I need a compressor, any advices

[Toonster]

I need a compressor for my bass.. And I've been soldering a few simple pedals by now... And was thinking about now building a compressor to put in front of the EHX Bass Micro Synthesizer as many people advice.. So do you people have any advices on some cool DIY builds?

[rnagoda]

Tonepad.com has the instruction set for the much-loved Orange Squeezer, and even has bass-specific mods, so maybe this is the way to go: http://www.tonepad.com/project.asp?id=5

[nbabmf]

The OS is a nice compressor, but you're kind of stuck with one kind of sound. The trimpots adjust JFET bias, and you'll lose signal if you go too far from the sweet spot. I like the Ross/Dyna Comp because the trimmers can all be brought to the outside for a total of 4 controls, and you do get some very different sounds.

[eatyourguitar]

Im gonna get flamed for this but i think a good compressor should be purchased

[eniacmike]

Im gonna get flamed for this but i think a good compressor should be purchased

I am with you on that. unless you want a ross/dynacomp style comp for chicken pickin' you should try to get the best compressor you can for bass.

I have 4 compressors, a dynacomp, an ehx soul preacher, a boss cs-3, and a barber tone press. I can't say enough good things about the tone press. especially for bass it would be perfect because you can blend in clean sound with it and keep your attack and add sustain if you want. I also think the boss cs-3 sounds really good on bass. You can make that pedal sound really bad if you want to, but if you are reasonable with the settings you can get a good sound out it.

if money was no object I would get an avalon optocompressor thats what matt freeman from rancid does.

[Toonster]

Thanks for the suggestions and advices

Well, I get some of the advices.. But what I need is more sustain (Actually not really sustain, The Micro Bass Synthesizer just stops triggering to early in 1 or 2 songs, so I need a compressor to give it more input for a longer period.. I guess, cause sound isn't that important, which diy compressors does this best or is the easiest..

I don't need a compressor for the rest of my bassplaying, cause I don't like what they do to my signal...

[devnulljp]

Thanks for the suggestions and advices

Well, I get some of the advices.. But what I need is more sustain (Actually not really sustain, The Micro Bass Synthesizer just stops triggering to early in 1 or 2 songs, so I need a compressor to give it more input for a longer period.. I guess, cause sound isn't that important, which diy compressors does this best or is the easiest..

I don't need a compressor for the rest of my bassplaying, cause I don't like what they do to my signal...

Sounds like you might need to fiddle with the preamp gain adjustment in the micro synth before shelling out for a compressor. What kind of pickups does your bass have? μsynth is set for passive single coil pu's. Does yours have actives? Have a check on the board for a trimpot labelled labelled TRIM1 -- clockwise will increase the gain -- see if that helps any. Worth a try.

I love the old Dynacomp on guitar but always found compressors on bass to be kinda finicky. The old Trace Elliot GP11 amps had a nice built-in compressor and I remember using a really expensive rack compressor for a while decades ago (can't remember what it was, something that got retired from the PA we had), but I never found a pedal that worked well. Maybe that's just me.

[Toonster]

I already did trimpot adjustments, so that's not the case, it helps, but it doesn't work all I want.. And I have passive P-bass '78 so no problems on that side..

[eatyourguitar]

we'll there you go. passive pickups right into the synth probably doesn't have enough gain. a clean boost might help. you'll get a bit of natural compression from the louder signal hitting the input of the synth. also, new strings and possibly new tuners and bridge will make your bass sustain more. if the bass has sustain, its a better bass. the mark bass compressor is %100 quality. made in italy i think. everything they make is so nice.markbass compressore
$199.99


that avalon is only $2449.99. get two! big price=big ass pics

[Derelict78]

BYOC 5 knob compressor
http://www.buildyourownclone.com/5knobcompressor.html

[nbabmf]

I came pretty close to buying that on my BYOC binge a couple weeks ago, but I have a Ross clone already. Those extra controls though...

[elbandito]

[Toonster]

Yep Markbass is Italian, they make pretty good products as far as I played them in the stores..

I will check out the BYOC then.. I guess there are a few mods for bass on their forum.. I really dig the 2 pedals I already built from them

[eatyourguitar]

I know they are Italian but you have to be careful cause not everything they make is from italy.

[Toonster]

But who cares where they are made as long as quality is good.. A BMW is not always made in Germany, it doesn't make it a shitty car..