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Empress Compressor w/ active 5 string bass

Raman

Raman

Feb 19, 2003
2,223
3,273
53
Montreal, Qc
#1
Hi,

I've been keeping an eye out for a compressor unit.

I used to love compression until I switched to active basses. My Keeley comp just sucked the life out of my low B on them, so I sold it. I then learned that some units are better than others for actives.
From what I've read, here and elsewhere (including the fantastic ovnilab reviews!), I've retained 2 names that seemed promising : The Opti-Fet and the Empress, with a preference for the former. These impressions are based as much on reviews as on soundclips (not many Empress soundclips around, unfortunately). I don't really have a possibility to test either live, and they are both too expensive for my budget at the moment.

Now, a reasonably priced Empress has finally popped up in the local ads, and I'm very tempted.

I was wondering if anybody can share their experience with this unit, specifically with active fivers.
I probably play the worst type of instrument for it : A G&L L2500 (very hot active pups).

I'm curious if I can trust this unit as is, or if I'll absolutely have to tweak the frequencies through a side-chained EQ.

Anyways, I'd like to hear your impressions.

Thanks!
 
#2
Raman said:
Hi,

I've been keeping an eye out for a compressor unit.

I used to love compression until I switched to active basses. My Keeley comp just sucked the life out of my low B on them, so I sold it. I then learned that some units are better than others for actives.
From what I've read, here and elsewhere (including the fantastic ovnilab reviews!), I've retained 2 names that seemed promising : The Opti-Fet and the Empress, with a preference for the former. These impressions are based as much on reviews as on soundclips (not many Empress soundclips around, unfortunately). I don't really have a possibility to test either live, and they are both too expensive for my budget at the moment.

Now, a reasonably priced Empress has finally popped up in the local ads, and I'm very tempted.

I was wondering if anybody can share their experience with this unit, specifically with active fivers.
I probably play the worst type of instrument for it : A G&L L2500 (very hot active pups).

I'm curious if I can trust this unit as is, or if I'll absolutely have to tweak the frequencies through a side-chained EQ.

Anyways, I'd like to hear your impressions.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I've been using the Empress Comp for almost 2 years now with my Warwick Masterman 5 and I've had any issues with it and my low B (and even low A on some recordings). Between the blend knob and sidechain, it's an excellent transparent compressor for bass.
 
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#4
I use mine with a 5-string StingRay. There is enough tweakability in the box that I have no problems on my B-string, although if you set it "wrong" you might have some issues.
 
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#6
Thanks for the replies!
I've been reading some more threads, and one thing for sure is not many people seem to have gone from an Empress to a different unit!

FretNoMore said:
@Raman, which Keeley compressor was this?
Click to expand...

I had the original 2-knob Keeley Comp for guitar. It worked super fine with my passive Ibanez Axstar (strung BEAD). When I started playing my 1st active 5er, it would completely kill the low B. Keeley modded my unit to add an inner attack pot, which I thought would solve the issue. It helped, but never satisfactorily. Plus I grew annoyed at the noise and breathing on higher comp levels..
 
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#7
Funny story. I just realized that the last time I was in this forum discussing effects was exactly last year, talking about buying an Empress Multidrive. (I did and love it!) It seems I might be making a tradition of buying Empress pedals around my birthday. :D

A side question with that : I read somewhere that using compression with an overdrive is not a good idea, as the latter already compresses the sound. The Multidrive is the only effect I'm using at the moment (not all the time though). If I end up buying the Compressor, will I have to always turn it off when I use the Multidrive?
 
#8
Raman said:
Funny story. I just realized that the last time I was in this forum discussing effects was exactly last year, talking about buying an Empress Multidrive. (I did and love it!) It seems I might be making a tradition of buying Empress pedals around my birthday. :D

A side question with that : I read somewhere that using compression with an overdrive is not a good idea, as the latter already compresses the sound. The Multidrive is the only effect I'm using at the moment (not all the time though). If I end up buying the Compressor, will I have to always turn it off when I use the Multidrive?
Click to expand...

Dirt generally compresses the sound. Additional compression before or after dirt is not good or bad, it's a matter of preference. I still run my compressor all the time even when I'm running dirt.
 
