Markbass Compressore just isn't doing it for me

[show-stoppers]

I just can't get what I want out of the Compressore: Evening of volume from string to sting, and sustain without coloring the tone. I find the Markbass has a very obvious squashing, tone-killing sound when the compression is triggered, regardless of settings*

Honestly, I'd like to have my old 1176LN back with it's one knob of "goodness" control.

Would a Diamond BCP or Empress be a better option to get what I'm looking for? Bongo?

*The settings I arrived at by setting maximum ratio first so I hear and could judge, attack and release are:
Input gain: 11 O'clock
Threshold: Min to 8 O'clock
Ratio: 4:1
Attack: 10 O'clock
Release: 1 O'clock
Volume: A little higher than the uncompressed level

 

[Jazz Ad]

Aren't you pushing the gain too hard? It's a common reason of squashing.

 

[show-stoppers]

Aren't you pushing the gain too hard? It's a common reason of squashing.

Wouldn't that be more dependant on the Threshold? Without knowing the output level of the specific instrument, it's hard to call a gain setting of 11 O'Clock "too hard"

 

[Jazz Ad]

Threshold is already very low on the proposed settings, yet it still squashes. It means that the signal is too hot.
Lowering the gain should prevent this.

 

[Mosfed]

Your issue is too much input gain. Also the MarkBass threshold is more sensitive than you might think. The FEA is even more sensitive.

I liked the MarkBass. And I liked the Diamond. I ended up booting both off the board for a FEA OptiFet. But I liked them both. Haven't brought myself to sell either yet though.

 

[show-stoppers]

Thanks for the tips on the gain settings. Unfortunately that's not the issue in this case. I've lowered the gain to 9 o'clock and readjusted all other settings and there is just no combination that sounds better (for me) than the completely bypassed sound. So it's gotta go. I've had it for at least a year and it's been a constant frustration trying to get a sound out of it, so maybe the Diamond's simple compression, tilt, volume set will be more agreeable to my needs.

Any suggestions on something that will give me better sustain, even compression across all strings and no radical change to tone like the Markbass is doing rolling off highs and adding bottom?

 

[Dave W]

Grab a Cali76-TX if you still wish you had an 1176.

No radical change to tone with great options is the Empress.

 

[bongomania]

Yeah the Diamond and the Cali would be the next steps I'd suggest for OP.

 

[stigbeve]

I have one and I have to admit the controls are very user-unfriendly. I keep notes by mine

 

[rtav]

I use a Compressore at the end of my signal chain and have no problems with squashing or tonal changes (I overdrive mine slightly for some crunch) - and my settings are overall similar to yours (but of course, that's really meaningless with all of the variables between your setup and mine (active pups/preamp, several effects in the chain prior to the Compressore, etc.)

There could be something wrong with it, but obviously I couldn't say - except that I don't seem to have the same problem you do.

I've heard good things about the Empress - good luck!

 

[Mikey F]

I have the diamond and I LOVE IT. It is my always on pedal. I scrapped both the EBS and the MXR. Diamond is the one for me.

 

[show-stoppers]

Thanks everyone. The Cali76-TX is drool-worthy but probably hard to source in Eastern Canada without huge shipping and currency conversion*. The Diamond is available close by and I can get an MXR locally, but I'm guessing that one would be stepping down a class.

Just for the reference: the signal chain I'm using is an 82 JV Jazz, with 2Tek and Bart 9S and John East J Retro to the Markbass to a Radial JDI and GK MB500.

* I take that back = Guitar Effects Canada, The Candy Store for Guitarists but at
$749.00USD !?!?!? = price gouge

 

[anavar]

i use the in built compressore from my Markbass TTE500.

sounds great. maybe check out a MXR 87 or like the other said, the cali76.

 

[blindrabbit]

I'm unabashed about my love for the Diamond. I'll almost always recommend it as the go-to Compressor, unless a) you need more control over your utility compression, and/or b) you have ridiculous amounts of money to spend. Even in those cases, I think the Diamond would be fantastic for tonal enhancement, and could be used along with another compressor to handle other duties (for example, I wouldn't hesitate to use a Diamond AND an Empress). My Diamond is one of my top two most valuable pedals, its always on, and its never leaving my board.

 

[FirewalZ]

Compression is a tricky business and particular from player to player. I started with an MXR because of the reviews and price, but I had a similar problem. It was simply to sensitive, notes were getting squashed and I found myself fiddling with knobs all night. Sold it, bought a Diamond and couldn't be happier.

 

[rmars]

The Diamond is a gem (all puns intended). Had a Compressore and it was great but the Diamond does everything I want a compressor to do and it's much easier/faster to get there.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

When I needed a compressor. I had a mxr m87.
No tonal change 3 seconds to setup. Led level display. .. goodness. Could not hear when it was on. But noticed when it was off if you get what I mean.

 

[bongomania]

$749.00USD !?!?!? = price gouge

Let me clear something up here. It is expensive, yes, but is is not in ANY WAY a "price gouge". Price gouging is when a supplier jacks up prices on goods that are necessary for survival, in a predatory manner, to take advantage of a captive market that cannot get the goods any other way. If you town has an earthquake and the shop starts selling bottled water for $100 a bottle, that is price gouging.

The Cali is just expensive, the same way a Rolex is expensive. Nobody is preventing you from buying it any other way, direct from UK, from a US shop, etc. And nobody needs the Cali for their survival.

The price is also affected by the currency conversion, import duties, and markup because it's being sold by a retailer (instead of direct), and a small one-man "company" like Origin can't produce goods cheaply for wholesale. Additionally, it is made with far greater quality than 99% of other "boutique" pedals on the market, and it simply uses more materials, being so much bigger than an average pedal, and with more outputs, transformer, and other parts.

We can't all drive luxury cars.

 

[sratas]

I gig regularly the diamond.

I use it for the following goals:
Impart a pleasant full bodied personality to my tone
As a sort of DI-buffer, when connecting my passive bass directly to a line input
As a tone modifying tool, using the wonderful one knob eq
To smooth out only the absolute peaks setting the thresold quite low

Not useful if you want to squash out the entire dynamic range because of the low ratio and other features, or if absolute transparency and fidelity is mandatory

 

[recnsci]

Input gain: 11 O'clock
Threshold: Min to 8 O'clock
Ratio: 4:1
Attack: 10 O'clock
Release: 1 O'clock
Volume: A little higher than the uncompressed level

How did you come up with 4:1 figure for ratio? Unlike let's say DBX160, that has very precise side-chain thanks to exponential VCAs, Compressore doesn't have constant ratio above threshold (neither has 1176, nor pretty much any nonexpoVCA comp), has program dependent ratio doesn't have nice relation between ratio knob position and some ratio value, gain like DBX160 (and successors). If "4:1" means "between noon and 3 o'clock", than it's way too much for Compressore.
I play Fender Jazz trough Compressore, gain at 1 o'clock, threshold minimum, ratio around 9-10 o'clock, attack around 11-12 o'clock, release minimum, and it's pure magic.