Origin Audio Cali76 FET compressor (1176 inspired)

[GuzBaas]

Just want to chime in and say that this is THE best stomp box compressor I've ever tried (and I have tried a few!).

I does indeed resemble the 1176, which for me is a very good thing

+10000

It is so good that the US$425 + shipping seems cheap!

Now I need/want a bigger amp!

 

[bludog]

Guz, do you have my old minty #48? From Sousie? I still have my other one, #78, and I too love it. If it ever comes off my board (probably won't), I'll never get rid of it.

 

[GuzBaas]

Guz, do you have my old minty #48? From Sousie? I still have my other one, #78, and I too love it. If it ever comes off my board (probably won't), I'll never get rid of it.

Nope :scowl:

I bought one new from ebay... No.100

The first time I used it I thought: "nice but not woth it"
2 hours later I was like: "man this guy 'bludog' was right... you should take your time with this thing..."

3 days later I was like: "mygawd... "

Now I'm like: "what I'd do if this pedal get stolen or else".

WAO. This is the "MVP" of my pedalboard... set your compression, give little EQ an play until your finger bleed...

 

[B'Boom]

I ordered the Cali76 with the option Lundahl output transformers. I shall have to receive him(it) in two weeks.

 

[GuzBaas]

I ordered the Cali76 with the option Lundahl output transformers. I shall have to receive him(it) in two weeks.

1- Take the time to understand the "effect" it gives
2- EQ to maximize the effect
3- ....Play!
4- PROFIT

YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED

 

[TheButlerdidit]

1- Take the time to understand the "effect" it gives
2- EQ to maximize the effect
3- ....Play!
4- PROFIT

YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED

This is exactly correct!
I am doing a compressor pedal shootout for my own tone goals. So far the Cali76 is the winner. The other competing pedals are:
Cali76
Aguilar TLC
3Leaf PWNZOR
Markbass Compressore
Diamond BCP-1
I have already sold the TLC. To clear for my tone goals.
A few more gigs and test to run before the final decision. But the Cali76 is in 1st place.

 

[B'Boom]

1- Take the time to understand the "effect" it gives
2- EQ to maximize the effect
3- ....Play!
4- PROFIT

YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED

I thank you for your advice. As I also have a compressor MXR M87 (the controls are identical), I shall not have to have too much difficulty to find my tone quickly with Cali76.

 

[Phantasm]

I played with mine again tonight, coming straight out of the bass into this then a graphic eq. It's a great pedal.

 

[GuzBaas]

This is exactly correct!
I am doing a compressor pedal shootout for my own tone goals. So far the Cali76 is the winner. The other competing pedals are:
Cali76
Aguilar TLC
3Leaf PWNZOR
Markbass Compressore
Diamond BCP-1
I have already sold the TLC. To clear for my tone goals.
A few more gigs and test to run before the final decision. But the Cali76 is in 1st place.

Would like to know your conclusions

 

[TheButlerdidit]

Would like to know your conclusions

Still working on the shootout. I have sold the Aguilar TLC. Great pedal, just very clean and clear. Not what I am looking for.
So far the Cali76 is still in the lead.
I will be listing the Markbass Compressor for sale today. Great pedal. Love the tone. It is the most flexible out of the bunch. I just don't need all the bells & whistles. And it does add a nice tube warmth to the sound. I have a tube DI box that I use. So don't need the tube warmth. If I hadn't compared it to the Cali76, the Markbass would be in 1st or 2nd place.

 

[Finbase]

Hi folks!

I bought this magnificent Cali76 a while ago, and have to say that I'm REALLY impressed. I thought I'd share this little review with you!

I have the same favourites as the TheButtlerdidit on my short "the best of the best"-list: Cali76, Compressore and Diamond bcp-1. Out of those three my favorites this far are the Markbass Compressore and Cali76… Here’s a short verbal ”shootout” , which is full of generic, equivocal and cheesy determinations. So pure audio-jargon for everybody, por favor!


Just as a brief backround information, my usual settings and preferences are:

-High input gain
-Low treshold

-Ratio around 4:1
-Attack 5,0ms (when the bridge pickup is favored, slower settings on P-bass)
-Fast release

I also play with low string action and relatively soft touch, and I use a lot of dynamics and ghost notes. Percussive playing with girl-like touch!

Compressore:
Tone: Smooth, natural, clean but warm, tubeish (by it I mean a bit darkened top end), open, multi-dimensional…

From the user perspective: Very flexible, easy to use (if you now what you’re doing…), VERY QUIET! One can use really high input gain and low treshold settings, while the ”finger-zing” and playing noice remains at a decent level.

