• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Compression Pedals Which Provide "Tone Magic"

#2
You mention comps in the title and channel strips in the OP. So I am going to hit both. There are several. JHS Colour Box is supposed to be a Neve channel strip in a pedal. I tried it recently. It was very cool, but didn't really work for me. I like the Zeibek Submarine for this too. That is out of production, but you can find them used. @johnk_10 built some nice clones. I have one and really like it. Fuzzrocious has the BDPG which is similar with additional distortion on tap. SFX Sound has the B3 which is similar to the Submarine too. I just picked up a Retrospec Squeezebox tube compressor/D.I./preamp that adds a nice character. For other compressors with tonal magic I would also check out the Cali76, the Markbass Compressore, and the FEA Labs DE-CL. I also suggest looking into the A-Designs REDDI for recording. Also, Reiner Amps, @JGR, is coming out with a new version of his famous Box-O-Tone. That should definitely be worth checking out. It's a preamp/DI.
 
  • Like
Reactions: triviani and JGR
#4
Tone magic can also be called distortion as it would mean altering the frequency response from the original signal.
I make the assumption that amplitude control is what the device is supposed to do and its' variabilities differ one compressor from another.

BTW, not saying distortion is bad but it is not magic.
Magic is what one expects by changing types of caps of the same value and the expectation of different sounds.
 
#5
The Way Huge Pork Lion has a Neve clone in its preamp section. Fantasatic overdrive pedal.

For compressors, the EBS MultiComp has quite a bit of magic since you can compress the high and low bands seperately. It also has a TubeSim mode which warms it up nicely.
 
#7
Go back and read again. wait a week and repeat. it'll start to stick after a while and being able to read and comprehend bongo's site will help you better understand reviews for comps and other effects also in relation to if they will fit your needs, use and understand the controls on compressors (find the magic tone within the pedal) and other effects. Most importantly be the first poster when someone asks a compressor question here and smugly put a link to ovnilabs.
 
#8
im going to drop an industry tone secret on you just for the heck of it... im just in that kind of mood;

this little guy has so much majik in it. i cant begin to describe. peace _dash

guyatone-st-2-compression-sustainer.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: fifty6tricks
#10
sprag said:
Go back and read again. wait a week and repeat. it'll start to stick after a while and being able to read and comprehend bongo's site will help you better understand reviews for comps and other effects also in relation to if they will fit your needs, use and understand the controls on compressors (find the magic tone within the pedal) and other effects. Most importantly be the first poster when someone asks a compressor question here and smugly put a link to ovnilabs.
Click to expand...

I am well aware of bongos website daily. I was only trying to help a fello T ' basser on looking for some options. Sorry if I offended you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sprag
#13
TheCouchBassist said:
My question is this, which pedal(s) provide the most "tone magic"?
Click to expand...

Hello Ross. For you yourself? The ones that you yourself can use to make sounds that you consider to be more magical. That's the only practical answer.

If by "tone magic" you mean a sort of audio silver bullet or pixie dust, then there is a healthy industry devoted to selling products that are claimed to make players sound variously cooler, better, more like some famous player, etc. Any of those products may be just fine. But none of them can impart an improvement to any player's sound that the player didn't already have in themselves to make.

There is one distinction that can be made in defining "tone magic": aesthetics vs. utility. I don't know which you meant, or maybe you meant both. A slight exception to my first comments could be allowed in the case of utility. Even then, the player needs a minimum of attention and skill to adapt the tool's function to their unique setup and playing situation.

In short (finally), I believe there is no magic but the player.

Best,

Snaxster
 
#14
Really? Then I guess all those professional recording studios with the Urei 1176s, Teletronix LA2As and Empirical Labs Distressors must not have a clue what they are doing. Pity they bought into the marketing hype. Maybe you ought to send a message to Quincy Jones, Todd Rundgren and Brian Eno right away and tell them to stop wasting their money on such frivolity.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ross McLochness
#17
Tried many pedals during the last decades and some cheaper 9,5" and 19" units. Still have the EBS and the Markbass Compressore.

Bought a 1176 clone from Warm Audio shortly after they were available. Never tried an original one or could afford it. The WA76 still is about 700,-.

Conclusion: None of the pedals I've ever tried even comes close.

Don't know about the few more expensive pedals that promise to be a 1176 in pedal format.
If you're after that sound you have heard on records with an LA2 or LA3 or 1176, you might not get this with any pedal. At least not if you're not willing to invest a lot.
Quality transformers alone cost a lot of money and are BIG.
I am curious about the LA2 and LA3 clones from GAP that will be released later this year.
I don't expect them to sound exactly like their 2.000,- or 3.000,- counterparts, but if they are as good as their pre-amps with transformer upgrades or the DLX version of the GAP73, they still might be better than most so-called bass-compressors and bass-preamps.

I don't say these budget-pedals are bad or don't make sense, I just say you don't get 2.000,- magic for 200,-.
 
#18
My Diamond is always on, in large part for its tonal magic. I know that there are other magic ones out there, like the FEAs and the Calis, but the Diamond is great and also half (or less!) the price of the other ones, so I'm pretty happy.

To make one comparison, the Empress I had was a fantastic, flexible, transparent compressor, but there wasn't the same magic as the Diamond, not even close (IMO/IME).
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back