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The Pigtronix Philosopher’s Tone compressor

K

kidgloves2

Mar 27, 2006
150
3
#1
Has anyone here tried The Pigtronix Philosopher’s Tone compressor on bass? I just got one for guitar, but compressors are new to me. I put it in my bass rig and I like the sounds I'm getting, but I have nothing to compare it to.

Do you guys like it?
 
#2
bongo's review of the Philosopher's Tone

I know a few guys (fightthepower comes to mind) who use them with synth styled pedalboards to get additional sustain from octavers for waveshaping purposes and some bassplayers just using it as a normal comp have given it positive reviews.

I generally like more "effecty" compression rather than clean limiting or "transparent punch" like the Maxon CP9+ or Diamond Compressor but for some reason I didn't dig the action of the Pigtronix.
 
#3
I know that BigChiefBC likes his a lot, but he also uses it very much for its "effecty-ness." I recently got one, and am having mixed feelings about it. The sustain is amazing, but it introduces a lot of extra hiss to my fuzzes when they would otherwise be quiet, and it takes a bit of bite out of my clean tone. That said, I do have a couple of songs where I do need ridiculous sustain, so I'm considering keeping it as an "effect-y" effect, and finding something else for my main "on all the time" compressor.
 
#5
Yeah, I love the PT, but usually use it for a crazy-squashed, crazy-sustain setting. I have worked on getting a normal compressor sound out of it, and think I'm almost there. You really need to play around with different combinations of the blend and sustain knobs. If you max the blend knob and have the sustain knob high, you're going to get that weird action that Bongo talks about in his review. I've been getting good results from having the sustain knob around 2:00, and blend around 1:00. It still lets a little bit of your attack through, so it lessens that weird envelope sound, but still gives you a ton of sustain. I dig it.
 
#8
gnasher1993 said:
This excites me:

Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

Holy ****! Very interested!! I've thought a lot about the AttackSustain, but read that the PT's compressor was an upgraded version of the AttackSustain's compressor circuit... and in some ways that I didn't necessarily want to downgrade on. So is this thing going to be the AttackSustain+PhilosophersTone??? :confused: I think it is!! Kick ass, I could make great use out of that thing :hyper::bassist:

I use my PT in a similar manner to bigchief. Great compressor but I would not recommend it for any 'regular' compression or limiting use.
 
#10
fightthepower said:
Holy ****! Very interested!! I've thought a lot about the AttackSustain, but read that the PT's compressor was an upgraded version of the AttackSustain's compressor circuit... and in some ways that I didn't necessarily want to downgrade on. So is this thing going to be the AttackSustain+PhilosophersTone??? :confused: I think it is!! Kick ass, I could make great use out of that thing :hyper::bassist:
Click to expand...

That's what I'm thinking...AS+PT. I like the idea of the swell function as well, that's why I love my CS-1.

I can't wait to find some more info on that thing, it looks sweet.

Happy with my Barber Tone Press for the time being though :)
 
#15
Hey guys, I have the bass version that came out I think last year or so.

Hears my review.



My review of the Pigtronix Philosopher Bass Compressor.

Great pedal, I wanted something that does not break the bank, I also wanted something American made. This has all that, Its nice little grit switch and its bypass design are the only 2 things I don't care for this pedal, with shoes on you cant hit the grit switch to on and off.
It's a nice pedal, if you're looking for something small and compact and is quiet but for the most extreme settings, though that is more than likely the wiring hear in the house.
It can let me play real subtle compression to that in your face squash that I like using for slapping and harmonic and cord tapping pieces. The blend nob is really a good idea, theres no time setting however so you can only mess with the amount, the attack but not the time of the compressor. It's not really needed however because you can just blend what you need and what you don't need.
Also I find that with Tech21 pedals like the Tech21 Bass Driver DI and the Red Ripper, I find that placing the Pigtronix box in between those 2 pedals, the Bass Driver then the Bass Compressor then the Red Ripper works the best with this compressor. I love that setup and would gladly buy another Pigtronix box again.

Also for those of you who are wondering, theres a little video that can go along with this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZPpqZ56Jac



May peace be with you all.
 

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