Big Bottom Aural Exciter & EBS Compressor

Okay... I've been playing with my EBS compressor for a while now (http://www.ebs.bass.se/products/blacklabel/comp/comp_mellan.jpg) and I find it pretty helpful. Despite my ignorance after a brief fiddle with the nobs i can vastly improve the sound from my substandard budget basses (we're talking Aria and Vintage not Ernie Ball and Fender). After a bit of a read around I decided to get my hands on one of these Big Bottom/Aural Exciter pedals and I did (http://www.aphex.com/images/electronics/pedals/3pedals_420x400.jpg). When I use the Big Bottom/Aural Exciter solo I do get a much improved sound, but frankly, the difference is minimal in combination with the EBS compressor added into the mix. Infact, the high end controls on the Aural Exciter seem to just reduce volume without increasing tone quality or sustain very much at all. Fiddling around with the bass settings increases the quality and punch a little.

Ultimately I'm trying to get closer to that fat funky sound the likes of Stanley Clarke use. I realise I'm never going to get probably even close to that with the budget instruments and equipment I use but with a little work and experimentation with these pedals I've improved my sound loads... does anyone have any additional suggestions of pedals that improve tone, control over attack/sustain etc which don't cost the earth?

 

Thanks for the tip but this is the way I've already got them lined up.

 

Some handy tips in the other Aural Exciter thread. Are there any additional pedals for control attack/sustain + tone that I could throw into the mix, or would that be a waste of time? Would I be better off looking into getting higher quality amps + cabs?