The Compressor Chronicles

I love the MXR! Its quiet, works great for aggressive playing and has awesome metering. It doesn't have tone coloring so you're good to go with the M87.

 

I've been very happy with the Keeley Bassist. I use it as a limiter at the end of my chain (but before my BDDI) to tame the spikes of my other pedals. My goal is to not have sound guy's dive for the faders when I switch on my filter, phaser, or octaver, and it does that well.

It doesn't color or change the sound at all. After shows I'll ask sound guys or other audio engineers or band mates using in-ears if my bass sounded compressed or squashed at all, and they always say "no." And that's what I want.

I run GK MBF 800 into a small Schroeder 1210L cab. But I ask for and get my feedback on my signal to house sound, not my amp sound. I play finger style funk, soul, rock, world. Not too much heavy stuff genre-wise, but am in big and loud bands!

MXR was at the top of my list, but I found what I needed on my first try with the Keeley.

Good luck!

 

As you mentioned, the Diamond is not a transparent compressor but still my favorite. If you're truly seeking "transparent", here ya go:

Rothwell Love Squeeze

 

Empress, though not on your list and for that I apologize, is just what you want, sir. I play hard rock aggressively with a pick. Bought the Empress and it instantly and permanently became part of 'my sound'. Very clear, tone wise. Punchy as hell. Blendable with your primary signal.

 

I personally didn't like the Diamond because of its coloration. The post comp output is kind of like a mild overdrive and I couldn't find a setting on it where it acted more like a traditional compressor and less like a subtle OD. The clean tones I did find on it weren't compressed enough for my tastes (it's a poor peak limiter, IME) and it has less control over the parameters that I've become accustomed to. I respect that people probably like it for exactly those reasons, but to me it felt like it was designed like a compressor for people that don't really like compressors. All IMO, as usual.

 

To my ears, it embellishes the low mids but, keep in mind, I have the EQ tilt set @ 900 hz and rolled to the left / bass just a smidgen. Although the Diamond also offers a 250 hz frequency center, I've found that sucks the life & definition from my tone (too much mid-scoop). I've found no glaring deficits and my experience pretty much parrots bongo's review:

Diamond BCP-1

Riis

 

I had the Keeley bassist. Loved it, but wanted more options. Felt like all it could do was limit my signal. (Which is not a band thing) Found a great deal on the markbass compressore. Have loved it since I made the switch.

 

Hearing the Diamond is believing- don't look at it's specs on paper or ponder it's lack of superfluous controls -
Use your ears. It provides a sonic glue that responds to your dynamics in the most pleasing of ways. It's crazy cool. The people behind it are wizards. It makes me sound better and that makes me play better. I can't say enough good things about this device.

 

I had the Keeley Bassist, but it amplified noise in my signal chain, so I returned it. Went with the BOSS BC-1x and I like it better than the Keeley. It makes my short scale Reverend sound much bigger with more high end. And no noise.

 

Demeter Compulator.
Clean and gets right to the point.

 

Have you looked at the Cali 76 bass compact? I have one and love it

 

I've had good results with the Seymour Duncan Studio Bass compressor - it doesn't seem to have a bad sound in it at any settings.
The blend control makes a significant difference in retaining the zingy aggression whilst keeping the signal consistent.

 

For a first compressor for live gigging it's hard to go wrong with the Keeley Bassist. Super clean and transparent. Simple and easy to dial in a good setting. Also hard to make it sound bad.

I've got four compressors. The Keeley is what I'll take along most times.

 

This is THE bass comp... IMO of course.