Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm looking for a compressor, one that can add punch to my playing. I need an effective compressor, nothing more. I don't need an amp modeler, distortion, fuzz, envelope modifier, etc. I had, for a time, one of the older Line 6 Bass Pods, but it was too much to fiddle with. I'd like to have a simple compressor, perhaps something where I can dial up the compression to my liking, or with an on-off switch. I use a simple amp, a GK 700RB combo single 15" and once in a great while, connect a twin 10" extension cabinet. For really big gigs, the amp would feed out to a large LA Systems PA. Normally, I wouldn't take criticism from a mere drummer but I think mine is right - he says the bass should be punchier. I usually play with my thumb or pick, and now prefer playing with TI Jazz Flats. They type of music we play doesn't require the typical Squire/Lee growl, but I do like a relatively bright, clean tone with the flats (yes, you can get that), so to add punch, I need compression - right?

So, you "pros" out there, please post your recommendations for a simple, effective (and not too expensive) compressor to place either in line or out of an effects patch on the amp. I don't want a rack system, just something small. Watcha got?

I have 2 for you to check out - the EBS MultiComp, and the Frantone Sputnik. Both are great sounding units, and the Frantone is the definition of simplicity. The EBS works great with active and passive basses, and the Frantone prefers (ever so slightly) passive basses like our Rics. Check them out.

If you want a foot pedal, the Aphex Punch Factory is pretty good.

Aphex Pedals

I use a Janglebox in front of my amp. It's simple and sounds great with flats.

I too, use the Aphex, as it works well and keeps your tone.

Gee, clean with punch is right up my alley. For the stuff I play and the guys I play with, it's pretty much the rule. I love low end, but don't want to bury them in mud, and on a lot of our music you're really exposed and often the only thing happening down in that register. Just out of curiosity, have you tried raising your bridge pickup about as high as you can get it without hitting the strings, cranking its tone up and messing with the blend? I'm all for buying new gizmos for the sheer thrill of it, but when you start talking about bright, clean tone with flats (especially without cutting out all the low end) that sort of pickup/tone setup has always been the ticket for me without having to add any boxes. I'll also admit that for the most part, I'm not very into compression on my basses because I don't really want anything evening out the volume and/or attack that I happen to be putting into it. The combination of a fairly deep, bassy setting on the neck pickup and a very bright setting on the bridge has usually yielded a punch that often resembles one if those instances where you pluck a string and the drummer stomps the bass drum at the exact same instant. I have my old Frankenstein Gibson set up that way in stereo, but it isn't bad run mono and my RIC 2030, Pedulla Buzz, Hofner and Hagstrom eight-string are all set up similarly, but are mono. I may at times lack talent, class, money, tackt, spelling ability and a lot of other stuff, but punch with flats I have plenty of, and with nothing more than tone controls and a tall bridge pickup. Here is a string of short sample clips if you're bored:

http://webpages.charter.net/tbradshaw/M ... amples.mp3

- The first two are the fretless Gibson with old Guild tape-wound flats, through my Acoustic 150 head and a Sunn 118VH folded horn that was miced for the recording.
- Number three is the Pedulla Buzz fretless and at the time, it had Fender tape-wound flats on it, run through my Traynor YBA 200 head and into the board.
- Number four is the Hofner V63 Beatle with TI jazz flats, also through the Traynor head and straight in.
- Five and six are the Hag-eight with Jazz Flats for all eight strings (one of the nice things about short-scale eights is that the octaves can be regular guitar strings). Through the Traynor and into the board. Number five is my best (though admittedly, pretty lame) impersonation of TP. I sent it to one of the guys as a joke to show him that the folk song he had just written had rock and roll potential, but that he just couldn't see it. Number six shows what I mean by "exposed". Anything that's not squeeky clean in one of these transparent, minimal mixes stands out like a sore thumb.

I usually keep rounds on the 2030, which have no problem with punch, so I didn't include it in this batch, but anybody who believes that you can't get bright clean tone and a good amount of punch out of flats, even tape-wound flats, is misinformed. There is nothing wrong with buying and using a compressor, but you might also want to play around a bit with the pickups and knobs and see what it produces.

I use the EBS multicomp, and I am very happy with it, I play a large variety of basses, passive and active and this compressor suits them all very well.

jps wrote:I too, use the Aphex, as it works well and keeps your tone.

+1 - I agree with Joey and Jeff. Also has true bypass. But for a decent price, you keep your tone, as Jeff said. And it works.

Hi, if you are into rack compressor, i would really recommend you on BBE MAXCOM. it is very nice compressor and also have the BBE SONIC MAXIMIZER inside which add nice Punch to your bass sound. i like it with my MARKBASS amp and my RIC and also my fender.
if you have more budget, consider DBX 160A or any vintage unit like LA2A or something like that.
i do not like pedal compressors very much.

If we are talking rackmount, I used to have two fantastic compressors, Aphex 661 Expressor. These are very comprehensive and are cheap given what they can do and how they sound.

Heard clips of, but not played through the Celmo Sardine Can compressor. Pricey as heck though highly touted... The limiter on my Phil Jones Bass Buddy is actually good enough. Preset at the classic 3 to 1 ratio for bass work.
G.

I've used a rackmounted dbx160a for a few years now. I swear by it...truth be told it was the only one I tried so I cannot make a comparison to anything else.

Hey Sean! How ya been?!