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Cali76 only smaller?

#321
Anyone besides Bongo try both the Compact Bass and Compact Deluxe? I dig my Compact Bass alot, but have generally been using it with the HPF mostly off- big low-end isn't a big plus for me. Curious about what kinds of different feels I could coax out of having both Attack and Release controls instead of the HPF function. Might be down for a trade if someone is interested...
 
#323
Bassheart365 said:
I found one at Rogue Valley Guitars..should be here Wednesday. Been using the Empress, which is very good, but the larger form factor is becoming a problem now due to shrinking pedal board real estate.
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Since changing amps I've been looking for something less coloured than my Diamond so the CB & Empress have been on my radar. I haven't tried either. If you have a chance I'd be interested in hearing how they compare.
 
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#324
rmars said:
Since changing amps I've been looking for something less coloured than my Diamond so the CB & Empress have been on my radar. I haven't tried either. If you have a chance I'd be interested in hearing how they compare.
Click to expand...

I enjoyed the coloration of the Diamond with my passive basses, but I love the transparency of my two current compressors: Empress and Cali76 G-P. Note that the G-P is definitely NOT compact (!), but I would trust the CB to be transparent (though I have not heard one first hand).
 
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#325
#176 checking in here. This thing is amazing! I knocked against the price for so long until I realized that it really wasn't that much more than I've already spent on compressors in the past trying to find the right one. Now I have it and my quest for compressors can end!

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The Jewel....seems backwards to be. RED is NO compression, Yellow is compression, and GREEN is Peaking I guess? Not the biggest gripe in the world, once it's dialed in it can do whatever the hell color it wants, I didn't buy it for the jewel!

BTW, Where is Club Origin??
 
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#326
NoxNoctus said:
#176 checking in here. This thing is amazing! I knocked against the price for so long until I realized that it really wasn't that much more than I've already spent on compressors in the past trying to find the right one. Now I have it and my quest for compressors can end!

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Click to expand...

Stop it with your GAS inducing logic and justifications. Quit putting these dark thoughts in my mind. (Hands over ears/eyes) La la la la! I can't hear you.......

What were your favorite comps before the Cali76? The price is a hard pill to swallow but I have a feeling I would love it.
 
#327
rmars said:
Stop it with your GAS inducing logic and justifications. Quit putting these dark thoughts in my mind. (Hands over ears/eyes) La la la la! I can't hear you.......

What were your favorite comps before the Cali76? The price is a hard pill to swallow but I have a feeling I would love it.
Click to expand...
Before this I had an MXR M87 which I've bought and sold 3 times. It's good, but....clinical. I had a Compressore for a little while but wasn't a fan, and the added warmth is what kept me from going with the Super Symmetry, as much as I love Darkglass, I've got plenty of warm fatness and dont want any additional in my tone. Tried the Keeley Comp Pro, liked it but wasn't that much better than the M87 to me.

To me it's not like Dirt where the flavor can change depending on whatever you're playing, it's as vital to me as having a tuner on my board. $370 (only $240 after selling my MXR..!) to never have to worry about buying another compressor was pretty reasonable to me in the end...at least that's what I'm telling myself.... haha
 
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#328
rmars said:
Since changing amps I've been looking for something less coloured than my Diamond so the CB & Empress have been on my radar. I haven't tried either. If you have a chance I'd be interested in hearing how they compare.
Click to expand...

Had my first gig using my Cali76 compact bass compressor. WOW! Just getting to know this little jem, but I can confidently state that my quest for the perfect compressor has ended. I will be selling my Empress (which is a great compressor BTW). Why? The Cali76 is (1) easier to dial in, (2) has a high pass filter side chain which allows you to retain as much uncompressed low end signal as your heart desires, (3) between the hpf side chain and the dry/wet mix knobs, you can make it as transparent as you want, and (4) because it is a smaller form factor.

