After going around and around about what compressor to buy, almost pulling the trigger on an OKKO Coca Comp, I decided to take a chance on the EBS Multicomp. While I was concerned that Bongo's review mentioned distortion problems with high-output basses, I felt that in every other way this compressor was exactly what I was looking for. I just couldn't find enough info on the OKKO to commit to it.
I just spent a weekend with it in my pedalboard... three gigs in 48 hours! Friday night I was subbing in a rollicking oldies cover band, Saturday afternoon was an indoor party that was moved outdoors due to gorgeous weather where a changing mix of musicians got all Grateful Deadish, and Saturday evening was my vocal trio at a 100-seat coffee shop.
I had spent some time at home messing with the internal trim pots, and ended up with them set exactly per Bongo's recommendation (low frequency at midpoint, high fully clockwise) and running exclusively in the multi mode. My signal path is:
EBMM SR5 HP fretless -> MXR Bass Envelope -> MXR Phase 90 (R28+C11/12 mods) -> Multicomp -> VT Bass -> EBS Omnichorus -> Markbass CMD 121P combo.
In every musical setting, the Multicomp was simply flawless. It did exactly what I desire of a compressor, adding singing sustain without squashiness, increasing note definition in the mix, and mildly evening out dynamics (especially on the piezo pup) without either diminishing attack or adding "character." While I tried both the normal and tubesim modes at home, I didn't like either of them well enough to try them live... I was much too busy enjoying the subtle but wonderful improvement to my sound provided by the multi mode.
I noticed no discernable added noise unless I really cranked the highs on the VT Bass and amp eq simultaneously... which is not something I'd ever do in a real playing situation, so live I heard no hiss at all. Also, my concerns about hot signals distorting were for naught. Perhaps EBS has rememdied the problem Bongo described with the active/passive switch seeming useless on his unit... on my unit depressing the switch to place it in active mode makes an enormous difference (running the 'Ray with the eq's dimed in passive mode caused considerable distortion, but none whatsoever in active mode).
I purchased my EBS Omnichorus when they first went to true bypass, and have really grown to love that box. EBS seems to manufacture very high quality gear, and the Multicomp certainly does not disappoint in this area... seems like I could hammer nails with it and it would still be fine.
So, if you're considering a compressor and are looking in this price range, I can't recommend this unit highly enough. It's not really "effecty," and it doesn't have a "personality." I don't think you could dial in a high enough ratio for limiting, so it's probably not an ideal choice for agressive slappers. But for adding definition and sustain for fingerstyle players, it's gotta be one of the best bass compressors out there.
At one point Saturday afternoon I tried shutting it off for one song. It was clear I was already hooked... the sound without the compression was disappointing. So this is definitely going to be a leave-it-on effect for me!
I just spent a weekend with it in my pedalboard... three gigs in 48 hours! Friday night I was subbing in a rollicking oldies cover band, Saturday afternoon was an indoor party that was moved outdoors due to gorgeous weather where a changing mix of musicians got all Grateful Deadish, and Saturday evening was my vocal trio at a 100-seat coffee shop.
I had spent some time at home messing with the internal trim pots, and ended up with them set exactly per Bongo's recommendation (low frequency at midpoint, high fully clockwise) and running exclusively in the multi mode. My signal path is:
EBMM SR5 HP fretless -> MXR Bass Envelope -> MXR Phase 90 (R28+C11/12 mods) -> Multicomp -> VT Bass -> EBS Omnichorus -> Markbass CMD 121P combo.
In every musical setting, the Multicomp was simply flawless. It did exactly what I desire of a compressor, adding singing sustain without squashiness, increasing note definition in the mix, and mildly evening out dynamics (especially on the piezo pup) without either diminishing attack or adding "character." While I tried both the normal and tubesim modes at home, I didn't like either of them well enough to try them live... I was much too busy enjoying the subtle but wonderful improvement to my sound provided by the multi mode.
I noticed no discernable added noise unless I really cranked the highs on the VT Bass and amp eq simultaneously... which is not something I'd ever do in a real playing situation, so live I heard no hiss at all. Also, my concerns about hot signals distorting were for naught. Perhaps EBS has rememdied the problem Bongo described with the active/passive switch seeming useless on his unit... on my unit depressing the switch to place it in active mode makes an enormous difference (running the 'Ray with the eq's dimed in passive mode caused considerable distortion, but none whatsoever in active mode).
I purchased my EBS Omnichorus when they first went to true bypass, and have really grown to love that box. EBS seems to manufacture very high quality gear, and the Multicomp certainly does not disappoint in this area... seems like I could hammer nails with it and it would still be fine.
So, if you're considering a compressor and are looking in this price range, I can't recommend this unit highly enough. It's not really "effecty," and it doesn't have a "personality." I don't think you could dial in a high enough ratio for limiting, so it's probably not an ideal choice for agressive slappers. But for adding definition and sustain for fingerstyle players, it's gotta be one of the best bass compressors out there.
At one point Saturday afternoon I tried shutting it off for one song. It was clear I was already hooked... the sound without the compression was disappointing. So this is definitely going to be a leave-it-on effect for me!
