Looking for a LA-2A ish in a pedal.

I can't vouch for how it actually compares to the real thing, but I've been using the Union Tube & Transistor LAB and it's a fantastic pedal. Great review here:

Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, JHS & more

 

Effectrode PC-2A

PC-2A Tube Compressor - Effectrode

Not an LA-2A clone, but the Diamond Bass Compressor is a nice low ratio compressor.

 

There's an imperial tonne of opto comps claiming to be like an LA-2A just because they're optical. A smaller number have particular details that bolster the claim, such as dual release time, or tubes. Even among those, you get into whether the headroom is adequate, or whether particular parts such as transformers or specific proprietary components "make the difference", especially since obvs there is no way to cram the actual parts of an LA2A into a pedal, nor will most pedals run at the same power.

From my (now dated) experience, the Effectrode and the Retrospec are closest. If there's new contenders in the last few years, I haven't tried them.

 

Opto-Limiter

...if you ask extra nicely... Maybe...

 

I don't know what he'll build for these days. I know mine's not going anywhere. It was an instant 'always on always on-my-board' pedal with the full support of everyone in my band when they heard it. It has the magic sauce.

Drop John K PM or email and see what he'll do.