Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
Compressor?
- Thread starter Desmond1234
- Start date
Don't repair anything that's working. If you're unsatisfied with your sound and think a compressor would be a good addition, go for it. If you don't feel you need it, why buy it?
I used to think that compressors were for ppl with bad technique until i started recording our first CD. Man was I wrong. I started to think I really stunk it up until the sound engineer calmed me down and showed me the way. I never used a compressor playing live because i liked that Phat, full, live sound i got from my GK head and NEO cabs. We'll i'm here to tell you that since the studio work I've added a dbx 160A rack mount compressor and a dbx rack mount noise gate. My bass has more sustain, more punch, more groul, and when i slap and pop, the levels stay were they are supposed to stay. "Level". A compressor won't compensate for bad form and technique, but it will help your tone and keep your sound in the pocket. I've even noticed that I cut through the mix better. The sound guys like it too because they don't have to worry about clipping.
Good luck.
Also, before you decide to buy one, check out the reviews and check out what other pros are using that get the sound you are looking for.
Good luck.
Also, before you decide to buy one, check out the reviews and check out what other pros are using that get the sound you are looking for.
Take a look in the effects forum and see what Bongomania has to say. He is a veritable cornucopia of compressor knowledge, and even has an extensive website where he posts his compressor reviews.
Personally, I use a Symetrix 501, and I love it. It doesn't drastically change my sound, but it helps keep everything under control a bit, and it also makes me a bit fatter and fuller in the mix. The 501s are discontinued, though, so you have to look for them on Ebay.
Personally, I use a Symetrix 501, and I love it. It doesn't drastically change my sound, but it helps keep everything under control a bit, and it also makes me a bit fatter and fuller in the mix. The 501s are discontinued, though, so you have to look for them on Ebay.
Definitely a personal preference, but after trying several, I found they got in the way of my playing in a live band situation. I like being more in control of my dynamics with attack.
I always use one in the studio.
I always use one in the studio.
My bass has more sustain, more punch, more groul, and when i slap and pop, the levels stay were they are supposed to stay. "Level". A compressor won't compensate for bad form and technique, but it will help your tone and keep your sound in the pocket. I've even noticed that I cut through the mix better. The sound guys like it too because they don't have to worry about clipping.
Good luck.
Also, before you decide to buy one, check out the reviews and check out what other pros are using that get the sound you are looking for.
This...
All of the reason's I've been using one for years and won't consider a combo amp that doesn't include one as well. It's about helping capture the subtleties at volume, all of the time. I hate playing without one.
Personally, I never found that a compressor makes that much difference to my live sound, so I stopped using it. Not that I have stellar technique, but I think it just didn't matter that much to *my* technique. Maybe because I'm not the most subtle bass player in the world, and I play fingerstyle almost exclusively. No slap for me, but I do dig in.
OTOH, I would *never* run bass through the PA without a compressor, and I would *never* record without compressors.
OTOH, I would *never* run bass through the PA without a compressor, and I would *never* record without compressors.
