guitar compressor for bass?

[ics1974]

new to compressor pedals. I see both bass compressor and guitar compressor pedals.
Should I be looking for a bass specific compressor or will a guitar compressor be fine on bass? I can get the JHS 3 Series compressor used for a good price but worried its not for bass.

 

[crguti]

Keeley, MXR, Empress and Darkglass offer compressors that suit both, guitar and bass.

 

[ics1974]

Keeley, MXR, Empress and Darkglass offer compressors that suit both, guitar and bass.

So you recommend sticking with a bass specific compressor pedal?

 

[crguti]

^ In my experience working with the Darkglass Hyper Luminal, I prefer the guitar option with hpf in the detection, otherwise I feel like there is too much bass.

 

[Zooberwerx]

My favorite comps are not genre / instrument specific.

Riis

 

[Killing Floor]

In general compressors are not specific to the instrument. There are exceptions. For example the Cali76 Compact Bass and Cali76 Compact are identical circuit but the bass model adds a HPF in lieu of independent attack and release control. It's really more an issue of which features are more appealing to you.
I am currently using an Origin Cali76 Stacked compressor which is marketed to guitarists. I know several guitarists who use "bass" compressors. Unless there is an EQ / tone shaping element to the circuit what would be different? Well, the difference is how it is designed to function. Not all but many bassists want to limit peaks and level up soft notes and not all but many guitarists want to increase sustain. Just an example, not gospel.
Anyway, the short answer is you need to decide what you want your compressor to do, where you intend to use it in your chain and go from there. Then you'll want to learn how to make the best use of it. There's no wrong answer, if you like your sound that's a good sound. All compressors are not the same but I wouldn't rule out a compressor that is or isn't labeled "bass".

Go here for a great stack of reviews.
Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, JHS & more

 

[GMC]

The new Source Audio Atlas compressor does both. It has a guitar mode and an optional bass mode (with slightly slower attack times). I've only had it for a few weeks and it's by far the most comprehensive and featured compressor I've used. It's also a really easy dial in. It's very versatile and easy to use, or I can go deep dive and pretty much go as deep as a DAW / rack mount.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Based on my (simplistic) understanding of how my compressor works, I don't see where it would matter what instrument was put through it. I saw a meme recently that went something like this:

A compressor is like your mother.

The threshold is the volume level at which she tells you to turn it down.

The ratio is how much you turn it down after she shouts at you.

The attack is how fast you react.

The release is how long it takes you to turn it back up again.

In this scenario it does not matter if you're listening to hip hop or a boy's choir, if you take my meaning.

 

[ics1974]

thanks everyone. I am going to get the JHS 3 series that I found used.

 

[J Posega]

Based on my (simplistic) understanding of how my compressor works, I don't see where it would matter what instrument was put through it. I saw a meme recently that went something like this:

A compressor is like your mother.

The threshold is the volume level at which she tells you to turn it down.

The ratio is how much you turn it down after she shouts at you.

The attack is how fast you react.

The release is how long it takes you to turn it back up again.

In this scenario it does not matter if you're listening to hip hop or a boy's choir, if you take my meaning.

While this is true, bass notes are much more unruly, containing more harmonic content than treble notes. Many guitar (Ross-style, in particular) compressors have components in the circuit which cut out bass frequencies.

I'm of the mind that all bass compressors will work really well on guitar, but not all guitar compressors work really well on bass unless you like how they sound.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Many guitar (Ross-style, in particular) compressors have components in the circuit which cut out bass frequencies.

I learn something new every day. Thanks.

 

[GregT]

I use a Barber Tone Press for bass or guitar. Since getting the new Tone Press Compact a few weeks ago, the original is dedicated for my bass. I dial the blend control so there is the original signal and the compressed signal, together.

 

[Axtman]

Here is the most extensive list of compressors and their reviews: Compressor Reviews

 

[timendous]

Here is the most extensive list of compressors and their reviews: Compressor Reviews

Beat me to it.

 

[Chewy_B_i_T_s]

Sometimes non specific compressors work out well. I've had pleasing results with the relatively inexpensive Tone Corset.

 

[Hutch801]

I use a cheap Donner compressor and I think it sounds great, only cost about $25. Not sure if you would like it but it works great for the metal "clank" sound. Lol

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

Not currently in stores...don't kid yourself, it's sweet!

 

[Killing Floor]

A compressor is like your mother.

Don't I know it!

 

[Kerem Koseoglu]

In my opinion; HPF and parallel compression options are very useful on the bass. Many compressors (guitar or bass) don't have those features. I'd get one which have them - you ought to discover their advantages as you get more experience on compression.

 

[GMC]

Based on my (simplistic) understanding of how my compressor works, I don't see where it would matter what instrument was put through it. I saw a meme recently that went something like this:

A compressor is like your mother.

The threshold is the volume level at which she tells you to turn it down.

The ratio is how much you turn it down after she shouts at you.

The attack is how fast you react.

The release is how long it takes you to turn it back up again.

In this scenario it does not matter if you're listening to hip hop or a boy's choir, if you take my meaning.

Generally, bass favours a slightly slower attack settings than guitar. However, at device level the components are generally the same. Some devices have LPF and HPF built into the output buffers to reduce rumble and hiss. On some devices these HPF are quite high and can cut some bass.
Some compressors are optical, they use an led and a light receiver to compress. Some compressors use a fancy chip that is very transparent sounding. Others use a vacuum tube do perform the compression. A newer approach is to mathematical emulate different compression in a powerful DSP chip. This approach allows a wider range of tone controls or compression controls to be applied to any compression model, like adding way more control to an Orange Squeezer.
Over the years, I've had all of the above. I wouldn't call myself a compression expert (I like quick dial ins for compression), the EBS Multi Comp was amazingly versatile. However, here in 2022, my Source Audio Atlas is spectacularly more versatile but just as easy to use. I get 6 different compression sounds and 2 more knobs that I can choose what function I want them to do compared to my old EBS unit.