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#9
Adamixoye said:
Dirt generally compresses the sound. Additional compression before or after dirt is not good or bad, it's a matter of preference. I still run my compressor all the time even when I'm running dirt.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

I just found where I'd read that :
• Overdrive, distortion, and fuzz compress your signal already, so additional compression is often unnecessary. Additionally, compression can often roll off the "edge" of the distorted signal, even to the point of nearly canceling out the dirt effect altogether (in extreme cases). So you don't want to place the compressor after the dirt. On the other hand, many overdrives work/sound best if your signal has a wide dynamic range going into them, so in that case you wouldn't want the compressor before the dirt either! It's often best to just switch the compression off while using OD/distortion. If that's not an option, just experiment to find the compromise that sounds OK to you.
Arranging your effects
 
#10
Raman said:
Thanks.

I just found where I'd read that :
• Overdrive, distortion, and fuzz compress your signal already, so additional compression is often unnecessary. Additionally, compression can often roll off the "edge" of the distorted signal, even to the point of nearly canceling out the dirt effect altogether (in extreme cases). So you don't want to place the compressor after the dirt. On the other hand, many overdrives work/sound best if your signal has a wide dynamic range going into them, so in that case you wouldn't want the compressor before the dirt either! It's often best to just switch the compression off while using OD/distortion. If that's not an option, just experiment to find the compromise that sounds OK to you.
Arranging your effects
Click to expand...

We all respect Bongo/Ovnilab around here but I think he might be overstating that a little bit. I don't know that it's true that many overdrives work or sound best if you signal has a wide dynamic range going into them. If your want your OD to be dynamic, for it to "clean up" when you pull back or get dirtier when you "dig in," then sure. But if that's not important to you, then really I don't see what the issue is with compression before dirt.
 
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#11
If nothing else just go with the last phrase in his quote...find your own compromise. :D
 
#12
Do you guys know of clips on the Net for the Empress Comp with bass?
I only found one that attempts to show the various settings. But the guy keeps twisting the knobs in a manner that doesn't really help appreciate the variations...
 
#13
Raman said:
Do you guys know of clips on the Net for the Empress Comp with bass?
I only found one that attempts to show the various settings. But the guy keeps twisting the knobs in a manner that doesn't really help appreciate the variations...
Click to expand...
This clip isn't specifically for the Compressor, but it should help with your question regarding dirt after compression.
 
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#14
Raman said:
Hi,

I've been keeping an eye out for a compressor unit.

I was wondering if anybody can share their experience with this unit, specifically with active fivers.
I probably play the worst type of instrument for it : A G&L L2500 (very hot active pups).
Click to expand...

There are two elements of my rig that I have absolutely zero GAS regarding: my amp (ShuttleMAX 12.2) and my Empress Compressor. I've said this on this forum before: When transparency, readability, and ease of use (both statically and on the fly) are all taken into account, it's by far the best compressor I've ever run.

I don't play 5ers, but I do run a mid-90s L2K as one of my main stage basses -- and I run an even hotter active bass as my other main: an early 90s Status. No issues whatsoever. The input knob and that blend knob make all the difference.
 
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#17
Dang, the guy just replied that he has a few potential buyers. I wrote to ask if he could ship it, but he basically said whoever gets to his place 1st will get it.
It's out of town and I don't have a car!!! I'll try to get one, hoping I won't be too late.
Wish me luck!
 
#18
Active EBMM Bongo 5 and Stingray 5 - no issues with the Empress comp. As others have pointed out, it works well and has some nice features. I have no desire to switch.

Oh - and the customer service is EXCELLENT. I had an issue with a different Empress pedal and they completely rehauled and updated all the electronics for free to the newest generation. It's like a new pedal now.
 
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#20
Argh, I offered to go pick it up tomorrow, but the guy only answers that other people are interested. I don't know if he's waiting for a bidding contest. Maybe I should make a counter-offer, but I'm not too much into that : Whenever I've sold items, I simply sell for the specified price to the 1st person who contacts me...
Anyways, he told me to write again tomorrow. I hope it's not going to slip away. That pedal doesn't show up often on the local ads (1st time in 1 year!).
 
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