Diamond bass comp JR vs. Ampeg Opto comp?

[DuluthDank]

I've narrowed it down to these two. I want something that isn't totally transparent and has a "fattening", tone enhancing effect on my sound in a mix, along with compression. Also i'd like it play nice with my dirt pedals and not neuter the high frequencies or remove detail from my sound, if that makes sense. Has anyone tried both?

I'm currently using an EBS Multicomp and am actually pretty happy with it in tubesim mode in the band mix, even though played solo I'm not quite as crazy about the coloration. I'm just curious to see if I might like something else a bit more.

 

[2saddleslab]

Only have experience w/ the Ampeg OptoComp. I use minimal settings and it fattens & warms the tone as well as places the bass perfectly in the mix. Not sure how or why, or if I'm even using it as a comp vs more of a tone enhancer. All I know is that it works.

Haven't tried it w/ any dirt pedals because of my strict "if it don't fit on the board it ain't getting used" criteria.

 

[gregmon79]

Can't say I'm a big comp user. I used the TC spectracomp for a couple years. I liked what it did to my signal and tone overall. But comp is super subjective kinda like dirt pedals are. You may have to just try them until you find the one that suits your tone/your bands tone the best. Not much of an answer to your query about those two specific comps, just food for thought.

I know I went through close to 100 (if not more) different dirt boxes till I found the ones that worked for me and my bands sound. Actually liked to loved almost all of them. But until I got it in with the band to hear them, that was a different story.

 

[DuluthDank]

Can't say I'm a big comp user. I used the TC spectracomp for a couple years. I liked what it did to my signal and tone overall. But comp is super subjective kinda like dirt pedals are. You may have to just try them until you find the one that suits your tone/your bands tone the best. Not much of an answer to your query about those two specific comps, just food for thought.

I know I went through close to 100 (if not more) different dirt boxes till I found the ones that worked for me and my bands sound. Actually liked to loved almost all of them. But until I got it in with the band to hear them, that was a different story.

I tried about 20 dirt pedals before settling on the two on my pedalboard, so I get what you are saying. I do think that the descriptions other people provide can do about a third of the work of narrowing down the list. Then Youtube demos, trying it in a store, and even at home on my own gear can account for maybe another third. But playing with the band is the only way to know in the end. I try to buy from Guitar Center when I can, and probably return half of what I buy from them. At least they haven't flagged me on a list yet.

 

[gregmon79]

I tried about 20 dirt pedals before settling on the two on my pedalboard, so I get what you are saying. I do think that the descriptions other people provide can do about a third of the work of narrowing down the list. Then Youtube demos, trying it in a store, and even at home on my own gear can account for maybe another third. But playing with the band is the only way to know in the end. I try to buy from Guitar Center when I can, and probably return half of what I buy from them. At least they haven't flagged me on a list yet.

That's a good way to go. I bought and sold for years. It was fun a lot of the time. YT demos helped me a lot after I had tried a number of the offerings out there.

 

[lomo]

You may not find either of those to be much more "fattening" than your EBS. (I have owned 'em all).

 

[Mastiff_5]

Lusithand Alma. It’s like a Diamond ++

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Personally I love the Diamond, I have the original big one and I think the tilt EQ is the secret sauce, clockwise boost highs and attenuates Lows, counter clockwise is the opposite, I like it tipped towards boosting lows and attenuating highs, I think it does just enough tone enhancing to make your tone come to life, while also being able to feed the rest your pedalboard a healthy signal, the compression is nice it doesn’t squash it, just slightly evens enough to notice when it’s not on.
I love using mine at the beginning of my chain, makes Octavers, envelope filters, dirt, you name it sound better, I also don’t crank the compression knob, I set it fairly low so it’s only engaging when I start to dig in, it’s only lightly engaging while normal playing, the LED goes Green, Yellow, Red. I keep it mainly in the yellow, with it blipping red here and there.

 

[akukulich]

I used the Diamond Bass Comp Jr for several years, and was very happy with it. It’s very good at what it does. No experience with the Ampeg, but I can highly recommend the Diamond.

 

[vvvmmm]

No idear re the Diamond but I have and like both the EBS and the Ampeg - prefer the Ampeg because I like the coloration more, but if I only had one the EBS is capable of more transparency

 

[kyral210]

There’s no right answer, just opinions.

I’m enjoying my MXR M87 as it’s a solid yet subtle function. I prefer the Laney Custard factory for its tone, but the MXR’s metering is a winner for me.

 

[DuluthDank]

No idear re the Diamond but I have and like both the EBS and the Ampeg - prefer the Ampeg because I like the coloration more, but if I only had one the EBS is capable of more transparency

My preamp on my pedal board is a Broughton SV Pre, and I'm wondering of that and the Opto Comp might combine nicely to be even more Ampeg-like. Would you say the coloration of the Opto Comp is sort of like an SVT preamp flavor?

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

Union tube and transistor LAB comp. Hands down the best sounding compressor ive used.
The ampeg opto comp is pretty nice too.

 

[vvvmmm]

My preamp on my pedal board is a Broughton SV Pre, and I'm wondering of that and the Opto Comp might combine nicely to be even more Ampeg-like. Would you say the coloration of the Opto Comp is sort of like an SVT preamp flavor?

Sorry, don't know that pre - if it is heavily-colored and you like it, you might wanna look for a more transparent compressor. The MXR and the Seymour Duncan are good for that on the non-boutique tip.

 

[mickebas]

Personally I love the Diamond, I have the original big one and I think the tilt EQ is the secret sauce, clockwise boost highs and attenuates Lows, counter clockwise is the opposite, I like it tipped towards boosting lows and attenuating highs, I think it does just enough tone enhancing to make your tone come to life, while also being able to feed the rest your pedalboard a healthy signal, the compression is nice it doesn’t squash it, just slightly evens enough to notice when it’s not on.
I love using mine at the beginning of my chain, makes Octavers, envelope filters, dirt, you name it sound better, I also don’t crank the compression knob, I set it fairly low so it’s only engaging when I start to dig in, it’s only lightly engaging while normal playing, the LED goes Green, Yellow, Red. I keep it mainly in the yellow, with it blipping red here and there.

Couldn’t agree more.
I also have been using the original bigger Diamond BC for years and, to me, there’s no other unit that does what it does in such an undramatic way. Always on, first in chain, helps all other effects work better as well as just beefing up your original tone without really obviously squeezing it and loosing dynamics. That’s the magic.

 

[Sufenta]

Original big Diamond here too. Sounds great and it's simple enough that even I can use it. First in the chain right after wireless and tuner.