Cali76 vs Seymour

[GalardiGrooves]

I'm looking to get the Cali76 Bass Compressor. I already have a Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor.

Do I really NEED to replace my Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor with a Cali76?

 

[pfschim]

NEED to, of course not. WANT to, maybe.
The Seymour Duncan comp gets positive reviews here on TB and so does the Cali76. I happen to use the Cali76 and am very happy with it, but it's not a magical box or anything like that, just a very nice 1176-like comp.

is there a reason you want to change comps ? is there something that the SD is not doing that you want ?

good luck!

 

[ahbass2500]

You definitely do not NEED to. Question is do you want to.

Reviews from a reliable source (not me):

Origin Effects Cali76 Bass Compressor Review

When photos first leaked in advance of the release of this new compressor from Origin Effects there was a lot of excitement. And rightfully so. The lineup of compressors from Origin Effects is almost legendary. From the quality of the builds to the tone and performance there sure is a lot to...

www.compressorpedalreviews.com

Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor Review

Similar to the review on Ovnilab.com I agree that this is a lot of pedal for the money. The three way switch is a great feature and has more of a dramatic effect the higher you increase the blend (more dry signal). I do like the mid setting a lot unless I boost the mids on my active basses. Then...

www.compressorpedalreviews.com

As someone who has chased compressor pedals, if you are happy with what you have the next one is likely a marginal improvement. I have owned BBE Opto Stomp, Wampler Mini Ego, Cali76 CB, Earthquaker Warden V2, Broughton Omnicomp. I currently own Walrus Audio Mira, Effectrode LA-1A, and Chase Bliss Clean. I will soon be selling an Empress Bass Compressor.

My list definitely has differences. However, they were all perfectly usable compressors. Once you get to a decent compressor you are happy with, you never NEED to buy a different one. Rather that stops you from doing it or not is up to you. It clearly has not stopped me.

 

[johnk_10]

me neither. i have more than a dozen of them

 

[Mr. voodoobass]

I’ve owned and used the SD for many years, sounds great. Lately got the cali76 and well, yes it just sounds better in every single way.

 

[kyral210]

No

As long as your compressor isn’t terrible then you’re fine!

For a year I played the Laney custard factory compressor and loved it. Getting the MXR m87 was easier dial in with the lights, but I miss the custard factory’s tone.

 

[Zooberwerx]

I'm looking to get the Cali76 Bass Compressor. I already have a Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor.

Do I really NEED to replace my Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor with a Cali76?

Nope, you need the SD...here's why:

*It's probably paid for.
*It has the desirable "rescue" blend.
*Sounds pretty good.
*Tough to screw-up the attack / release as the knob doesn't do much.
*The freq selector really comes in handy when blending-in the dry signal.
*I use the predecessor, the DoubleBack, and everyone thinks I'm pretty cool.

...and, most importantly...

*The great unwashed won't be able to tell the difference in real-world applications.

Riis

 

[Low Main]

I've never gone nuts over comps. I still have the SD Studio Bass on my board and am satisfied, at least for now.

But there's something I do like about the other comp I have, which is a well worn old DOD Milk Box.

 

[Not_Shane]

i loved my Studio Bass and only replaced it to get a compressor with metering.
I went with the Keeley Comp Pro and love it so far.
In auto mode, its just the keeley bassist with more control, and a meter.

 

[SLO Surfer]

Do I really NEED to replace my Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor with a Cali76?

You’ll never know until you try them both.

 

[Rayjay]

Those are both great, I personally settled on the Empress because of the added mid-bump and slightly gritty gain saturation. The Cali76 bass edition is very nice but I like the stacked edition even better.

 

[pcake]

my queston is why are you looking to get the Cali76 Bass Compressor since you already have a Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor?

the duncan is well liked. the reasons you might want to replace it with the cali would be
the duncan doesn't do something you want that the cali does
you've heard both in person and really liked the cali sound better
the cali has controls or features you would like to use that the duncan doesn't
G(ear) A(cquisition) S(yndrome)

hint - if the answer to the first 4 on my list are no, it's GAS. and there's no reason you can't own and use 2 compressors. you don't have to automatically sell or get rid of the duncan even if you do get the cali.

as far as need goes, i played for more than 2 decades without a compressor, and now i only play at home, i still don't use a compressor, although i was considering playing with one just for fun. that being said, for some kinds of music, a compressor makes sense to me, but i was mostly playing punk, metal and pop metal, and i wanted the dynamics.

