Help me choose a relatively cheap compression pedal

[greekorican]

I recently got a russian muff. I love the sustain you get when its on, but unfortunately I don't use it very often because not every song calls for fuzz. Whenever I turn it off after playing with it for a while, I instantly notice that my bass sounds so much less confident. I'd love to have that confident sound all the time and play clean. I'm pretty sure what I'm looking for is a compressor, unless you recommend something else to get the job done.

I'd like a list of some relatively cheap compressors to try out. I don't want to spend more than $90. I'm currently looking at:

Boss CS-3
Boss LMB-3
MXR Dyna Comp

That is mostly based off the prices of the pedals, though I have read some reviews. Can I get some feedback on any of those pedals? Anything else you would recommend? I play a MIM Fender Jazz Bass with Quarter Pound Pickups, through a Hartke Kickback 12. If it makes any difference, the other 2 pedals I will have in my chain are a Russian Muff and a Qtron+.

I'm on my first day of quitting smoking. This new pedal will be my reward for going at least 2 weeks without a cigarette, maybe I should extend it to a month. Wish me luck.

 

[ibnzneksrul]

I'd suggest finding a post by Bongomania and reading the compressor info and review links in his sig, great info on the subject. It would also help to know what gear your using. It may turn out that an inexpensive comp will not do what you want, depending on what you've got.

 

[dannybuoy]

Best bet - Look out for a used BBE Opto Stomp on here, CL or eBay.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Personally, I'd be looking into a bigger amp before dumping money on pedals. But congrats on the smoking thing, that's a tough one.

 

[lowbass68]

I'd suggest finding a post by Bongomania . . .

+1
Here is the link:

http://www.ovnilab.com/index.shtml

This new pedal will be my reward for going at least 2 weeks without a cigarette, maybe I should extend it to a month. Wish me luck.

Good luck. Kicking the cigarette habit will save you some serious coin, until you become an effects addict




.

 

[greekorican]

Personally, I'd be looking into a bigger amp before dumping money on pedals. But congrats on the smoking thing, that's a tough one.

I don't gig or anything, I'm mostly a bedroom player. Occasionally I will jam with some friends in a friends basement. Guitars and vocals are rediculously loud,, and I still haven't played past 12 o'clock with it. A new amp will come once I find a job...

 

[Bloodhammer]

The Line6 (Tonecore) Constrictor is about $65 new. I just got one a week ago. It's good for sustain -why I bought it- but I wouldn't recommend it for punch. Actually it rather kills it.

I put my Ergodyne through my Boss Metalzone just for grins one day and it sounded like my amp was erupting! lol

 

[iplayasquier]

I looked this one recently Behringer BLE100, it's similar to the Boss LMB-3 pedal, but way less money, however it's got a plastic body instead of a metal one. The Behringer is about $30 or so I think.

 

[bongomania]

Here's the bit from my site about cheap comps:

If you need something cheap, the best ones in my opinion are the BBE Opto-Stomp, Boss LMB-3, Line 6 Constrictor, and Alesis Micro Limiter. Others that are pretty good for the price include the Moen Uni-Comp, Alesis Nanocomp, Guyatone ST2, dbx 163X, Behringer DC9, and ART Levelar.

That Behr BLE100 is OK, but if you're going to buy a Behr then the DC9 is better sounding (at the same price).

 

[ibnzneksrul]

Best bet - Look out for a used BBE Opto Stomp on here, CL or eBay.

+1, that's what I use, very happy with it.

 

[SteveC]

The best sounding, cheapest compressor - IMO - is the BBE Opto Stomp. When I use a compressor, that's what I use.

 

[greekorican]

I can't find the BBE Opto Stomp in any music store. I'd like to try it out before I buy it, if possible.

I'm really curious about the MXR Dyna Comp. I have read in reviews that it loses a bit of the lows. Other than that it gets good reviews. Can I get some feedback on the dyna comp? I'm leaning toward it mostly for the price, but I'm gonna go to a music store and try it out.

For the price, I think it would be worth it to buy the dyna comp and change some cap values to keep the lows (Thats all I would have to do, isn't it?). BTW Does anyone know if the caps inside a pedal are socketed?

 

[bongomania]

The caps are not socketed, so you will need to do some soldering. Changing the input cap will do no good in this case. Changing the output cap improves the lows, but then loses some highs.