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Do you user a compressor with an active bass?
- Thread starter Just Wrong
- Start date
I typically use a compressor when recording. I typically don’t when playing live. That applies to both active and passive basses.
“Active electronics” is a blanket term that applies to many different kinds of circuits. In this thread alone I’ve seen blanket statements made about active electronics that are only half-truths. “Active electronics” simply means that there is an active device (a device that requires power) somewhere in the signal chain of the instrument. That device can be a buffer (impedance matching), a filter (EQ), a gain stage (boost) or any combination thereof and can live either within the pickups themselves, within the controls or both.
“Active electronics” could also describe onboard effects such as distortion, chorus and, yes, compression but that’s really pretty uncommon and would make up a really tiny percentage of what we would normally refer to as active basses. Off the top of my head I can’t think of any production instruments that include compression as part of their on-board electronics so, in general, it’s safe to say that, no, active electronics do not add compression to your signal.
Over the years I’ve owned a lot of active basses and my experience has been quite the opposite; active electronics have added headroom, not compression.
“Active electronics” is a blanket term that applies to many different kinds of circuits. In this thread alone I’ve seen blanket statements made about active electronics that are only half-truths. “Active electronics” simply means that there is an active device (a device that requires power) somewhere in the signal chain of the instrument. That device can be a buffer (impedance matching), a filter (EQ), a gain stage (boost) or any combination thereof and can live either within the pickups themselves, within the controls or both.
“Active electronics” could also describe onboard effects such as distortion, chorus and, yes, compression but that’s really pretty uncommon and would make up a really tiny percentage of what we would normally refer to as active basses. Off the top of my head I can’t think of any production instruments that include compression as part of their on-board electronics so, in general, it’s safe to say that, no, active electronics do not add compression to your signal.
Over the years I’ve owned a lot of active basses and my experience has been quite the opposite; active electronics have added headroom, not compression.
Yes, sometimes. I have three, an EBS, a Boss, and my favorite, a Smoothie. I don't find them necessary on everything I play. All mine are set lightly.
Always, for active or passive, and only for added tone enhancement - no so much for compression. My #1 is the Effectrode LA-1A. Doc Lloyd Photon Death Ray just barely wins over the OvniFX Smoothie for 2nd.
I always used a compressor with my passive Fender. The Cali76 CB was my favourite. But it felt or sounded off when I moved to an active bass. Might've been that specific compressor and not compression, though...
There may be onboard preamps that compress, but the vast majority do not. Whoever you're hearing this from has no idea what they are talking about. The folks that have 18 volt preamps are actually trying to make sure their bass never compresses or clips the signal - the whole point of adding headroom is to keep the signal as clean as possible. Every electric bass guitar runs through circuitry at some point, and whether or not you want to compress it has nothing to do with where that circuitry might be located.
A lot of us don't compress our signal, and a lot of folks do, but that's a preference that is uncorrelated to whether your circuitry starts onboard the bass or somewhere else.
I can see that. I’d probably be playing with thresholds & ratios to best accommodate the voicing of a particular instrument. Still have the 76?
Riis
Still experimenting with compression here and there, but I'm generally indifferent with it. I found an Aguilar TLC this year and that one has turned out to be noticeably more "transparent" compared with some rinky-dink gizmos I've tried. I didn't know that the TC Electronics Forcefield was affecting my tone to a significant degree until I compared it against the TLC.
I get the impression that the limiter included on my GK MB 500 switched "on" helps with containing an occasional clank when I'm turned up at a gig, but it's nicely subtle.
I haven't found any impression that the active preamp on my primary bass (LTD B-1004 Deluxe) compresses my sound. I like to play this bass both with the preamp engaged and also with it bypassed. With either mode, my dynamics and the "response" of that bass seem to be the same.
I have noticed an interesting sort of response with one or two basses I've played that had active EMG pickups. These did give me the impression that my sound was being slightly compressed and a few of our pals here have made similar observations. When I switched out the pickups in one of those basses for a passive set, it seemed as though I got a little better "touch" with those pickups. Not knocking EMG's though - I had a set in a fretless 5-string Warmoth Jazz some years ago that made some of the most heavenly sound I've ever made with a bass (it was just way too heavy an instrument for me to keep).
I get the impression that the limiter included on my GK MB 500 switched "on" helps with containing an occasional clank when I'm turned up at a gig, but it's nicely subtle.
I haven't found any impression that the active preamp on my primary bass (LTD B-1004 Deluxe) compresses my sound. I like to play this bass both with the preamp engaged and also with it bypassed. With either mode, my dynamics and the "response" of that bass seem to be the same.
I have noticed an interesting sort of response with one or two basses I've played that had active EMG pickups. These did give me the impression that my sound was being slightly compressed and a few of our pals here have made similar observations. When I switched out the pickups in one of those basses for a passive set, it seemed as though I got a little better "touch" with those pickups. Not knocking EMG's though - I had a set in a fretless 5-string Warmoth Jazz some years ago that made some of the most heavenly sound I've ever made with a bass (it was just way too heavy an instrument for me to keep).
No, I got rid of it after a couple of months. One of the guitar players in my band is the latest to reiterate that you don't need a compressor with an active guitar. I don't usually listen to him, but it made me wonder if there was a grain of truth to what he was saying in that case.
Maybe I'll see if I can try a transparent compressor like the Empress with my active bass.
I have 3 active basses (Lull M5 and 2 Fenders with active EMGs), and use an Empress bass compressor that is always on. I haven't heard that you can't/shouldn't/don't need to use a compressor with active basses.
Only if recording.... I don't use compressors live and I prefer passives because to me passives sound more dynamic.... I use right hand dynamics instead of a volume control for my taste. There was a time many years ago I did use compressors and actives live though....no rules just player preference.
My FEA DE-CL is always on (same settings for every bass used, set up for both light compression and light limiting), regardless of the bass I'm playing.
Passive basses include Fender P-Basses, J-Basses, a Ric 4003 a Hofner import Beatle bass and an Epi T-Bird.
Active basses include a Jackson DE sig., a USA Spector NS-4 and a Hamer import 12-string.
Amps include a PJB rig for recording & live use, and an SWR Baby Blue for recording & home use.
Passive basses include Fender P-Basses, J-Basses, a Ric 4003 a Hofner import Beatle bass and an Epi T-Bird.
Active basses include a Jackson DE sig., a USA Spector NS-4 and a Hamer import 12-string.
Amps include a PJB rig for recording & live use, and an SWR Baby Blue for recording & home use.
I do - I have a Markbass Tube Compressor that I use on very low settings (slow attack, quick release, approx 4:1 ratio) that I just feel gives my tone a little more heft regardless of what bass I am using.
