Compression as an Effect

[heavyfunkmachin]

Hi!

I'm interested in using compression as an effect, i mean exagerated compression: big THUMB sound on attack, looooong sustain.... and one more thing, im leaning towards the cheap side!

any suggestions?

 

[bongomania]

A few months ago, MF had the Vox Snake Charmer on blowout for $90; if you see a price like that anywhere again, hit it. Otherwise, a used Jacques Fat Burner or EHX White Finger might be cheap enough.

 

[OilcanRacer]

i use a alesis nanocomp for the same thing. pretty cheap used. can squash fairly well.

 

[Mingus Addict]

Vox Sidewinder

Do you mean the Snake Charmer?

 

[bongomania]

Oops, yes.

 

[uaudio]

Bongo: Will a Black Finger give you the same effect as the White?

I used to use my BF to get some really interesting tones, and if you're into a musically overdriven compression circuit, this is your thing.

 

[bongomania]

Yes, they are essentially the same. I don't really recommend either one of them, but they do provide compression as an effect.

 

[the blast]

On sale at:
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...5CO-Snake-Charmer-Compressor-Pedal?sku=150253

Looks like $99 out the door. That seems pretty affordable considering some are selling it for $199. -John

 

[Mingus Addict]

Bongo (and others), if the OP made no mention of price, what pedals might you expand your recommendation to.

 

[bongomania]

Honestly if you really want an effect, the Vox is hard to beat at any price. If you want something noticeably syrupy but not outlandish, then the Frantone Sandwich is a grail.

 

[Andy Walhor]

How “effecty” can the Markbass Compressore get?

 

[bongomania]

Not so much... I mean it has a tonal color and it can compress heavily, so it can give you some effect-y-ness, but it's never as bloopy and whompy as some of the others mentioned.

 

[JimmyM]

if you want a squasher, i think the cheaper the better.

 

[newbold]

What about a BYOC Armstrong clone? Green Ringer AND Orange Squeezer (which is the compression circuit)

About $100 pre built from axeandyoushallreceive.com

 

[bongomania]

Cool pedal, but too much loss of low end unless you put some effort into modding both circuits.

 

[MantisBot]

I've got the Snakecharmer and do like it, but it's a noisy pedal. VERY noisy. It does some interesting things with my basses and, when added at the end of the chain after my two overdrives and fuzz, controls the other pedals nicely in terms of output. It used to be a bitch setting everything up but now I practice at home, get everything where I like it, and only have to make minor changes to the amp's EQ and Snakecharmer to get what I'm looking for.

 

[snapple]

I used to use a Boss compression sustainer. I think it's pretty cheap and definitely squashes. I don't know about the sustain though, at the time I was using a pretty crap bass that would die out real quick.

 

[heavyfunkmachin]

I've been using the vox snake charmer for a while in a extreme setting to achive the "have my own kick drum" effect:

Attack at max (slowest), release at min (fastest), and compression REALLY high (80-90%)... i achieves a BIG spike, very percussive, like a kickdrum hit... BUT it is not as dark as I wish... the spike has too many mids an to little lows.

So I'm looking for a better compressor alternative. Something with a High ratio, really slow attack, a healthy amount of gain AND no lost of low end at all, a tilt eq would be great!

Does such a compressor pedal exist? it's hard to tell by compressor reviews since people never look for this extreme settings...

EDIT: In the past i've been recomended to try The Taurus Tux & The Carl Martin Classic Opto

 

[bongomania]

Tux is a great option, also the Daring Phat Beam.

 

[heavyfunkmachin]

Tux is a great option, also the Daring Phat Beam.

I will look into the Daring Phat beam, the tux is 12V...with internal switching to 24v, a pain in the @ss in my current pedalboard power supply setting..