jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 5,661
- 10,716
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- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
I triple-dog-dare you to find a compressor Scuba hasn't already heard of, lol.
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Testing Compressors: Cali, Smoothie, Empress, Diamond, Keeley, FEA, Darkglass, Doc Lloyd, Lusithand & more
- Thread starter scubaduba
- Start date
Sweet. Good to know. Thanks for the info and for staying on top of things, O Wise One
So now I’ve totally lost my horny for the NYLE!
Sorry y’all I just woke up...But I’ve got a whole lotta love for the Smoothie!
I had 2 outdoor gigs yesterday and the weather happened to change from hot and dry to cold and wet just in time for these bookings that were booked ages ago with 2 completely different bands. I chose to leave my main rig and pedalboard at home opting for my beater rig (GK MB212II) and just a tuner and the Smoothie. What a great pedal! I had so much great tone and control with it ,and thus, a great time performing. After trying all of my pedals individually the past few weeks, I’ve decided that compression is a must have if I had to choose only one pedal besides the tuner pedal. And the Smoothie definitely scored for the win yesterday! Thanks @bongomania for such a precious gem of a pedal!!!
bongomania
Commercial User
So now I’ve totally lost my horny for the NYLE!
But I’ve got a whole lotta love for the Smoothie!
Nice! Smoothie for the win.
OK, you lovable compressor maniacs. I've read all of the pages here, all the Bongo and Scuba wisdom, I've narrowed down the best choices to my knowledge for me (and my budget, ha ha), watched videos, read more reviews, and then logged into talkbass for the first time since 2011 just to ask you wizards and mad scientists this: Diamond Bass vs. Compressore vs. Duncan Studio Bass?
It'd be first and always on in my pedalboard chain. Just want to even things out and send a better signal to the rest of my obese pedalboard. I use passive basses more than active, but use both live. I already get a decent dose of tubey goodness from running a BK Butler Real Tube Overdrive pedal as an always-on sweetener first in the pedalboard chain (works great for that).
More specific questions: Will the tubey-ness of the Compressore be noticeable/worthwhile if I'm already running that BK Butler Real Tube pedal as a sweetener? Or are two tubes better than one? I really like the slight touch of grit I get when I use the Butler live with the drive knob at 3 and some change.
Basically weighing the pros and cons of the Compressore (tubes hooray, power and size no thanks) vs. the convenience, versatility, and ease of the Duncan Studio Bass. I'm also open to the Diamond Bass as I've heard enough people call it magical to ignore it as a possibility. But I'm pretty into the blend knob option, so I have the Diamond in 3rd place. Not against it, just providing way too much info for y'all.
So, what would you fine compression lunatics go with if you were me?
It'd be first and always on in my pedalboard chain. Just want to even things out and send a better signal to the rest of my obese pedalboard. I use passive basses more than active, but use both live. I already get a decent dose of tubey goodness from running a BK Butler Real Tube Overdrive pedal as an always-on sweetener first in the pedalboard chain (works great for that).
More specific questions: Will the tubey-ness of the Compressore be noticeable/worthwhile if I'm already running that BK Butler Real Tube pedal as a sweetener? Or are two tubes better than one? I really like the slight touch of grit I get when I use the Butler live with the drive knob at 3 and some change.
Basically weighing the pros and cons of the Compressore (tubes hooray, power and size no thanks) vs. the convenience, versatility, and ease of the Duncan Studio Bass. I'm also open to the Diamond Bass as I've heard enough people call it magical to ignore it as a possibility. But I'm pretty into the blend knob option, so I have the Diamond in 3rd place. Not against it, just providing way too much info for y'all.
So, what would you fine compression lunatics go with if you were me?
And now for the answer you don't want to hear.
I've owned all 3 of these comps and a Butler Blue tube (I think it was the blue tube).
I don't think you will notice the tubeiness of the Compressore as much with the Butler pedal on, and I think the Butler has more color overall.
I love tubes and could not get the Compresore to sit right in the mix for me.
I may be the only one as most guys love them.
The Diamond was cool but I never thought the tone magic amounted to much more than an EQ change.
Also the fixed 3:1ish ratio was not high enough for some songs; worked fine though
I've kept the Studio Bass
The attack control doesn't make that much difference and the compressor action is kinda generic.
It does the job well but I reach for a FEA or ancient MXR 143 first.
It also has a very low resale price these days so cheap on the used market.
But, I wouldn't rely too much on reviews.
I bought each of these with the idea it was just what I needed and wouldn't be outdated for my needs.
It hasn't worked out this way.
I find many of the YT videos not a good representation of how it would be on the gig either.
.02
PS - I'm not in a hurry but most curious about the Hyper Luminal, Smoothie, or Bassist to try next.
I've owned all 3 of these comps and a Butler Blue tube (I think it was the blue tube).
I don't think you will notice the tubeiness of the Compressore as much with the Butler pedal on, and I think the Butler has more color overall.
I love tubes and could not get the Compresore to sit right in the mix for me.
I may be the only one as most guys love them.
The Diamond was cool but I never thought the tone magic amounted to much more than an EQ change.
