Cali76 only smaller?

[smeet]

So confused... More and more models to learn about... Strength fading...

From the reading I'm doing, the FEA DE-CL might be what I'm looking for.

Or maybe not.

 

[Matt Dean]

Availability could be a deciding factor.

 

[blindrabbit]

OK, don't beat me up for asking this...

I've used a few compressors:
Diamond - too subtle and warm.
DBX - tames peaks but doesn't add much character.
Accountant - great drive and aggression but too squishy.


I want a compressor for live playing (mostly rock), so I'm wondering how much subtle coloration matters.
I'd like something that can make the sound bigger and more aggressive and bring out details and harmonics.
But I want it to be punchy and not soften the note attack, maybe even accentuate it. I prefer "hard" to "squishy".

Bongo felt that the Smoothie was too far in the "fat and warm" direction for what I want. He suggested the Empress, M87, or Cali.

So... It seems the Cali can do everything I want, but it's pricey. The Empress is too big. But, can the much cheaper MXR M87 do it well enough for noisy live gigs? It doesn't have the build quality, the HPF, or the blend. But I understand it has good note definition. How much difference will the better sound of the Cali make in a live band situation? For reference, live on stage I couldn't even tell whether the Diamond was on.

At the risk of confusing things further, here's a suggestion for you. You are looking for something that has the oomph but not at the expensive of some squish, without getting too squishy. You want a pedal that isn't too big, and also something that is relatively straightforward. A little character is a good thing, but not too much. This sounds to me like a job for the Broughton Monocle. It is a optical comp in a tiny 1590a pedal. Very simple, two knobs - compression and volume. I went from my Diamond to the Monocle, and I found the Monocle to have some warmth and character - I'd say more of this than the Empress I used to have - but not as much as the Diamond. However, it definitely squished stronger than the Diamond did. Maybe not as much as the Empress does at 10:1, but at the higher setting you are getting into "effected" territory. I love how it sounds following my dirt pedals and playing punk music. To top it all off, the pedal is a fraction of the cost of almost all the other comps being discussed here.

Consider dropping @Azure Skies a line to talk with him about it further.

 

[dinoadventures]

I thought the compact
Bass would be a smaller version of the full size one, but it's a different beast with similar qualities. I think of the CN more like a scalpel... Very precise. It's not sterile, but I think it will not add as much to you sound as the TX. I would put the CB and empress closer together. I've not done a lot with the Empress to get an aggressive tone.

Pretty much my experience with the CB. It's certainly punchy and clear, I'd say more so than the Empress, and you can get it sounding pretty thick with parallel compression, but it's definitely not the warmest thing on the block so I am considering going to the Squeezebox.

 

[monkeyfinger]

Got my Squeezebox from Vintage King Audio. It was a very good experience. I had a problem with the unit they sent. Not only did they replace it, but the guys put mine in the lab to recreate the issue and tested the replacement unit as well. BTW, I think it makes an excellent tube DI too.

 

[Guinness20]

I think the Cali76 CB is a great rock bass comp.

For most people this might be true, but I play a stingray and will soon have a transparent rig. Reading Bongo's review the Compact Bass sounds bright and punchy - but for me that would accentuate my bass' sound to a point where I cut through the mix too much. I think the Darkglass or the Smoothie would suit me better, and I play heavy rock.

 

[Matt Dean]

You're probably right that it would be bass dependent... I play a Fender P.

 

[ilansgroove]

For most people this might be true, but I play a stingray and will soon have a transparent rig. Reading Bongo's review the Compact Bass sounds bright and punchy - but for me that would accentuate my bass' sound to a point where I cut through the mix too much. I think the Darkglass or the Smoothie would suit me better, and I play heavy rock.

I use the cali76 CB with my stingray , and it's not too punchy ... It sounds great to me. My clean sound is always Stingray=>Cali76=>B7K=>amp (Mesa boogie D800) ... I couldn't be happier !!!

 

[dinoadventures]

I use the cali76 CB with my stingray , and it's not too punchy ... It sounds great to me. My clean sound is always Stingray=>Cali76=>B7K=>amp (Mesa boogie D800) ... I couldn't be happier !!!

It's not too bright with my Stingray V either. I run EQ after it, but nothing on the high mids and highs.

 

[rmars]

I use the cali76 CB with my stingray , and it's not too punchy ... It sounds great to me. My clean sound is always Stingray=>Cali76=>B7K=>amp (Mesa boogie D800) ... I couldn't be happier !!!

You posted some clips of that a while back didn't you? Sounded great and I didn't think it was "too much" with your Stingray. If you ever do more I'd be curious to hear the Stingray and CB without the B7K.

 

[ilansgroove]

You posted some clips of that a while back didn't you? Sounded great and I didn't think it was "too much" with your Stingray. If you ever do more I'd be curious to hear the Stingray and CB without the B7K.

I plan to rec bass for a new video project with some friends ... I could dedicate a couple of minutes doing that

 

[rmars]

That would be cool! Just found your last clip and listened to it again, sounds great and a cool groove.

 

[Matt Dean]

I also have a Mesa D800 and I think the Cali76 CB plays really well with the D800.

 

[ilansgroove]

I also have a Mesa D800 and I think the Cali76 CB plays really well with the D800.

Where do u set your VOICING knob?
I'm usually at 9oclock , but will go to 3 o'clock when I want a vintage kind of feel ....

 

[Matt Dean]

I generally keep the voice control set at between 8:00-10:00.

But, I have discovered the D800's secret sauce... hit it with the boost and it makes the tube emulation circuits come alive!

 

[smeet]

I use the cali76 CB with my stingray , and it's not too punchy ... It sounds great to me. My clean sound is always Stingray=>Cali76=>B7K=>amp (Mesa boogie D800) ... I couldn't be happier !!!

I don't use the same bass or amp as you, but I do have the B7K as a part of my clean sound. I'm curious if you tried ordering it B7K=>Cali76, and what was the difference?

 

[ilansgroove]

I don't use the same bass or amp as you, but I do have the B7K as a part of my clean sound. I'm curious if you tried ordering it B7K=>Cali76, and what was the difference?

Not yet, but will consider it ....

What does it change for u?

 

[smeet]

Not yet, but will consider it ....

What does it change for u?

I don't have the CB (yet?), but in general I do octaver=>(other dirt)=>B7K=>modulation=>fdeck=>compressor.

I haven't tried every combo, but my idea was that this way the distortions/preamps can react to dynamic changes, and then the compressor will smooth it out.

 

[Pickebass]

I've noticed the CB adds a nice mid punch in a transparent way if that makes any sense. Sometimes with the Cali TX it can add too much to certain basses. The CB tends to sound really good with active basses. Tends to accentuate the sounds of the preamp more than add its own color. It does sound great with the stingray. I have a B7k and the D800 as well. It's a great combination.

 

[Guinness20]

I've noticed the CB adds a nice mid punch in a transparent way if that makes any sense. Sometimes with the Cali TX it can add too much to certain basses. The CB tends to sound really good with active basses. Tends to accentuate the sounds of the preamp more than add its own color. It does sound great with the stingray. I have a B7k and the D800 as well. It's a great combination.

God damn it Pickebass! I thought I had ruled the CB out as a contender, leaving the darkglass and smoothie. But your description of it with the stingray (I'm also looking at b7k) has put me back onto it