What do you like about compressors?

[BurningSkies]

I gig with a 1066 XL because I need stereo compression. Tone is irrelevant to me when talking about compression, because i need compression to be mostly transparent. I use compression as a utility, not an effect. I've played around once with generating distortion using the 160A, which it did admirably, but I have 20+ OD units that are designed for doing the same thing. It's kinda like using a flat head screw driver as a fulcrum when you've got a pry bar sitting right next to you - why not just use the best tool?

I dunno, man... To each there own I guess, but dismissing all sub $2000 compressors as sounding bad for bass guitar is really silly.

My LA-2A clone will overdrive nicely if you hit the front end hard enough (just crank down the threshold (limit) control)...and someone recently when I was looking for a transparent/clean edge-of-breakup pedal suggested a certain compressor for that and I really decided I'd rather have a pedal designed for what I was trying to do than using something that has a quirk or side-effect that does it.

Also, my sub-400$ Origin Effects Cali 76 Compact Bass sounds wonderful enough that I've even used it comfortably in the studio with a 'golden ears' producer.

 

[BurningSkies]

Y'all are going to need bigger pedalboards.

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[FugaziBomb]

My LA-2A clone will overdrive nicely if you hit the front end hard enough (just crank down the threshold (limit) control)...and someone recently when I was looking for a transparent/clean edge-of-breakup pedal suggested a certain compressor for that and I really decided I'd rather have a pedal designed for what I was trying to do than using something that has a quirk or side-effect that does it.

Also, my sub-400$ Origin Effects Cali 76 Compact Bass sounds wonderful enough that I've even used it comfortably in the studio with a 'golden ears' producer.

What LA-2A clone are you using? I've been using the Waves CLA-2A plugin, but I'm suspecting I'm not getting the "magic" that might be on tap with an analog clone unit like a Klark or a WA.

 

[BurningSkies]

What LA-2A clone are you using? I've been using the Waves CLA-2A plugin, but I'm suspecting I'm not getting the "magic" that might be on tap with an analog clone unit like a Klark or a WA.

I'd guess you'd do well with a Klark at 400$ with the full tube compliment. I instead, have a good pile of glass in my preamp (Monique, with a EZ81 rectifier, 2x6SL7 and a 12AU7 plus custom transformers) So my LA-2A clone is a non-tube pedal, made by John Kallas. It does something punchy in the low mids that's subtle but beneficial.

And yes, when I'm at home doing mixes, All plug ins. When we're in the studio, I still like to see hardware in a rack though, but I don't have to own the studio or fund it.