Suggestions for a Compressor?

[seescottrock]

I've had a number of compressors over the years, but I'm looking to try something different, I think. Here's a list of some of what I've had and liked:

• Becos CompIQ Pro Stella -- Couldn't wrap my head around it, but I liked how it sounded.
• Cali 76 CB -- I've owned and sold the Cali 76 CB so many times. While I love it, sometimes I just don't want its baked-in tone.
• Effectrode LA-1A -- Love it. Just too big and the boost side is rather pointless IME.
• Empress Bass Compressor -- Liked it on modern basses, but didn't do it for me on a vintage bass, where is I like to use compression most.

Here's a list of those I'd like to try:

• Lusithand Alma Comp MKII -- Sounds interesting and gets a lot of praise. I like that it's reminiscent of the Diamond, which is what Paul Turner uses.
  
• Broughton Omnicomp -- IME, Broughton effects are overhyped (all the ones I've had were disappointing besides the Subsonic), so I'm worried here.
• Doc Lloyd Photon Death Ray -- Always seems to be sold out.
• Niche Devices Humbold Compressor -- Always seems to be sold out.
• Source Audio Atlas -- I like the idea of having a 1176 and LA-2A compressor in a box, but I find Source Audio's pedal a bit hard to wrap my head around.
• Union Tube & Transistor Lab Compressor -- Pino was spotted using one, it's LA-2A-like, a bit worried due to the lack of controls...

I think I'm leaning towards the Lusithand or Lab. What do you think? Any more suggestions?

I play a Fender CS 63 Jazz Bass and (soon) a 6 string Swan bass with 4-band preamp and soapbar pickups.

Thanks.

I adore my Alma v2, to the point that despite being an HX Stomp user I keep that on the board. Subtle tone enhancement and nice subtle compression to ridiculous squish on board. Definitely has a sound though so make sure it's one you like.

 

[-Stingray]

I went through a whole bunch of different compressors over the years and finally settled on the Keeley Bassist.

 

[Derek Williams]

How do you feel about the lack of HPF or blend? Esp. when it comes to the low B?

Thanks.

BC-1X is multiband, so it’s already tuned to handle low frequencies properly.

 

[Phaidrus]

I own and very much like the Markbass Compressore tube compressor. Warm neutral compression with a tiny bit of grit, if you max the gain knob (as I do ). Very tweakable as there's knobs for gain, threshold, ratio, attack, release, volume.

https://www.compressorpedalreviews.com/post/markbass-compressore-review

 

[Boundary Effect]

If you intend to use it as an "always-on" compressor and have a amp/head that has an effects loop, consider a pro-audio compressor like a Golden Age Audio Comp 3A jr.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

If you just want to plug in and play, the UTT LAB is fantastic, IMO. Set the threshold where you like it, adjust the gain to compensate, and go.

I say this as an electrical engineer with years of signal processing and audio experience. Yes, you can do a lot more with other compressors with more controls, but the LAB just works for me, even on open B and down-tuned A strings. It'll tame and "sweeten" without killing dynamics, squashing, or adding a lot of color. Very musical, IMO.

 

[tothemax]

I made a similar post as I'm pretty much new to using compressors, one the recommendations I got was the Walrus Mira. I watched this video and found an open box from ProAudioStar for $99. I'm pretty pleased with it.

​

 

[Glennbassmann]

Demeter Compulator......thank me later

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

Demeter Compulator......thank me later

No one talks about this one with the myriad of new options out there, but the Demeter is so simple to use and works so well I can't justify getting anything else.

- Steve

 

[Just Wrong]

No one talks about this one with the myriad of new options out there, but the Demeter is so simple to use and works so well I can't justify getting anything else.

- Steve

It's what Khruagbin's Laura Lee is using, which is tempting -- love her tone --, but I'm worried it might clip with my bass with an 18v preamp given Scuba's review.

 

[Jtown690]

Teletronix LA-2A Studio Compressor

 

[Teegan Heiniger]

I have the keeley limiting bassist and love it. Very easy to use and transparent.

Something intriguing would be to get the TC Spectra Comp and use their software to create a multiband compressor which could save your low end

 

[Boneless]

I find that optical compressors are the ones with the biggest ease of use. You switch them on and they work very well on bass, no settings needed. Unless you're doing a great deal of slapping.

