Compressors

[Folkie]

JimK,

Please let us know if that JB2 has arrived!

Robert

[jimk]

Yup. It came about a week ago. Need proof?
JimK

[Folkie]

JimK,

What do you think of the JB2? How would you compare it to the original? Have you found the right settings? Any trouble getting the battery out?

Robert

[jimk]

JimK,

What do you think of the JB2?

Lovely!

How would you compare it to the original?

Because of the jangle boost switch, I think it's a bit more versatile. You can step on that switch and use it as a treble boost, as opposed to the original which would require you to bend over and manually flip the switch from say "Normal" to "Bright."

Have you found the right settings?

Pretty much,yes. I run my bridge pickup through the JB-2 as a volume boost. It seems that that pickup has a lesser output than the neck pickup. So I have the Bass knob set at 3:00, the Treble at 12:00, Gain at 12:00, Attack at 2:00, Level at 12:00. Depending on the situation, these could be adjusted accordingly.

Any trouble getting the battery out?

No, I use a 9 volt electrical power supply.
JimK

[Folkie]

JimK,

I also use a One Spot adapter with my JB2. The reason I asked about the battery is that the JB2 comes with an alkaline battery already installed. It could corrode if you leave it inside the unit for a long period of time. That's why I took the pedal apart and removed mine. Anyway I'm glad you've dialed in the right tone. It's amazing how similar your settings are to mine. Have you considered using the JB2 for direct recording?

Robert

[johnallg]

This one works pretty good:

[jimk]

Have you considered using the JB2 for direct recording?

Robert

I experimented with direct recording once. I'm using a TASCAM DP-02 digital 8 track recorder. The built in effects are not at all to my liking. I have yet to really sit down with the JB-2 and the TASCAM and figure out the ideal settings.

The few times I've done any recording, I just stuck a condenser mic in front of my Kustom amp's speaker cab. This really isn't to my liking, either.

I'll have to sit down and plug directly into the TASCAM and the JB-2 some Saturday, or Sunday afternoon.

JimK

[Folkie]

JimK,

The last time I recorded with my 330/12 I miked my amp with a Shure SM57 dynamic mic and I was very unhappy with the guitar sound--much too bass heavy regardless of where I positioned the mic. My current plan is either to route the JB2 directly into my Yamaha AW16G Digital Workstation or to run a line from my amp's preamp into the recorder. Either one should be an improvement.

Robert

[Geddy Lee]

I have started using a DBX 166 live and I highly recommended them. They're a bit less 'natural' than an Empircal Labs Distressor but are far far cheaper and even cheaper than a 160 (which plenty of BS surrounds about how amazing it is).

[Jonesey]

Tried the Keeley compressor recently and IMO it's really great: it doesn't affect the basic sound of the guitar too much and it sounds really natural.
I used to have a Marshall compressor until three-four years ago but I didn't really fancy it - it added too much noise and sounded too artificial in some way.
But maybe it's great with cleaner sounds than I used back then. Before I got a Rickenbacker I hardly used clean sounds for recordings.

[Folkie]

Jonathan,

I do love the Keeley compressors, with two qualifications: first, they don't jangle like my JB2, and second, the lower end model has only two knobs on the face of the pedal and needs to be opened up to access two additional adjustment knobs. I find this a huge headache. So if I were looking at Keeleys, I would consider the more expensive model which has all four knobs on the outside.

Robert

[kiramdear]

I used to have a Marshall compressor until three-four years ago but I didn't really fancy it - it added too much noise and sounded too artificial in some way.

I still have one but rarely use it since getting a JB2. Mine isn't badly noisy but it definitely colors the sound in a peculiar way. And the clicking sound on the attack can get out of hand.

[Folkie]

Kira,

Have you done any direct recording with the JB2?

Robert

[kiramdear]

Kira,

Have you done any direct recording with the JB2?

Robert

No, I haven't had opportunity yet, but I will try it out eventually. I've read that it works well.

[Jonesey]

Robert: I'd love to try one of those but they don't seem to be accesible in Denmark even though there's a great guitarstore in my town who always got at least three Rickenbackers up for sale.
Suppose they're in stereo for the Ric-O-Sound? In that case I can use it for mastering as well
Tried the simple version of the Keeley, it did the trick for me but on the long run more functions on the panel would sure be to desire.

Kira: maybe the problem could have been the huge amounts of effects I used back then
Marshall makes some pretty good reverbs and delays - they sound great for cheap and digital effects. Wouldn't like to be without the reverse delay and reverb.