 

[scuzzy]

Yup. If not, those you desire will look elsewhere.

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

If a compressor is basically all you use with perhaps a drive and a SS amp. Then yes, get the OE Cali76 Bass Compact V2.

If you are using a tube amp, then I would say just keep the SD SB or get a Cali76 Stacked.

Tough situation....

 

[Rocksolid]

I miss my SD studio bass. Never used and origin effects though. I recently purchased the Wampler EGO76 because I had sold my SD. It's really good, a lot cheaper than the OE. If @scubaduba's review is anything to go by, he likes it also.

 

[crguti]

Why do you think you need to change?

 

[Michael Vee]

You definitely do not NEED to. Question is do you want to.

As someone who has chased compressor pedals, if you are happy with what you have the next one is likely a marginal improvement. I have owned BBE Opto Stomp, Wampler Mini Ego, Cali76 CB, Earthquaker Warden V2, Broughton Omnicomp. I currently own Walrus Audio Mira, Effectrode LA-1A, and Chase Bliss Clean. I will soon be selling an Empress Bass Compressor.

My list definitely has differences. However, they were all perfectly usable compressors. Once you get to a decent compressor you are happy with, you never NEED to buy a different one. Rather that stops you from doing it or not is up to you. It clearly has not stopped me.

Ahadl, excellent advice for Galardi! I'll affirm. I have six compressors, and there is not much difference in what they do. The main differences are appearance, user interfaces, and amount of control over the compression. Some color the sound, and that may be a reason to consider a specific device. I would argue it's possibly better to get tonal color from a different part of your signal chain.

As for what they do, this there is not much difference for minimal or moderate compression settings. You can hear some differences at more extreme settings, for those that do that. I don't use compression as an effect, only for volume leveling, and all compression pedals do that more or less well.

People either swear by their compressors or swear AT them. I never used any effects for years, got into effects in a big way six years ago, and have turned back around to the point where I frequently plug into my amp with no effects, and am reasonably happy without any of the muss of setting and adjusting the pedals.

If you have a good bass with good natural dynamics, and use good technique for setting the strings into motion (fingerstyle, picking, slap-and-tap, etc.) the need for compression is considerably lessened. Learning technique is not as easy as buying a pedal to fix volume problems, but it's a lot cheaper and is better in the long run. I certainly have more work to do on my technique- we all do.

Remember, everyone who makes them would like to sell you a compressor, so they are in the business of trying to convince you theirs sounds better, will get you more gigs, or whatever, than the competition. Not to mention, the players here on TB who bought a new pedal and sing the praises. I've been guilty of that also.

But, it won't hurt anything but your finances if you try several compressors out to find out if there is one that you bond with. At least until the next temptation comes along..

 

[wolffire99]

it's not a magical box or anything like that, just a very nice 1176-like comp

I definitely bought into the hype when the cali76 v2 first came out. I was shocked by how transparent it is. This is a perfect description of it

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

I definitely bought into the hype when the cali76 v2 first came out. I was shocked by how transparent it is. This is a perfect description of it

Never having used the V2, but recommended it earlier due to reduced size, metering availability, as opposed to not, and assumption that it sounded the same as the original (Bass version).

The last thing I would describe the original Bass version as is TRANSPARENT?

If there is a compressor with a "baked in tonal augmentation" it's the Origin Effects Bass Compressor. It's a great tool if you don't play a tube amp, for sure!

 

[pfschim]

Never having used the V2, but recommended it earlier due to reduced size, metering availability, as opposed to not, and assumption that it sounded the same as the original (Bass version).

The last thing I would describe the original Bass version as is TRANSPARENT?

If there is a compressor with a "baked in tonal augmentation" it's the Origin Effects Bass Compressor. It's a great tool if you don't play a tube amp, for sure!

yeah, IMO/IME the Cali76CB (mine is v1) definitely has a voice, it's subtle but there is definitely something in the upper mids maybe. But this is similar to the original 1176 design which the Cali76CB follows to an extent. Those 1176 comps definitely had a coloration to them.