As far as I’m concerned I keep Compressore on all the time while I’m accompanying: I can almost over-exaggerate the transient attack (please see my usual settings), but the tone is still really natural and dynamic. Nice punch without superfluous coloration.

Cali76
Tone: Thick, juicy, phat, orcanig, coherent, squeezy. If you’ve ever used the original Urei 1176, this thing has the same kind of orcanig squash and ”oomph”… (AARGH! Gearslutz-jargon alert!) To my ears the Cali76 nailed laudable the intended Urei 1176 tone.

From the user perspective: Easy to use, and the settings in the manual are actually quite good! This thing is just pure tone-heaven! Input/compres level can be very extreem, and the Cali76 sounds still just wonderful!

Cali 76 colores the tone more than the Compressore, and if Markbass is ”open” and ”multi-dimensional”, the Cali76 sounds more squeezed. But it compresses the ultimate bass tone into a more ”coherent” and organic form, that sits in a mix just perfect! I mean, the tonal spectrum is "squeezier" and narrower, but it's exactly how you want your bass to sound in the mix!

Almost like the difference between micing a guitar amp with sm57 versus some super-duper LDC, if that makes any sense to anybody… .

I feel that the Cali76 is the final link I needed to really support the band and cut through at the same time.

Well, all in all: I have, use and love them both! They both support my playing style and technique wonderfully! And that’s actually what compressor ultimately is to me: it’s a device that ”flatters” my feel and touch, making my tone ”complete” without unnecessary mangling and force.

BTW, if someone is interested, hit me with a PM, I'm glad to share some actual sound clips!

 

[GuzBaas]

Hi folks!
I feel that the Cali76 is the final link I needed to really support the band and cut through at the same time.

Pure... poetic... true!

Cali76 I dont have words...

 

[blackba]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but so far the clips of the Cali 76 have blown me away. Would love to hear from butler and finbase on a comparison to the diamond bass company, which I currently have and really like.

 

[amos]

how does it compare to rack compressors in the 500-800$ range?

 

[monkeyfinger]

I would say it compares very well to high quality studio compressors for bass. I cannot say it is better than another high quality compressor because that becomes more a matter of taste at some point.

 

[bongomania]

Would love to hear from butler and finbase on a comparison to the diamond bass company, which I currently have and really like.

It is superior to the Diamond in some ways: the Cali's tone is richer, and it has better metering and a much wider range of control, it can limit larger peaks, and the xformer version has more functions/connections. The Diamond has great tone in a much smaller and less expensive package though.

how does it compare to rack compressors in the 500-800$ range?

In my review I directly compare it to a compressor in the $1200-$2000 range, and it compares very favorably. I would choose the Cali over almost any rack comp under $1000.

In the $500-$800 range you have basically three choices brand new: Summit TLA50, Drawmer DL241, and Chameleon 7802. The Summit does not sound better than the Cali. I haven't tried that particular Drawmer, but the one I did try was nothing special. I haven't tried the Chameleon yet.

 

[cvkaiser]

Hi all,
would be interested how the Cali76 compares against the Retrospec Squeezebox or if they are just very different... I currently own a MarkBass Compressore and would like to have at least one of the other two to check them out.
To get an idea of my playing style you can go to https://itunes.apple.com/de/album/superstring/id405460851
Would be very interested what you would prefer.

Best regards - Christoph

 

[Bassist30]

It is superior to the Diamond in some ways: the Cali's tone is richer, and it has better metering and a much wider range of control, it can limit larger peaks, and the xformer version has more functions/connections. The Diamond has great tone in a much smaller and less expensive package though.

In my review I directly compare it to a compressor in the $1200-$2000 range, and it compares very favorably. I would choose the Cali over almost any rack comp under $1000.

In the $500-$800 range you have basically three choices brand new: Summit TLA50, Drawmer DL241, and Chameleon 7802. The Summit does not sound better than the Cali. I haven't tried that particular Drawmer, but the one I did try was nothing special. I haven't tried the Chameleon yet.

I agree. The Diamond does enhance the tone also. That in itself makes the compressor a very good value. As far as a compressor there will be others as you said with better range but for what it is, it does fatten up the bass which many are in search of. Although I would love to try the Cali.

 

[DirtyDuke]

Couldn't resist... just ordered the transformer version

 

[bongomania]

would be interested how the Cali76 compares against the Retrospec Squeezebox or if they are just very different... I currently own a MarkBass Compressore

It's been a few years since I owned the Retrospec, so I can only compare against my memory of it. On that basis I'd say the Retrospec had the most tonal color and envelope effect, the Markbass has the least color and squash of the three, putting the Origin Cali in the middle.