Empress Bass Compressor issue

[CoreyI35]

I've been in rearranging mode to a new board, and I was just trying to make sure my signal was going through when I noticed some clipping. I narrowwed it down to my Empress Bass Compressor when my signal direct from my (admittedly HOT) L-2500 was at a volume setting above 3. None of the controls affect the clipping iother than the mix, which cleans it up some. I've not noticed this problem before. Anybody else experience this?

 

[corndog]

Possibly. What does the clipping sound like?

I’ve had mine for about 18 months and it’s starting causing me some issues.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I've been in rearranging mode to a new board, and I was just trying to make sure my signal was going through when I noticed some clipping. I narrowwed it down to my Empress Bass Compressor when my signal direct from my (admittedly HOT) L-2500 was at a volume setting above 3. None of the controls affect the clipping iother than the mix, which cleans it up some. I've not noticed this problem before. Anybody else experience this?

Is the L2500 in passive mode?

 

[CoreyI35]

Yea, I'm in passive mode. It sounds like an overdrive pedal, more noticable on the lower notes.

 

[LpPT20]

I wonder if you're hitting the same thing I was when I raised this thread here, have you checked it out?: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/empress-bass-compressor-distortion.1626297/

 

[Chris Chong]

I wonder if you're hitting the same thing I was when I raised this thread here, have you checked it out?: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/empress-bass-compressor-distortion.1626297/

Great info there. The video showed a -10dB reduction, which I thought is quite aggressive.

I have heard overdriven signal when I just purchased the bass compressor, used with a passive L2500 and TH350. In the end, the issue was at the amp side. I zero'ed the drive and gain on TH350, and got a more 'clean' signal.

 

[CoreyI35]

Those are some interesting links. Thanks! In 100% wet mix, I'm able to hear what other people are talking about with the ratio and attack settings. The distortion I'm hearing is most audible when my mix is 100% dry.

 

[FRoss6788]

Those are some interesting links. Thanks! In 100% wet mix, I'm able to hear what other people are talking about with the ratio and attack settings. The distortion I'm hearing is most audible when my mix is 100% dry.

Wouldn't that indicate that the distortion is coming from somewhere other than the Empress?

 

[CoreyI35]

I've removed everything but the pedal between me and my interface. No distortion is present when the pedal is off. I've switched power supplies and used a different bass. It's the "clean" signal in the mix that's distorted. I'm pretty sure now that I've got a defective unit.

 

[anightintunisia]

Email Empress, they have great customer service. I had an issue with my Bass Compressor and they repaired it very quickly. Great company.

 

[Medicine Man]

L2500s have pretty hot pickups.

 

[frankzap]

It does this for short attack time and even more so with high ratios and high/er input level above the fixed threshold.