Also the fixed 3:1ish ratio was not high enough for some songs; worked fine though
I've kept the Studio Bass
The attack control doesn't make that much difference and the compressor action is kinda generic.
It does the job well but I reach for a FEA or ancient MXR 143 first.
It also has a very low resale price these days so cheap on the used market.
But, I wouldn't rely too much on reviews.
I bought each of these with the idea it was just what I needed and wouldn't be outdated for my needs.
It hasn't worked out this way.
I find many of the YT videos not a good representation of how it would be on the gig either.
.02
PS - I'm not in a hurry but most curious about the Hyper Luminal, Smoothie, or Bassist to try next.
bongomania
Commercial User
Two pedals with preamp tubes can (depending on circuit topology) sound more mushy and smeared rather than warm and fat. With the Butler I’d be inclined toward a clean comp. Empress, Whirlwind, Keeley, something like that. Something with more control than the Diamond.
What @bongomania said. The Smoothie would be a good option as would the Becos Stella (or Mini or Mini One).
I’m very angry at this thread for making me buy more compressors. I already had a Keeley GC-2 and added a Becos Mini and now a Cali76CB. Curse you all!
I’ve got and use both the Bassist and the Smoothie.
Two different beasts for two different goals IMO.
The Bassist excels at totally clean and uncolored limiting type compression. I look at it as a studio type signal shaper rather than an effect. If you want it to do much more than that there are other more suitable choices.
The Smoothie, on the other hand, brings its own special something to the mix. So I see it more as an effect than a surgical instrument like the Bassist is. There is some coloration and tone enhancement along with the limiting and sustain it provides. But it’s exactly the kind of coloration a compressor like that is designed to deliver. It’s also more feature rich than the Bassist. Which may or may not be a good thing depending on the individual player. Because whereas it’s almost impossible to set the Bassist in a way that sounds bad, you sacrifice some small amount of control to the automation that handles the A/D. On the Smoothie it’s extremely difficult to do something with it to make you end up sounding bad. But it’s not impossible. With the extra flexibility comes additional responsibility. That said, it’s still a piece of cake to dial in IMO - and it just sounds good.
So either one is a good next choice. But based of some things you’ve said in an earlier post, I’d be inclined to recommend trying the Smoothie next. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Thanks 40Hz; very helpful especially since I almost always agree with your posts and tonal goals.
Is the Smoothie and always on compressor when you use it?
Also, do you find the Keeley similar to a dbx 160 (which I have and like but definitely no added mojo IMO)?
Compressors (or any other pedal really) aren’t an always on thing for me. I use one as needed. Or to get some variety going. But that’s me. I’ve got a really good amp. So that also has a lot to do with it.
I will say that of the compressors I own, the Smoothie has probably seen the most regular service so far. Although the Dry Bell Unit 67 I just got is also coming on strong. Too soon to tell if it’s just early dating infatuation however.
Sorry. Hit post too quick.
I don’t have much direct experience with a dbx 160 so I don’t know how it compared. But it is a VCA design like dbx uses. And based on some transparent studio compressors I’m more familiar with, its in that same category of compressor. Transparent. Colorless. Zero mojo. Just nice sweet limiting. It does have a lot of boost on tap however. So you could use it as a clean boost pedal with the ratio knob on 1:1
In the ballpark as a 160 for sure, but I would recommend the GC-2 to bassists over "The Bassist" on account of it's HPF on the sidechain for ironically better low end. Also, with the Keeley I DO hear a kind of mojo in it that I don't hear with the Becos. It's subtle, but desirable. It's not completely uncolored once it starts working hard. It's a great, easy pedal you never have to fuss over.
I will say that of the compressors I own, the Smoothie has probably seen the most regular service so far. Although the Dry Bell Unit 67 I just got is also coming on strong. Too soon to tell if it’s just early dating infatuation however.
I spent some time running the Unit67 alone last night and it was a great little solo jam session I had. The 3 in 1 format in such a compact pedal makes it an awesome and invaluable investment for me. I bought it from scubaduba about a week after he did his review and there’s been no buyers remorse over here about it. Definitely passed the dating stage with it...I would almost commit to it and propose monogamy but I have love in my heart for a few others I’m seeing on a noncommittal basis. Thank goodness for the fact that compressor pedals come in all shapes in sizes and I don’t have to swear allegiance to just one...
I spent some time running the Unit67 alone last night and it was a great little solo jam session I had. The 3 in 1 format in such a compact pedal makes it an awesome and invaluable investment for me. I bought it from scubaduba about a week after he did his review and there’s been no buyers remorse over here about it. Definitely passed the dating stage with it...I would almost commit to it and propose monogamy but I have love in my heart for a few others I’m seeing on a noncommittal basis. Thank goodness for the fact that compressor pedals come in all shapes in sizes and I don’t have to swear allegiance to just one...
So far I’ve just used mine at home playing with my SO. Haven’t road or jam vetted it yet. But I am pretty confident it’s going to become a permanent part of my rig based on my experiences with it so far. Or at least assuming Alex doesn’t snag it for her board first. Her Strats love that pedal too!
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