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Thinking of getting rid of my compressor...

theophilus762

theophilus762

Nov 4, 2006
1,342
43
39
Arlington, VA
#1
Whats up guys, I hope everyone had a great Holiday season.

So lately I've been thinking of getting rid of my compressor. It's the BBE Opto Stomp and it works beautifully, and I am absolutely pleased with its performance. However, I'm not sure if I even need it or want to keep it. It's a very subtle effect, more like an attack/volume spike control rather than a squishing "effect". When I'm playing with a heavy attack, my overdrive is probably on too so that takes care of the attack/volume spike control.

I don't really have other needs for it, so I'm thinking about getting rid of it. That'll bring me down to just a Pedal tuner, and an Overdrive which is all I really use.

Have any of you guys used a compressor, and ditched it for the same reason? How many of you actually own a pedalboard without a compressor? OTOH, Do any of you guys think that a compressor is absolutely necessary on your pedalboard?

I'm interested to see what you all have to say, esp Bongo who inspired me to get a compressor in the first place. (I even used his guide to decide on the Opto Stomp)

Thanks,
Joash:)
 
#2
I'm another one who did that.

Realistically, my EBS Multicomp just wasn't seeing much use, so I sold it. Plus, I had a tough financial situation late last semester, so it seemed like a great idea at the time. Since then, I haven't regretted it, although when I start recording basslines for the band, I'll definitely want a good compressor if what they have on-hand isn't that great.

If I slapped, I'd have kept it for sure. And even though my playing can be pretty dynamic sometimes, I'm much better at keeping it under control than I was a year ago. I can live without a compressor as long as I'm not recording or slapping.
 
#3
Never leave home without one ...

Once I started using one there was no going back. For me the slight compression gives you that little push that tube amps do so well, how many times do you hear about a 300 watt tube amp crushing a 500 watt SS. Much of what your actually hearing is tube compression. A compressor can also make you change your playing style, you will find less need to play HARD and therefore work more on speed, smoothness, and style.

;) ... So you see there can be more to it than just the slight effect you hear.
 
#4
My amp has a built in comressor, so yea, i ditched it. I use the built in one with subtle compression, nothing too strong.

Honestly, if you are recording, I always run dry, no compression or anything, as you can always add it later, but you can't take it away.
 
#5
I dig compressors, obviously, but I would never say that they should be used by "everyone" or "all the time". In fact my new Jazz V has such even signal levels from string to string and up and down the neck, that I actually have to work harder than I used to with other basses to test the spike-catching abilities of a compressor; I really would never "need" a comp with this bass and even halfway-decent playing technique. Of course knowing me I would still choose to use one for the subtle tonal improvement, but I could easily see going without in order to save a few bucks or save space on a pedalboard.

Like I always say, it's a tool. If you don't need a given tool, you don't need to carry it in your toolbox. Although it's good to have a well-stocked toolbox. :)
 
#6
I've toyed with them through the years (and have a Punch Factory pedal that's currently unused and off my board) but by and large, I've found that I don't really need or want it. I normally play with a hint of overdrive (in the just-breaking-up realm) and that "compresses" enough for me. Sometimes I'll add a bit of compression when mixing down a song, if needed, to sculpt the sonics of the song.
 
#8
I never use compressors live but sometimes use them in the studio. I do use an Orange Squeeze clone with my bass VI but that's for that tic tac sound. Even when I'm slapping I don't really need it, the dynamics control is in my fingers mostly and the older I get the better I get at this approach.
 
#10
OshKoshJoash said:
Have any of you guys used a compressor, and ditched it for the same reason? How many of you actually own a pedalboard without a compressor?
Click to expand...


I stopped using a compressor in my live rig about 15 years ago when I started playing way more jazz, avant-garde, and experimental music and less pop/rock/funk. It just made no sense trying to coax subtle dynamics out of a signal path that was hellbent on evening them all out!

(fwiw, I was using an AudioArts 1200, a rackmounted professional studio compresor/limiter. Never used a stompbox compressor, and never considered compression an "effect" for bass, always thought of it as an integral component of the iconic sound of commercial electric bass.)

Now that I'm pretty much splitting my performance time 50/50 between jazz & rock I still don't bother with a compressor, except for those really rare big-ass rock gigs when I need to bring a huge refridgerator-sized stage rig...and then what I do is set it up for parallel compression: I have one completely uncompressed signal path (bass->amp#1->speaker#1) and then a separate line out from the preamp goes ->compressor->amp#2->speaker#2.
 
#12
bongomania said:
Funny, I literally just received one of those in the mail yesterday. I haven't spent much time with it yet, but it's got a cool "furry" sound to it.
Click to expand...


I used to describe the sound as "toothpaste-y" whenever I had the ratio wound up a bit too high...it just made the bass sound kind of gummy, gooey, gushy, like a giant blob of slightly viscous goop.

But if you back off the attack time, keep the ratio around 4:1 or 5:1 and set it for less than 8dB of gain reduction it should get you pretty smooth, clean, artifact-free compression.

These days I also have a dbx 165A and an Aphex Compellor in my collection, but I still like the AudioArts 1200 best for when I need a comp for my live bass rig.
 
#13
I use compression as an effect not to smooth out my dynamics. Last month I had to send my multi-effect in for repair and rediscovered the natural dynamics that I had been sacrificing in favor of that squishy sound. Now I'm leaning toward either obvious compression or none. I think in the end, for me, no single effect is really necessary. Of course I'll probably feel different next week. ;)
 
#15
You own it, you say you like it, and IF you got off it, what could you really get for it ?? Toss it on the shelf and wait, 'cause one day you may just need it for some recording work. If it still has utility, then keep it.
 
#16
Bongo points out in his very cool reviews that compression can either be a very natural "tubey" sounding or of the "squisy" type that evens out the signal ...


I much prefer the natural sound, actually you can barely tell mine is on, until you click it off so that is my perspective on it when I said "Don't Leave Home Without it"


:) ... I bought the EBS Mulitcomp with the help of Bongos review BTW ... Thanks Bongo!
 
#17
kyral210 said:
As a general rule if your filling Stadiums, then get a good one. If your not, then all the subtle tone improvements it gives will be lost in the reverb and crapness of the venue. Trust me.
Click to expand...

That's just silly though- stadiums have the crappiest, most smeared sound of any venue out there. Whereas there are loads of smaller venues with actually decent acoustic design.
 

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