jar546 Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 I have been noticing some tone issues with my basses and I had a good friend of mine come in for the holidays and recommend a compressor for my setup. He tried out everything that I have and said that was the only thing he would recommend to even out the tone and volume of the notes. I was told I could play lighter on the strings and get a more consistent sound. I was given a 1/2 hour lesson with waveforms on how a compressor works and it makes sense. Are there any recommendations for a bass compressor? There are a few out there but the price differences are pretty big which makes me ask why.... I trust his opinion because he has been performing/playing music for 35 years, graduated then taught at Berkely College of Music and works in California writing/performing and editing music for TV shows and movies along with playing in a pile of bands over the years. Primarily a guitarist, he plays the bass, keyboards, sax and accordian. I keep seeing posts from some of the members here who don't understand why anyone would ever need a pedal. thanks for the replies (hopefully) "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know" by Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Daddy from Motown Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 I like the Aphex punch factory in a pedal compressor. However the P Bass pickup can be adjusted to give each string the same volume. Thats the beauty of that pickup. The compressor is a last resort type of fix, start with pickup adjustments. I always have the lower strings farther from the pickup than the G string to achieve tonal balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 The EBS Multicomp is a very nice compressor if you decide on going that route. I have one. Works and sounds great. Well worth the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Another way to go is with a rack unit -- I'm not really a pedal guy. I'm using a Behringer Composerpro compressor in my rack -- not a bad little rack unit, for about the price of a good stompbox, but with more control. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juancarlin Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 If going for a pedal, the EBS is a really good one. Also there is the BOSS CS-3, which I used to have, and is also real nice, even tho is more oriented towards guitar, has a "sustain" control which would be useful, for an instance, if you feel experimental. The MXR Dyna-Comp is also a classic. I, however, prefer to use rack gear than pedals, and found out several years ago that the DBX 163x is WAYYYY easy to use, and does not changes much the sound/tone of what I am playing (If tone change is within your priorities, then the best suggestion is to test and experiment, I primarily use it to keep somewhat even the volume, specially when working with different basses, so I have it in the loop section of the preamp, right after anything that would define "tone" and anything that would react to my dynamics -i.e. the envelope filter-). You can find those for cheap off eBay. Have a friend who uses an alesis 3630, also with good results. Brought to you by Juancarlin. www.juancarlinmusic.com http://www.youtube.com/JuanCarlinMusic www.facebook.com/JuanCarlinMusic Instagram: @JuanCarlinMusic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 My Alesis 3630 toasted itself. Anyone want a non-functioning unit? Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juancarlin Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 My Alesis 3630 toasted itself. Anyone want a non-functioning unit? I Would. Brought to you by Juancarlin. www.juancarlinmusic.com http://www.youtube.com/JuanCarlinMusic www.facebook.com/JuanCarlinMusic Instagram: @JuanCarlinMusic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky McDougall Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 I think the main use of a compressor to even out the volume of struck notes? I occasionally will play one single note too loud accidentally. I don't use any pedals or effects but probably need a compressor. Rocky "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb, voting on what to eat for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb, contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcadmus Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 My Alesis 3630 toasted itself. Anyone want a non-functioning unit? You're a non-functioning unit. Sorry, it was too good a setup to resist. "Tours widely in the southwestern tip of Kentucky" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudcat Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 The best sounding compressor I am familiar with is the Carl Martin Compressor Limiter. Good news: It tames your dynamics without killing your tone. Bad news: It retails for $245. These things are incredible. Highly recommended. Mudcat's music on Soundclick "Work hard. Rock hard. Eat hard. Sleep hard. Grow big. Wear glasses if you need 'em."-The Webb Wilder Credo- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
... Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 The best sounding compressor I am familiar with is the Carl Martin Compressor Limiter. Good news: It tames your dynamics without killing your tone. Bad news: It retails for $245. These things are incredible. Highly recommended. Those are great compressors as well - in fact pretty much everything that Carl Martin makes is great. I think the EBS one cost me $199 but I honestly can't remember for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bear Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I'll affirm my love for the Aphex Punch Factory. Not cheap, but not over $200. I don't have any personal experience with the Carl Martin, or the Demiter, but they are both highly recommended to me constantly. Mike Bear Artisan-Vocals/Bass Instructor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 There are lots of good compressors out there. Don't forget to practice playing evenly. Plug your bass into a tape deck, hit record, and watch the vu meter. Make sure that the display goes to the same spot no matter what note you hit, no matter what technique you use. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EZ Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 I'm using a big crunch and it has vol, attack, and sustain I'm new to this someone gave it to me to get use to using compressors. I really don't know how to get the best sound out of it, i've been told to set the attack slow, then fast. I could use some help. If you smell something stinking, it's juz me, I'm funky like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul K Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 ......(snip)..... Plug your bass into a tape deck, hit record, and watch the vu meter. Tape deck? Is that anything like a typewriter? Things are just the way they are, and they're only going to get worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky McDougall Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 What is a typewriter? Is it like a teletype machine?Rocky "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb, voting on what to eat for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb, contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMan99 Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 FYI, some compressors add a *lot* of "color" to the sound. Other compressors are very "clean", and affect only volume. In addition to Jeremy's suggestion to use a tape-deck VU meter, it may be worth practicing with (good) headphones; you really hear what your bass (and fingers) is doing, as opposed to your amp. Good headphones can be had for about $100. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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