ilovefuzz.com

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. As for what I want to do with it, as I understand it (and what I di with the cs-3) to get a good even sound for those twinkly clean tapping parts I need high ratio, hard knee esque compression. I am not just looking for extra sustain, which I feel is what most "normal" musicians use compression for, which is why most compressors feature mild compression that mainly elevates sustain. I don't mind a little grit, especially on bass (though guitar is mainly what I play, I'm in a two piece so Im considering switching to a bass vi), but I don't want a ton of it because that's why I have dirt pedals. Thanks for the ovnilabs.com reference. I'm delving into it. Has anyone played any of the compressors from www.fealabs.com? I'm really curious about them.

Thanks again,

Daniel

hybridpi wrote:...for those twinkly clean tapping parts I need high ratio, hard knee esque compression...

Not to be a broken record, buuuuuuuut:
You can definitely get that in the MXR. And I have not noticed any tone coloration - again, don't let the "bass compressor" label turn you off. This is an anything compressor / limiter / whatever-er. And the "gain reduction" readout at the top (those are LEDs) makes it really easy to see what the pedal is doing to your signal, and how hard it's clamping down.

hybridpi wrote:Thanks for all the suggestions guys. As for what I want to do with it, as I understand it (and what I di with the cs-3) to get a good even sound for those twinkly clean tapping parts I need high ratio, hard knee esque compression. I am not just looking for extra sustain, which I feel is what most "normal" musicians use compression for, which is why most compressors feature mild compression that mainly elevates sustain. I don't mind a little grit, especially on bass (though guitar is mainly what I play, I'm in a two piece so Im considering switching to a bass vi), but I don't want a ton of it because that's why I have dirt pedals. Thanks for the ovnilabs.com reference. I'm delving into it. Has anyone played any of the compressors from http://www.fealabs.com? I'm really curious about them.

Thanks again,

Daniel

I've played almost all of the FEA compressors. Of the three FEA compressors I've owned the DBCL (Dual Band Compressor-Limiter) was my favorite and I do miss it (but man what a mind fuck it is to dial in! Many many knobs!) The Opti-FET was excellent but I sold it because I was broke at the time. DE-CL (Dual Engine Compressor Limiter) was nice but didn't add the lively magic that the Diamond does for me. Expect a 9 month to one year wait list unless you can find one used. Putting your name on the list is free and does not obligate you to buy one when your name is called. Each compressor has a separate list also as they are made in batches. Some people have gotten lucky with shorter waits.

If you manage to get one and don't like it they flip for cost in under an hour typically on Talkbass.

the MXR Bass Compressor is a 5 knob compressor with a gain reduction meter for less than $200. that many controls means you can do transparent or over-the-top in one box.

FYI that "compressor pedal" sound comes from a fast attack and a slow release. The MXR Dyna Comp for example has a 1 millisecond attack and a 1 second release.