I guess I don't need a compressor...

[AlienLanes]

Hey all! I recently switched from an SVT to an Orange AD200B. I play a G&L LB-100. I've been using the Diamond Bass Compressor for about a year now, and I'm no compressor wiz by any means (i purchased the Diamond via my guitar player's suggestion and from Youtube demos). The compressor really does a great job with his Am. Std. Jazz bass through his solid state Acoustic B300H.

However, with a P Bass through my SVT, I kept the amount of compression very minimal since I play with the gain knob above noon to get my overdriven sound. If I turned the compression up any further, it really got "squishy" if I didn't set my amp cleaner.

Now that I've switched to the Orange.. I get a lot more gain at lower volumes. We spent some time trying to EQ the amp to suit the compressor and vice versa, to no avail. Thoughts? Advice?

 

[jimfist]

When you introduce any type of preamp distortion, you are, in essence, introducing a type of compression. It's no surprise that you can ditch the compressor given the types of settings and sounds you've described. Unless you have a need for brick wall limiting, you probably don't need it at all, especially if you don't see any improvement in tone/dynamics with the comp set for just a smidge of compression (moderate threshold with 2:1 or less ratio, just a couple dB of gain reduction).

You may want to hang onto the compressor anyway. It's a good idea to learn what you can about the different settings and how those settings shape the dynamics and tone. You never know when you may find that a less overdriven, cleaner tone is warranted, and then the comp might come in handy.

 

[AlienLanes]

When you introduce any type of preamp distortion, you are, in essence, introducing a type of compression. It's no surprise that you can ditch the compressor given the types of settings and sounds you've described. Unless you have a need for brick wall limiting, you probably don't need it at all, especially if you don't see any improvement in tone/dynamics with the comp set for just a smidge of compression (moderate threshold with 2:1 or less ratio, just a couple dB of gain reduction).

You may want to hang onto the compressor anyway. It's a good idea to learn what you can about the different settings and how those settings shape the dynamics and tone. You never know when you may find that a less overdriven, cleaner tone is warranted, and then the comp might come in handy.

Thank you! It feels good to be comfortable with just the tone of my amp (especially after spending the $) and not needing anything else. To be honest, even playing cleaner on my amp, the compressor does not do as much justice to my P as it does to my guitar player's J. Those single coils really come to life with the Diamond. I don't see the need to keep it for a live setting and may just add a touch of compression on recordings for lighter material. Thanks for your help!

 

[FaithNoMan]

It's because your tone is now a perfectly-squeezed Orange.

 

[blizward]

When you introduce any type of preamp distortion, you are, in essence, introducing a type of compression. It's no surprise that you can ditch the compressor given the types of settings and sounds you've described. Unless you have a need for brick wall limiting, you probably don't need it at all, especially if you don't see any improvement in tone/dynamics with the comp set for just a smidge of compression (moderate threshold with 2:1 or less ratio, just a couple dB of gain reduction).

You may want to hang onto the compressor anyway. It's a good idea to learn what you can about the different settings and how those settings shape the dynamics and tone. You never know when you may find that a less overdriven, cleaner tone is warranted, and then the comp might come in handy.

That's a great, well rounded answer.