 

[RevOgre]

Hey nice choices! I have a Niche Humboldt, Alma MKII and am trying out the LAB! I was about to sell the LAB but I started to give it a 2nd chance am really liking it. Really easy to use and just a thickness the Alma lacks

Humboldt is still on the board but the LAB might be booting it off

Don't know if that helps

I've had a number of compressors over the years, but I'm looking to try something different, I think. Here's a list of some of what I've had and liked:

• Becos CompIQ Pro Stella -- Couldn't wrap my head around it, but I liked how it sounded.
• Cali 76 CB -- I've owned and sold the Cali 76 CB so many times. While I love it, sometimes I just don't want its baked-in tone.
• Effectrode LA-1A -- Love it. Just too big and the boost side is rather pointless IME.
• Empress Bass Compressor -- Liked it on modern basses, but didn't do it for me on a vintage bass, where is I like to use compression most.

Here's a list of those I'd like to try:

• Lusithand Alma Comp MKII -- Sounds interesting and gets a lot of praise. I like that it's reminiscent of the Diamond, which is what Paul Turner uses.
  
• Broughton Omnicomp -- IME, Broughton effects are overhyped (all the ones I've had were disappointing besides the Subsonic), so I'm worried here.
• Doc Lloyd Photon Death Ray -- Always seems to be sold out.
• Niche Devices Humbold Compressor -- Always seems to be sold out.
• Source Audio Atlas -- I like the idea of having a 1176 and LA-2A compressor in a box, but I find Source Audio's pedal a bit hard to wrap my head around.
• Union Tube & Transistor Lab Compressor -- Pino was spotted using one, it's LA-2A-like, a bit worried due to the lack of controls...

I think I'm leaning towards the Lusithand or Lab. What do you think? Any more suggestions?

I play a Fender CS 63 Jazz Bass and (soon) a 6 string Swan bass with 4-band preamp and soapbar pickups.

Thanks.

 

[Just Wrong]

Hey nice choices! I have a Niche Humboldt, Alma MKII and am trying out the LAB! I was about to sell the LAB but I started to give it a 2nd chance am really liking it. Really easy to use and just a thickness the Alma lacks

Humboldt is still on the board but the LAB might be booting it off

Don't know if that helps

Do you by any chance also have experience with the Cali76CB? Thanks! Do you think you'd keep the LAB over the Alma?

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

I’m a diehard Diamond bass comp fan, so much so I have multiples! The Alma gets plenty of praise for being a more tweakable version of it which is very cool!
Though the Source Audio Atlas is hard to beat, it can do it all! Even the Diamond, 1176, La2a and can do anything you can practically dream up, and you can use it for any source and fine tune it to play nice with anything. I have that on a board I use for general usage studio stuff, bass, guitar, synth, reamping and it does a really great job, I would definitely put that up as one of the best compressor pedals to date, kind of just like the Spectrum is the last word on envelope filters. They give you the ability to make whatever you want and if you go full tilt into their ecosystem you can really break out the full potential with the hub and midi, I use both my SA pedals as stand alones but the option to go deeper is there

 

[Just Wrong]

I’m a diehard Diamond bass comp fan, so much so I have multiples! The Alma gets plenty of praise for being a more tweakable version of it which is very cool!
Though the Source Audio Atlas is hard to beat, it can do it all! Even the Diamond, 1176, La2a and can do anything you can practically dream up, and you can use it for any source and fine tune it to play nice with anything. I have that on a board I use for general usage studio stuff, bass, guitar, synth, reamping and it does a really great job, I would definitely put that up as one of the best compressor pedals to date, kind of just like the Spectrum is the last word on envelope filters. They give you the ability to make whatever you want and if you go full tilt into their ecosystem you can really break out the full potential with the hub and midi, I use both my SA pedals as stand alones but the option to go deeper is there

What I hated about the SA C4 is that I would have different effects in each slots and then couldn't remember what each knob did for each effect. The Altas knobs do actually have labelings as opposed to "Control 1"and "Control 2", though... It seems tempting, but having grown up with the old Line 6 stuff, it's hard to believe it can be as good as the real deal

 

[RevOgre]

Do you by any chance also have experience with the Cali76CB? Thanks! Do you think you'd keep the LAB over the Alma?

Yeah I've had the Empress and Cali76CB. I like them both a lot too. Empress more so. The Cali76 just became... eh... I used to love it

I would keep the LAB over the Alma right now but that might just be a honeymoon phase kinda deal

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

Interesting also:
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/markbass-compressore.1445401/page-2

Review

 

[2thAche]

Try an MXR M87. Not cheap, not expensive, simple to use, no real tone change that I notice.