml

 

[Doner Designs]

Step one: read this website in its entirety

Compressor Reviews

Having said that, I play the same style of music, and I've had great success with the Diamond, the Broughton Monocle, and my current choice an FEA OptiFet. I'd also recommend the Empress, the Aguilar TLC, and many many more.

After reading Bongo's reviews, I ended up with the Markbass and the MXR. I keep the MXR mostly for a small 9V SS backup. The Markbass is amazing and is what I use most of the time. I hear a lot of folks love the Cali76.

 

[Leonidas]

It you don't mind 12v 600mA supply, Markbass compressore anyday!

 

[HeavyJazz]

My Top-5 from the last 10 years of "buy-sell-trade"

5. Analogman Bi-Comp
4. JoeMeek FloorQ
3. FEA DB-CL
2. Carl Martim Comp/Lim
1. Effectrdoe PC-2A

 

[Phil508]

Wampler Ego, has the blend knob to keep the bottom and sustain for hours (ok maybe not that long). Does not have the meter so you have to use your ears (what a novel idea). I tried three head to head after reading many reviews here and like the Wampler the best, still happy after a few gigs with it.

 

[blindrabbit]

It is essential when playing with drive too, to keep a consistent distorted sound.

Absolutely. This is one of the reasons why my compressor goes last in my chain - no matter what combination of dirt I've got on the go, I'm still sending a nice consistent signal to my amp and to FOH.

 

[jsper]

Wampler Ego, has the blend knob to keep the bottom and sustain for hours (ok maybe not that long). Does not have the meter so you have to use your ears (what a novel idea). I tried three head to head after reading many reviews here and like the Wampler the best, still happy after a few gigs with it.

Which others did you try it against? I tried it against the MXR M87 and the Keeley Bassist at a GC and the Wampler won hands down. The MXR was way too finicky and hard to dial in and didn't sound that great, and the Keeley suffered from lack of blend. The blend knob is magic, I think it's essential for bass compression.

 

[Phil508]

Which others did you try it against? I tried it against the MXR M87 and the Keeley Bassist at a GC and the Wampler won hands down. The MXR was way too finicky and hard to dial in and didn't sound that great, and the Keeley suffered from lack of blend. The blend knob is magic, I think it's essential for bass compression.

Xotic SP Compressor Guitar Effects Pedal and the Keeley 4-Knob Compressor Guitar Effects Pedal ()they did not have the Bass pedal. I also went for the subtle effects , not full on compression, my goal was to add just a little all the time for FOH and the sustain just followed. I agree the blend knob was the deal-maker.

 

[Wfrance3]

What about using one of these with the Keely?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[jsper]

What about using one of these with the Keely?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

At that point, why not just get a compressor with a built in blend knob? Why have two pedals on your board when you only really need one?

 

[Wfrance3]

Fair point. I guess it would only be worth it if there was something magical about a certain compressor, where the only thing stopping it from being perfect, is the absence of the blend knob feature.

 

[AshInAmsterdam]

Absolutely. This is one of the reasons why my compressor goes last in my chain - no matter what combination of dirt I've got on the go, I'm still sending a nice consistent signal to my amp and to FOH.

I run mine opposite - Compressor first into Distortion, so the Distortion pedal gets a level signal.

 

[monsterthompson]

At that point, why not just get a compressor with a built in blend knob? Why have two pedals on your board when you only really need one?

Blends aren't always blends. Some clean blends are buffered, altered, or processed and don't sound identical to a clean sound.

Not every comp sound you like is in an enclosure with a blend.