No Punch in the High Notes

[Mike Leippert]

I play a '75 Fender P bass through a SWR WorkingMans 15 with a Working Pro 15 extension cabinet. From the bass I go into a Boss C-3 Compressor/Sustainer then into a Ampeg Scrambler pre-amp. Ever since I started using the compression, the high notes (D and G string) have no punch. Tried various setting on the compressor, still get no high end punch. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bodeanly]

Do the D and G "punch" without the compressor?

 

[RoadRanger]

Set a longer attack on the compressor.

 

[Mike Leippert]

Do the D and G "punch" without the compressor?

Yes, full volume with compressor off.

 

[Mike Leippert]

Set a longer attack on the compressor.

Set a longer attack on the compressor.

I had the attack at max, still losing the volume and punch, full volume without the compression, so I know this is where the problem is.

 

[Jazz Ad]

What do you expect your compressor to do ?

 

[Mike Leippert]

What do you expect your compressor to do ?

Looking to use it to keep volume and punch, without overdriving the speakers on the attack.

 

[Jazz Ad]

This is the job of a limiter, which is a particular setting of a compressor.
Your amp has a built-in limiter that takes care of this duty already so if this is all you want the pedal to do, I suggest you save yourself the hassle and remove it from your chain.

 

[1954bassman]

This is the job of a limiter, which is a particular setting of a compressor.
Your amp has a built-in limiter that takes care of this duty already so if this is all you want the pedal to do, I suggest you save yourself the hassle and remove it from your chain.

+1

 

[jimfist]

Swap the Boss compressor for the TC SpectraComp multiband compressor.

 

[ddnidd1]

From your description you want a limiter. Dump the Boss.

And unfortunately $99 doesn't buy much quality for compression/limiting.

 

[1954bassman]

I play a '75 Fender P bass through a SWR WorkingMans 15 with a Working Pro 15 extension cabinet. From the bass I go into a Boss C-3 Compressor/Sustainer then into a Ampeg Scrambler pre-amp. Ever since I started using the compression, the high notes (D and G string) have no punch. Tried various setting on the compressor, still get no high end punch. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Get rid of the compressor, since you yourself thinks it sounds worse. A quality compressor, set correctly; is a transparent effect.

 

[jimfist]

From your description you want a limiter. Dump the Boss.

And unfortunately $99 doesn't buy much quality for compression/limiting.

I agree, which is why I recommend the programmable (via software) SpectraComp, because the amazing amount of features you get in this $99US multi-band compressor are absolutely ridiculous, and a lot of the available stock presets are designed to be transparent across the frequency spectrum, which is why bassists like multiband comps.

 

[TedH]

I have seen the Boss compressor in the wild and it is not a good one to my ears; exactly your issue - makes the sound really thin. Definitely consider dropping it or getting a higher quality one used.

 

[ddnidd1]

Surprisingly it hasn't been mentioned yet.

But if you want valuable info on compression, limiting and 'on the money' reviews go to Compressor Reviews