Good compressor for bass guitar

[jfrabat]

Hi, guys.  My son is now playing bass, and I told him I would hook him up with some pedals after he learned his first song.  Well, he learned his first song, and although some of my guitar pedals can technically work for him (like my Green Russian Big Muff Pi), I want to make him a new one.  And I figured a compressor is a great first pedal for him to have.

So I started reading online, and the Demeter Compulator seems like a popular choice, but the Vactrol VTL5C10 optocoupler seems hard to find (I looked in Mouser, Mammoth, and locally and could not find it.  And on eBay, they are over $10 each plus shipping to Panama, so that's not happening).  Are there any other options out there?  I have an Engineer's Thumb for my guitar, and that one is not optical, but I do not know how well it works with a bass (I could order another board from MadBean if it is and do that!).

Let me know your suggestions!

Thanks!

Felipe

[DIY Bass]

I built a pumpernickel compressor for my bass and never turn it off.  It is a great compressor.  You have to buy it in a kit though - I have never seen schematics.

[Mr.Kite]

This one sounds fantastic on bass, and on guitar\keyboards too. VERY transparent.

[EBK]

This is what I gig with on bass. 
http://www.thatcorp.com/pedals/4316%20Battery-Powered%20One%20Knob%20Squeezer.pdf
Other than my tuner, it is the only pedal on my board at the moment.

[Sooner Boomer]

This one sounds fantastic on bass, and on guitar\keyboards too. VERY transparent.

What is the component labeled ? between IC4 and IC5?

[PRR]

> I figured a compressor is a great first pedal

Disagree. Finger-control of dynamics is a Basic Skill.

[Sooner Boomer]

I've got a kit on the build pile:
https://store.generalguitargadgets.com/kits/kits-compressors/ibanez-bp10-cp10-bass-compressor-compressor-replica-kit.html
It's based on the BA6110 voltage-controlled amp.  I'm building it so I can switch between bass and guitar.

OK, I *used* to have a build pile.  Stuff kept slipping off.  Now I have a build bucket.  Stuff doesn't fall up out of a bucket.

[Mr.Kite]

What is the component labeled ? between IC4 and IC5?

Mmh...I dunno! Probably a capacitor? Maybe I can check it on my original...

[Rob Strand]

It kills me to say it but if you buy a Behringer BLE100 Bass Limiter Enhancer then change the crappy smd TL064 with a TL074 you will go along way with minimal effort and cost. It's a lot like the one Mr Kite posted but it's the later Boss unit.

[Rob Strand]

Quote from: Sooner Boomer on Today at 09:24:10 PM

    What is the component labeled ? between IC4 and IC5?


Mmh...I dunno! Probably a capacitor? Maybe I can check it on my original...

Actually that part is a thermistor.   I suspect the idea is to counteract the temperature dependency
of the gain control chip.

[jfrabat]

Disagree. Finger-control of dynamics is a Basic Skill.

No argument.  But I think he will get more use of a compressor than a fuzz or delay...  Maybe not a reverb, though...  and I do have a bunch of PT2399 laying around...  any suggestions on that?  And also if I should go reverb or compressor?

[thetragichero]

simple but quite useful: variable high pass filter
otherwise go nuts and make a synth pedal!

[Mr.Kite]

No argument.  But I think he will get more use of a compressor than a fuzz or delay...

Why not an octaver? It is incredibly funny with a bass! Or an EQ if you want something really useful...One thing that I always need with a bass is something to "warm up" the tone: if you don't have one of those massive, very expensive, tube bass rigs, but just a "clean" amp, you need a pedal to give it a little more character and enhance playing dynamics...The Xotic RC Booster is good for that, there's also a bass version with a slightly differentely tuned EQ section: it is a soft clipping boost\light overdrive which compresses a little bit as you increase the gain, without much "dirt" actually. It gives the "feel" of a tube amp.

[287m]

Maybe, Mictester Really Cheap Compressor? Easy to build in 1590A  even with indicator

dunno for bass value

[merlinb]

http://valvewizard.co.uk/engineersthumb3.html

[bluebunny]

As a long-time bass player, I have to agree with Paul.  Yes, you might want to tame the wildest peaks, but part of the beauty of the bass is in the dynamics.  Unless you're Kraftwerk.¹      If you're going to compress, keep it light and subtle.


___
¹ Or anything else sequenced/electronic...

[bluebunny]

P.S. I'd build a chorus.  Not that I like a bit of 80s bass or anything...!   

[Jubz]

Hi

Agree with paul too. If you build a compressor for a bassist beginner a blend control can be a nice feature to have and can serve training purpose (he can compare easily tamed and untamed peaks).

Else, just clone your russian muff with an added clean blend and go ham learning him the muse hysteria intro. Its very fun, simple, iconic, and if you learn him with string crossing it is a very good practicing exercice

[EBK]

Although finger-control of dynamics is indeed a basic skill, a compressor is extremely useful on bass for different reasons.  I use mine to increase note sustain and to allow me to occasionally add a percussive tone without the dramatically louder attack that would otherwise go with it.  As a tool rather than a crutch, a compressor can be awesome.  But, yes, learn to play the bass first.

[StephenGiles]

> I figured a compressor is a great first pedal

Disagree. Finger-control of dynamics is a Basic Skill.

Absolutely right!!

I'm meeting an old band mate from 1962-65 period today, who has recently started playing in a band again after all these years - I'll ask him what pedals he uses, I think I know the answer!!! I wonder if he still has the AC30 we all played through at one time?