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Diamond Bass comp versus Empress compressor

B

blackba

Sep 7, 2008
207
6
Michigan, USA
#1
I currently have the Diamond Bass comp and really like it, but I also like it a lot on my guitar rig and don't like moving it back and forth. After reading Bongo's reviews on the Empress compressor, I am really interested in that one.

For Empress compressor owners, how are you liking the Empress?
 
#2
i haven't played the diamond bass comp, but i could talk for ages about the empress. i really do love mine, it's transparency is what initially drew me to it over choosing the diamond or the FEA opti-fet. there's no noise from it, and it doesn't muddy my tone at all. it gives a little bass boost too, which all compressors do, but it has so much clarity!

i do believe that it's worth the reasonably hefty price tag as well, though if you're thinking about swapping your diamond comp for one, i don't think i will be too huge a tonal change. the display meters are definitely a cool feature which helped me understand how to work attack and release to make my bass sound awesomes. total fanboy here.

there are probably lots of other compressors here that others swear by, i swear by my empress! comes down to what kinda tone you're after, and if you like the diamond's sound, then i think you'll love the empress.
 
#5
Why not try the Empress on your guitar and keep the Diamond for your bass? I'm saying this because the Diamond is specifically designed for bass hence it has more headroom than you'll ever need and the eq tilt point can be moved down to 250Hz (though personally, I don't use the comp's eq with my Bass, I find it more useful on guitar but that's probably just me).
 
#7
NedZ said:
Why not try the Empress on your guitar and keep the Diamond for your bass? I'm saying this because the Diamond is specifically designed for bass hence it has more headroom than you'll ever need and the eq tilt point can be moved down to 250Hz (though personally, I don't use the comp's eq with my Bass, I find it more useful on guitar but that's probably just me).
Click to expand...

I considered that, however the Empress has in input control so I think it might work better with my Active MM sterling 5. With my Sterling5, I actually like it better without the Diamond Comp. With my Jazz bass, is where I love the comp and I do use the EQ a bit. I use the EQ much more on guitar.

Anyway the Empress purchase is on hold, I really want to check one out, but have other priorities at the moment.
 
#10
I recently picked up an Empress comp and am really impressed so far. I used the Diamond for years and had no complaints but although the Empress has more control, I cannot say I am hearing a night and day difference. The Diamond added punch, clarity and fatness and the Empress seems to be fairly easy to cop the same sounds without too much effort. Can't say at this point if I have a strong preference for one over the other. Lets face it, at this level, we are discussing different flavors of "Win" rather then picking a winner and a loser. :)
 
#12
Have a dbx 160 a and a mxr m87.. tried the mxr once or twice.. cant seem to get it right.. the dbx seems fine is just a little too much to move and set up.. am curious about the FEA and Empress units Have been experimenting with running the DBX in effects loop of USA Made 2006 svt CL (TRS in and out of course) seems to be quieter when ran that way..
 
#13
Crabby said:
I recently picked up an Empress comp and am really impressed so far. I used the Diamond for years and had no complaints but although the Empress has more control, I cannot say I am hearing a night and day difference. The Diamond added punch, clarity and fatness and the Empress seems to be fairly easy to cop the same sounds without too much effort. Can't say at this point if I have a strong preference for one over the other. Lets face it, at this level, we are discussing different flavors of "Win" rather then picking a winner and a loser. :)
Click to expand...
Have u talked to anyone that tried thenew dual band FEA optical comp.. need something better than a DBX 160a or a mxr m87 for bass, the mxr seems to have an attack knob that is hard to hear any definitive improvement in sound and seems to compromise my tone, am looking for one that i can use trs in my effects loop of 2006 SVT CL
 
#14
So, Pawlee, let's talk turkey.

You have posted the same message about a dozen times in many different threads, and at least one of those threads had nothing to do with your issue.

So obviously you know to use the search, because you searched out all those threads. But you didn't take the next step and read them.

There are hundreds of posts about the FEA, Empress, and the other pedals you mentioned. There are threads expressly about each of them. There are posts from users, and posts about all their different features.

You mention wanting to use the pedal in the loop of your amp, like the dbx. But most pedals won't work well in the loop, they aren't designed for that.

You mention having tried the MXR "once or twice" and being disappointed. It is not an easy plug-and-play device. You have to learn how it works in order to get much out of it. It won't work in the loop, and the attack knob may not be related to what you think it is, based on your comment about it affecting the tone.

Check out the FAQ linked in my sig. It has articles that explain how to use the fx loop on your amp, and pedals vs rack, and what all the knobs do.

After that, check out my reviews page for commentary about the qualities of each pedal.