This is definitely a keeper and has kicked the Empress (again, a very good compressor) off my pedal board. I should add that I use a compressor as an "always on" peak limiter because I have a fairly aggressive right hand finger and slap technique. I need a compressor that limits - just a tad - the extreme peaks, mostly on the high frequency side. The Cali76 compact bass is perfect for this.
 
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#329
Bassheart365 said:
Had my first gig using my Cali76 compact bass compressor. WOW! Just getting to know this little jem, but I can confidently state that my quest for the perfect compressor has ended. I will be selling my Empress (which is a great compressor BTW). Why? The Cali76 is (1) easier to dial in, (2) has a high pass filter side chain which allows you to retain as much uncompressed low end signal as your heart desires, (3) between the hpf side chain and the dry/wet mix knobs, you can make it as transparent as you want, and (4) because it is a smaller form factor.

This is definitely a keeper and has kicked the Empress (again, a very good compressor) off my pedal board. I should add that I use a compressor as an "always on" peak limiter because I have a fairly aggressive right hand finger and slap technique. I need a compressor that limits - just a tad - the extreme peaks, mostly on the high frequency side. The Cali76 compact bass is perfect for this.
Click to expand...
How much would you say the compression kicks in? I've been messing around with limiting with mine as well, but haven't quite got it dialed in. Actually I'd love to know all your settings!
 
#333
rmars said:
Stop it with your GAS inducing logic and justifications. Quit putting these dark thoughts in my mind. (Hands over ears/eyes) La la la la! I can't hear you.......

What were your favorite comps before the Cali76? The price is a hard pill to swallow but I have a feeling I would love it.
Click to expand...

My(most recent)compressor journey started with the M87. Good comp, just never felt like I got it set up my way. Sold the M87 and bought the Empress comp. Holy Crap! It was night and day! The Empress did everything I wanted and let me know how it was doing it. I really liked that comp, a lot. My only issues with the Empress were the knobs moved too easily, and, I was already on the wait list for an FEA. When I got my DB-CL, it wasn't a night and day improvement at all. The Empress is a great comp, but the fact that it kicked the Empress out of the house shows just how good the FEA DB-CL is. Transparent? Check. You want a bunch of squish? Check? Compress lows but not highs? Got it. Compress highs but not lows? Got that, too. The DB-CL is just an AH-MAZING piece of gear. I had zero intentions of ever replacing it, but all you guys kept going on and on about this Cali76. Then, they came out with a compact version and everybody was still raving about how great they were. So, even though I was perfectly content in DB-CL land, I figured I had to see what the hoopla was all about.

I have a Cali76 CB on my board now...

Seriously, this Cali76 is legit! It couldn't kick the DB-CL out of the house, but it did kick it off my board. Easier to dial in and a way better form factor. Sound-wise, yeah, the Cali76 may be SLIGHTLY better, but that's saying a bunch comparing it with the FEA. I'm not letting go of my DB-CL, at least not for a while, but it's been in service for the last 3ish years, so I'm gonna give it a break and let the Cali76-CB do the heavy lifting.


Matt Dean said:
So... Compact Bass at 9 volt or 18 volts?
Click to expand...

I've gone back and forth between 9v and 18v, and although I prefer 18v, if I was told I had to run it a 9v from now on, I'd be ok with that. It really is that good....
 
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#340
NoxNoctus said:
#176 checking in here. This thing is amazing! I knocked against the price for so long until I realized that it really wasn't that much more than I've already spent on compressors in the past trying to find the right one. Now I have it and my quest for compressors can end!

proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Flb62mES.png


The Jewel....seems backwards to be. RED is NO compression, Yellow is compression, and GREEN is Peaking I guess? Not the biggest gripe in the world, once it's dialed in it can do whatever the hell color it wants, I didn't buy it for the jewel!

BTW, Where is Club Origin??
Click to expand...
I've had mine for about a month. It is very well put together and controls are very intuitive. Definitely a keeper for me and has been on my board in the "on" position every since I bought it.
 
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