Compressor recommendations

peterleroux · Jul 9, 2018

So I've been feeling like I need to look at compression for my bass- I play through a Hartke rig at church that has a single-knob compressor on board, but to be honest it feels more like it either does nothing, or hard-limits my signal and sucks all the dynamics out. I'm looking at something that will be subtle, tightening up the attack when I'm plucking or flatpicking, but pull the peaks down when I slap and pop.

I've got a self-built Orange Squeezer which I'll try out the next time I play, but I was hoping for some recommendations on good compressors for bass- not to add sustain, but to help with suppressing peaks and tighten up slapping and popping.

V8 · Jul 9, 2018

Can't help you with a specific product - I didn't come across any I liked during the latest two year bass stint. Well I did, but it was a rack unit (dbx 168, iirc).

I didn't come across any bass pedals I liked, so I stuck to my (t)rusty zoom b2. Which has a horrible squashy compressor, though the limiter isn't that bad. I used a touch of overdrive (very subtle, still sounded clean) and found it evened things out a touch.

What I did learn...I will not buy a bass product that doesn't have a blend (dry/wet). It's (imho) the only way you can retain some of the tasty bottom end the bass puts out - when I hear a bass through a TS, a little part of me dies ?

peterleroux · Jul 10, 2018

V8 What I did learn...I will not buy a bass product that doesn't have a blend (dry/wet). It's (imho) the only way you can retain some of the tasty bottom end the bass puts out - when I hear a bass through a TS, a little part of me dies ?

Truth. If time allows, I hope to put a clean blend into my Big Muff this weekend - even the bass-friendly Green Russion version still thins low end out a bit. Will post pics if I manage, because it's a pretty useful little mod that doesn't take up a lot of space.

V8 · Jul 10, 2018

peterleroux , I hope to put a clean blend into my Big Muff this weekend - even the bass-friendly Green Russion version still thins low end out a bit.

I have come to realllly appreciate a Fuzz on bass - mainly due to Bootsy! Love that furry 'n funky bass sound. I found that if the autowah is peaky (e.g. almost always), the big muff does a half decent job of taming the signal. Though I found on my b2 the overdrive worked a bit better, it's not the best fuzz sim.