It will help you if you take a minute to write down exactly what you want from the compressor. For instance, maybd you need something really simple to use. Or with the fx loop idea, write down WHY you wanted to use the loop, because that will help you and us find a better answer.

Hope this helps!
 
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#15
You guys make the empress soun like fresh donuts.
Hey bongo long time listener. you know what would make your site perfect?-- pics & price estimate on ea comp. similar to what ken rockwell does for nikon lenses
 
#16
bongomania said:
So, Pawlee, let's talk turkey.

You have posted the same message about a dozen times in many different threads, and at least one of those threads had nothing to do with your issue.

So obviously you know to use the search, because you searched out all those threads. But you didn't take the next step and read them.

There are hundreds of posts about the FEA, Empress, and the other pedals you mentioned. There are threads expressly about each of them. There are posts from users, and posts about all their different features.

You mention wanting to use the pedal in the loop of your amp, like the dbx. But most pedals won't work well in the loop, they aren't designed for that.

You mention having tried the MXR "once or twice" and being disappointed. It is not an easy plug-and-play device. You have to learn how it works in order to get much out of it. It won't work in the loop, and the attack knob may not be related to what you think it is, based on your comment about it affecting the tone.

Check out the FAQ linked in my sig. It has articles that explain how to use the fx loop on your amp, and pedals vs rack, and what all the knobs do.

After that, check out my reviews page for commentary about the qualities of each pedal.

It will help you if you take a minute to write down exactly what you want from the compressor. For instance, maybd you need something really simple to use. Or with the fx loop idea, write down WHY you wanted to use the loop, because that will help you and us find a better answer.

Hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Thanx Bongo , Read till my eyes bled, sorry if I still had questions! Am Still learning and don't have time money and patience to buy and try a bunch more comps.. was thinking the loop would be cool to minimize noise since loop has trs capability that seemed good with my DBX 160. Appreciate the input..
 
#17
bongomania said:
...You mention having tried the MXR "once or twice" and being disappointed. It is not an easy plug-and-play device. You have to learn how it works in order to get much out of it. It won't work in the loop, and the attack knob may not be related to what you think it is, based on your comment about it affecting the tone.

...It will help you if you take a minute to write down exactly what you want from the compressor. For instance, maybd you need something really simple to use. Or with the fx loop idea, write down WHY you wanted to use the loop, because that will help you and us find a better answer.
Click to expand...

I play fingerstyle, and I have a 35" neck-through 5-string. It's set up with a moderately high action and a pair of EG-40P's. With the high output of this bass, I found that the MXR was a bust for a few reasons: .
- With it set to provide a moderate amount of compression on the upper strings, it would hit the yellow LED and fart out on the B string.
- The gain/threshold range doesn't seem to be set up for high-output basses. It works much better with my passive 4-string Jazz, with lower output pickups (Dimarzio Area J's).
- With the pedal farting out so easily anyway, it was hard to judge what the Attack control was doing.
- I'm looking for subtle effects, and the controls were too touchy, especially for quick, on-the-fly changes on the gig.

I was mostly looking for a choice between transparency and tone enhancement, and something to help me cut through. The MXR gave me a lots of control over fairly transparent compression, but there was no "magic", and it forced me to turn my hotter basses down. In the heat of live performance, it was also too easy to tip it over into overcompression, or accidentally roll it back to the point that it wasn't compressing at all.

I'm wondering if a dual-band compressor isn't better for basses with big output and a big, honking lower register.

Unfortunately, FEA has a loooong waiting list at the moment.

Meanwhile, I have a Diamond enroute, and from what I've read thus far, it just might do the trick. If it runs into trouble with my bass as well, a few more dollars will get me into an Empress.

If that doesn't work either, then at least a few months will have gone by, and I'll be that much closer to an FEA SMX or Comp/Limiter...
 
#18
steve_rolfeca said:
I'm wondering if a dual-band compressor isn't better for basses with big output and a big, honking lower register.
Click to expand...
YES! That is one of the big reasons to choose a dual-band. Another option for the same sort of control over boomy low end, if the FEA wait time is too long, is a comp with sidechain EQ options. The Empress has a sidechain jack, but you have to add an EQ pedal. The Taurus Tux and Daring Phat Beam are other options that have the EQ built in to their sidechain (like the FEA Opti-FET).
 
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#19
PawleeP said:
was thinking the loop would be cool to minimize noise since loop has trs capability that seemed good with my DBX 160. Appreciate the input..
Click to expand...
Double-check whether the SVT fx loop is balanced. I think it is NOT--which means using a TRS cable will not reduce noise. If 'm wrong, and the loop output (send) is balanced, then let me know and I'll recommend some comps with balanced connections.
 

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