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My compressor search continues . . .

Jared Lash

Jared Lash

Born under punches
Aug 21, 2006
15,588
5,156
Denver, CO
#1
and it's getting frustrating. Here's a (probably overly long) explanation:

With most pedal types (filter, phaser, fuzz, even tremolo) I went through a few before finding what I wanted, but at least every wrong choice got me closer to where I wanted to be. With compressors, it's like I start from scratch every time.

The latest victim was a Guyatone BL-2 which was actually harder to find than I thought making it more disappointing that I didn't dig it. In this case it wasn't fat enough sounding and I had the same concerns about construction that I had with the TZ-2. I've also gone through a Boss CS-3, VTP Citrus Squeezer, and an Aphex Punch Factory.

My three gigs at the moment are: (1) a RHCP tribute band (2) bass and backing vocals for a talented female songwriter/pianist and (3) an effects heavy dub/acid jazz project that I'm trying to get off the ground.

I really need a compressor in all three. For (1) to tame the volume jump when I go from fingerstyle to slap, for (2) to fatten up my sound and even my dynamics and for (3) to limit peaks from a couple pedals. And to some extent these needs overlap between projects.

My first thought was a Demeter Compulator because it fattens and does a good job of limiting, but my fear is that it will be too "smooth" sounding, when I favor a bit of an aggressive tone (Stambaugh with Nordstrand Fat Stacks through a GK 1001RB-II) . I've liked what I've heard about the EBS but I don't know if it does limiting well enough for my needs. Similar with the Jacques Fat Burner. Bongo's review made it sound like something up my alley, but again, I'm not sure if it will tame some of my wilder pedals.

Advice? Suggestions?
 
#2
Are you set on a pedal? Because I would steer you to a few rack units, maybe the Joemeek MC2 as a first stop. Pedalwise I think the Fat Burner is worth a try but you might be put off by its potential for noise at higher settings; and I definitely think the CP9Pro+ would suit you except it's not as fattening as you might like.
 
#3
If I changed my rig I'd be more open to rackmounted compressors, but I don't want to put the GK in a rack for a couple reasons. So I am really more interested in pedal compressors at the moment.

But I'm almost to the point where I'm willing to go to a rack setup just to fix my compressor problem.
 
#4
See if any shop around has a T Rex Squeezer you could try out and return if needed. I hated it chiefly because of noise problems, but a few other guys here say its the bomb and has no noise for them, so perhaps you'll get lucky with it.
 
#6
bongomania said:
See if any shop around has a T Rex Squeezer you could try out and return if needed. I hated it chiefly because of noise problems, but a few other guys here say its the bomb and has no noise for them, so perhaps you'll get lucky with it.
Click to expand...

A quick Googling results in a bit of sticker shock.:eek:

I should have been mentioned this initially, but if possible I'd like to stay in the $250 and under range. Also while I'm not opposed to shelling out for a quality stompbox, I really don't want to pay $370 to hope I'll "get lucky with it".;)
 
#8
Hmm, I didn't really like the stock CS-3 enough to pay extra to get it modded, but maybe I should have.

Oh and Jorge, I would presume that your signature is stating that bass is the beginning and the end (alpha and omega) but you've got a delta rather than an alpha which is basically an uppercase A.
 
#10
You're welcome, George, I'm glad to be of help. I'm also glad you mentioned the Humphrey CS3- to TheBigO, you might like that one. PM me your address and I'll send you one of mine to try out. Edit: the one thing is I'm not sure the modded CS3 would be quite fat enough on the low end for the "effects heavy dub/acid jazz project". It's a bit tight and restrained on the bottom end.
 
#11
Templar said:
Get a Demeter Compulator and be done with it.
Click to expand...

Ha! I've said that exact thing to myself a couple times. Maybe I should. But again, I like a growly Jazz Bass type tone - is the Demeter right for that? Having never tried one myself, I always associate it more with clean, articulate and possibly fretless tones.

bongomania said:
You're welcome, George, I'm glad to be of help. I'm also glad you mentioned the Humphrey CS3- to TheBigO, you might like that one. PM me your address and I'll send you one of mine to try out.
Click to expand...

Bongo, you've been immensely helpful in all things effects, especially compressors. Even though I haven't what I'm looking for, looking over your reviews of ones I've had, they've all been spot on.

Oh, and PM sent.
 
#12
TheBigO said:
Hmm, I didn't really like the stock CS-3 enough to pay extra to get it modded, but maybe I should have.

Oh and Jorge, I would presume that your signature is stating that bass is the beginning and the end (alpha and omega) but you've got a delta rather than an alpha which is basically an uppercase A.
Click to expand...

Hey, you are right (typo error again :D, thanks for bringing it up). I hated the stock CS-3 as well, very noisy unit. However, the Humprey mod makes it usable (granted you don’t use it at extreme settings) and smooth. I highly recommend you to try one.

