Not Your Typical Compressor?

[zacharybass76]

Rothwell is fantastic .

Is it quiet?

 

[fretno]

Is it quiet?

yes it is . The one I have is dead quiet .

 

[iiipopes]

I know this may sound, well, as a compressed opinion (pun intended). Many moons ago I purchased a Carvin PB300 head. It has an onboard one-knob compressor, called "Sustain." This head has served me well for decades as a gig amp, and now serves as my rehearsal hall head. Frankly, I've played through many compressors, both stand-alone and part of the house system in all sorts of venues, including national network TV broadcast, and the Carvin, although appearing to be limited (another pun intended) in its flexibility, for a gig amp actually has been the cleanest compressor I have played through, with the least "pumping" and noise artifacts. Then again, I have a minimalist approach to compression, having learned to play before anybody outside a studio had any idea what a compressor was, so we all learned to even out and play within the dynamic envelope with our fingers and technique. Compression is a tool. If used properly, as in, and starting with, the Beatles' Paperback Writer/Rain 45 r.p.m. single to give presence and improve the mix, great! If it is used to fix bad technique, then it is time to hit the woodshed. The goal is to play as well as possible to avoid having to use compression, then it can be applied sparingly to improve what is already a good track to slot the mix. The last PBS TV special I played, during a break I talked to the sound engineer to make sure I was giving him what he wanted. He told me my D.I. feed was so clean that he used the least compression on me to fit the broadcast bandwidth of any bass player he had been working with at that time.

 

[Wfrance3]

4 pages in and no one has mentioned the BECOS Mini Comp? This one is a two-knobber:
CompIQ MINI ONE Pro Compressor Pedal for Guitar & Bass – BECOSFX

Personally if it was me, (and it is) I would go for this one:
CompIQ MINI Pro Compressor Pedal for Bass & Guitar – BECOSFX

Either way you go, it's got a lot in common with the Keeley Compressor:
Becos CompIQ Mini vs the Keeley Bassist | TalkBass.com

 

[monsterthompson]

4 pages in and no one has mentioned the BECOS Mini Comp? This one is a two-knobber:
CompIQ MINI ONE Pro Compressor Pedal for Guitar & Bass – BECOSFX

Pretty sure I see a 3rd knob

 

[waynobass]

View attachment 4504794

15 knobs and 5 switches! Becos Compiq for the win!

 

[SlowpokeJoe]

15 knobs and 5 switches! Becos Compiq for the win!

You forgot the Dual Band / Stacked switch on the side

That’s the most rewarding and frustrating compressor I’ve come across so far.

That’s the anti-simple choice for sure!

 

[bassfootballguy]

I have a Whirlwind OC bass comp. 2 knobs, a 3 position attack switch and a 2 position comp/limit switch. Plus metering. Very easy to use, sounds great.

This is an incredible compressor, and I’ve been thru a pile. If it fit easier on a small board, I’d have kept it.

 

[MisticoRitualista]

The three I recommend looking into are the Miura M2, the Okko Coca Comp, & the Boss CS-2

 

[veryvery]

I really like my RMI Dual-Band Compressor; it's discontinued but you should be able to find it used. It is quiet, and very simple; it has 4 knobs, but one of them is volume. It also doesn't color the tone.

 

[gstaats]

I'll echo the 2-knob Effectrode PC-2A. Great compressor, and, it is tube based! It also has adjustments inside if you really want to tweak and tune, but the default settings from the factory are great. Quiet, transparent and simple.

 

[Joeykun]

The Keeley Bassist is good. I found the Darkglass Hyper Luminal to sound better!

 

[scubaduba]

I'm sure there are thousands of typical, "What's everyone's favorite compressor pedal" threads on talkbass, but I'm looking for a very specific type of compressor. I want a compressor that is 1) quiet, and 2) simple, with 2-3 knobs. Can anyone help me with some suggestions? Thanks.

Tell us what you are looking for in a compressor and then I’ll share some recommendations.

 

[Sid the Kid]

I believe the Whirlwind OC Bass is what you seek. Not new or trendy, and it costs a few extra bucks, but it is built to survive and sounds great in all settings. In my experience it is near impossible to dial in a bad tone, and when you turn it off you want to turn it right back on. It just does all the right stuff. The limiter side of the pedal can be a bit heavy handed, but that is what it’s supposed to do.

 

[2112]

Merely coincidence?

For Sale - Keeley The Bassist

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

I’m 100% team Diamond, that bass comp is the bomb, I have a comp jr on my guitar board as well, both are incredible

 

[220_Hz]

Oceanid compressor. It's a DIY project but I bought one that somebody had pre-built

It's an exact replica of the Pete Cornish OC-1

 

[BruceG63]

Maybe at this point in the game go to your local GC,Sweetwater,Sam Ash,brick and mortar store etc.You might be surprised what you end up with.Maybe something that hasnt even been mentioned yet.Let your ears be the judge.And by all means Report back!

 

[Teck_Instructor]

+1 for TC Electronic
Leave it with default Toneprint. One knob - can be as simple as it gets.
Load different toneprints if you want to modify and get more complex.
I have 3 pedals on my board, this is one of them.

 

[jam.majors]

I mentioned Demeter compulator before, but it seems a lot are suggesting >2 knob pedals, so I will also add Aguilar TLC. Funky shape, but the controls are extremely simple. Great sound, as in incredibly transparent.

I still have that one…
(And an FEA Labs DB-CL. But that has 11 knobs, a toggle, and two stomp switches…)