Recommend me a compressor please :)

[Mr. Metal Smith]

I'm looking for a compressor (primarily for live and rehearsal situations) to even out my sound a bit and give me more presence.

I play thrash and death metal tuned in D standard.

To me a compressor should help me when I for example make an occational weak pulloff and prevent loud sound spikes. I still want to be able to accentuate certain notes a bit so I think that what I'm looking for is a medium compression ratio (or mild to moderate).


I will try to describe what I'm looking for sound-wise:

- If the very deepest frequencies are rolled of a bit it is not a big concern for me (if this tightens up the sound)

- I am looking for a sound that cuts through in a band setting with 2 guitars (I play fingerstyle and I'm looking for an articulate sound)


I currently use a Boss LMB-3, but I think that it removes some of my attack and makes the sound muddy.

I have spent a lot of time at www.ovnilab.com (very good compressor review site) and from what I've read, I was thinking that the EBS Multicomp, Maxon CP9 Pro+, a DBX unit, Symetrix 501 or Rane DC24 could be what Im looking for, unless there is some unit that I have overlooked.

Given the musical style and my sound preferences, what would you recommend?

 

[BioDriver]

Is it possible for you to take your bass a music store to try some comps out?

 

[flea claypool]

EBS Multicomp

 

[beggar98]

IMO, the Demeter Compulator is your best bet. Of the comps I've tried it has the best peak limiting with the least tone coloration. It really is the best pedal comp for a transparent, level-controlling approach.

However, it should be noted that I sold mine because I wanted something with a little more color. Just ordered a Barge RC-3, hopefully it will do what I need.

 

[whoatherechunk]

Ask bongo

 

[SteveC]

I think the BBE Opto Stomp is a pretty good live pedal compressor. In the studio I might go another direction, but Ihave used it live with pretty good success.

 

[bongomania]

Ask bongo

I appreciate the vote of confidence, but 99% of what I have to say is on the website.

 

[Krause]

Depends on if you want a pedal compressor or a rackmount.

For a pedal compressor I would look at the EBS Multicomp.

And rackmount the Ashly CLX-52 (works great for me).

 

[Mr. Metal Smith]

Is it possible for you to take your bass a music store to try some comps out?

Yes, but the problem is that, of the comps I mentioned being interested in, only the EBS Multicomp is available to test so I can't really compare it to any of the others.

 

[Mr. Metal Smith]

Depends on if you want a pedal compressor or a rackmount.

I don't care if it is a pedal or rack unit

The only other effect I plan on adding will be some kind of overdrive/distortion/fuzz. This will most likely be a pedal though.

 

[moonbass-de]

Try the 4 knob Keeley - best compressor pedal ever in my opinion!

 

[Mr. Metal Smith]

Well it seems like I only got 2-3 options of what to get because all is not available for me here.

An EBS MultiComp at 236 $ (new)
or
A DBX 1066 at 362 $ (used)
or
maybe A Maxon CP9 Pro+ at 308 $ (new, which I can't try before buying)

So that has simplified things a bit for me. Thanks to all who replied

I think I will get the EBS MultiComp or the DBX 1066 because from what I've read, they fatten/thicken up the tone as well as adding compression.