George
 
#13
Jorgemele894 said:
Hey, you are right (typo error again :D, thanks for bringing it up). I too hated the stock CS-3, noisy as hell. However, the Humprey mod makes it usable (grated you don’t use it in extreme settings) and smooth. I highly recommend you to try one.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I don't normally point out typos (I think it's a bit rude to do on a forum) but I thought you'd want that correct. BTW, it looks like you now have a lambda (upside down V) rather than an alpha (A).

And thanks for your recommendation.
 
#15
Hmm, am I just asking too much of one compressor?

My problem with the CS-3 was partly that it sounded like it emphasized the midrange too much, but also the noise.

How high is the noise level on the Fat Burner? Because otherwise it may well be my beast. Would the Jacques' limiting be close to on par with the Compulator?

These two are where my focus is at the moment, but I'm still open to other suggestions.
 
#16
Believe me, if I could say any one comp was without flaws and compromises, I'd be preaching it from the rooftops. As you know there are several that I like a lot, but every single one of them "falls down" in one way or another. Too noisy, not fat enough sounding, too physically big or heavy, too finicky about input levels, etc. etc.

The Jacques is capable of limiting as well as the Demeter does, but at those settings it may be too noisy for you- depending on the rest of your rig, EQ settings, cab voicing, etc.

Re: the CS3 emphasizing midrange, the modded one does too, just to less of an extreme degree because more lows are allowed through.
 
#17
Ok, one last question and then I promise I'll stop bugging you for a while bongo . . .


Since I have a limited frame of reference, how does the noise level of the Jacques compare with the unmodded (or for that matter the modded) CS-3?

My thought right now is to order it and the Demeter and just keep the one I like best.
 
#18
TheBigO said:
Hmm, am I just asking too much of one compressor?

My problem with the CS-3 was partly that it sounded like it emphasized the midrange too much, but also the noise.

How high is the noise level on the Fat Burner? Because otherwise it may well be my beast. Would the Jacques' limiting be close to on par with the Compulator?

These two are where my focus is at the moment, but I'm still open to other suggestions.
Click to expand...

I think a question to ask, is, do you want a transparent compressor for the three points of use you mention in your OP, or do you want something that will color the sound? if it's the latter, get a pedal. If it's the former, then what about a small unit that can be rackmounted or also just sit on your amp?

For $200 you can get the FMR Audio RNC:

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Small enough to fit in your gig bag and just set it on your amp or heck, even on the floor with your pedals. An EXCELLENT compressor suitable for pro studio use. Check out the reviews. I have one and the RNLA too and often use all the time, and I have other MUCH more expensive units in my studio. These are that good. They could charge 4 times as much for these.
Then you've got a studio-quality unit small enough and affordable enough(so you don't have to worry about it too much) to take out for gigs, but can perform great when recording(and not just on bass--it kills on vocals, guitar, drums--anything really). Pedal compressors are too noisy and not at all transparent enough to be useful other than as an "effect". You'd never use one of those noisy pedals in the studio for compression/limiting.
If you ALSO want this compressor to be a tone box too, as you mention, give you a more "aggressive" sound, then that's another story altogether. I wouldn't look to a compressor for that. I'd get my sound, and then use compression/limiting for dynamics(FWIW, I don't use one in my live rig anymore personally, I let the FOH handle that, but I don't have a bunch of pedals I'm trying to tame either).
 
#19
I have nowhere near the expirience with compressors that Bongo does, but I have tried about half a dozen or so, and stopped looking after the Squeezer. I'm one of those users that has expirieced no noise, or unwanted anything with this pedal. It has all the controls you need, and no more. I have mine set up slightly higher than unity gain, fast attack, slow release, mild comp, and my tone is the shazizzle. No kidding. Now, I do also use noise reduction in my signal chain, but as I remember, the TRex wasn't the problem. Also, I run my comp first in line, always on. I love all my pedals, but this one is extra special, my wife bought it for our anniversary last year. As always, ymmv.
 
#20
pbass2 said:
Pedal compressors are too noisy and not at all transparent enough to be useful other than as an "effect". You'd never use one of those noisy pedals in the studio for compression/limiting.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but that's not accurate. I have used a great many compressors, from $15 to $1500, and TBH a great many of the rack units I've used, at all price points, had similar noise to pedals. And the main thing stopping me from buying an original LA2A (one of the most frequently-used bass comps in serious professional studios) is not the price, but the fact that they are known for being noisy. Even the 1176 (the other "big gun") and other "character" comp/limiters can often be noisy. Contrasting that with the Carl Martin, the new TC Nova Dynamics, or the Maxon CP9Pro+, which are essentially noiseless.

Yes there are low-noise rack comps, the RNC among them, but generalizing about rack versus pedals is not sensible.

Also while it is possible to set up the RNC for bass, one of my chief complaints about it is that setting it for multiple instruments or different genres/tasks is heinous, taking several minutes to find useful settings that don't distort on the low frequencies. Yes, it can work, and I know lots of people use it, but to me it is one of the worst possible choices for a bassist due to its finickiness.
 

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