madbeanpedals::forum

General => Open Discussion => Topic started by: LaceSensor on April 14, 2016, 09:17:12 AM

Title: Compressor for slap bass
Post by: LaceSensor on April 14, 2016, 09:17:12 AM
Hi

Anyone can recommend me a bass compressor project, one that gives some classic slap bass tones.
Its not for me and I dont play bass, so I cant really test it either, so need a solid vouch

cheers

Ian
Title: Re: Compressor for slap bass
Post by: jimilee on April 14, 2016, 02:01:56 PM
Now, when you say slap bass tones, can you give an example?


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Title: Re: Compressor for slap bass
Post by: LaceSensor on April 14, 2016, 02:24:03 PM
no

I dont play bass
Its just what my friend who is starting out thinks he needs / wants

lets go back a step

anyone recomend a bass compressor? ?!
Title: Re: Compressor for slap bass
Post by: jimilee on April 14, 2016, 02:26:18 PM
My favorite is the EHX soul preacher. I've built a ton and this one is a mainstay on my board. I like the knee switch on it, I'm not sure how the bearhug would compare, Jon may be able to chime in.


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Title: Re: Compressor for slap bass
Post by: Martan on April 14, 2016, 02:35:53 PM
Seems like I hear more about limiters for slap than compressors
Title: Re: Compressor for slap bass
Post by: midwayfair on April 14, 2016, 02:56:55 PM
Ask the person you're building it for if they're trying to get the really bouncy/warmer/syrupy slap sound where the transient dips and it comes back up super quickly, or if they want to keep all the transients and just have the lower strings sustain longer. If it's the first, I'd probably go for a modded OS or something with the decay reduced to 100mS or less if you can get away with it (either reduce the 4.7uF cap in the rectifier section or replace the 150K with a 250K pot+10K resistor). For the later, Brian's 1590G compressor project is optical with a clean blend and would probably be perfect dialed in around 70%.

The reason the OS is my choice for the first sound is that it can reduce below unity, especially with a strong enough signal, and it's the closest thing in the DIY world to an 1176, which is extremely likely to have been used on any bass making that sound on a 70s/80s record.

I'm sure some other bassists will be along to contradict this :)
Title: Re: Compressor for slap bass
Post by: jposega on April 14, 2016, 05:46:08 PM
http://www.ovnilab.com

More compressor reviews than you can shake a stick at.
Title: Re: Compressor for slap bass
Post by: LaceSensor on April 14, 2016, 08:18:36 PM
cheers lads
Title: Re: Compressor for slap bass
Post by: raulduke on April 15, 2016, 01:46:52 PM
The nicest compressor I've ever played is a Diamond Compressor that I repaired.

Sounded just as great on guitar and bass.

It is, however, a subtle 'always on' type of comp (it's an optical circuit with a ratio of around 3:1), as opposed to a 'spanky' compressor that might be more useful for slap bass.

I'd think of it more as a 'pedalised LA2A' than 'pedalised 1176'.