Just got a new Bongo and was wondering what compressor is used with active basses. And I am new at the bass. Picking it up at 51 Y/O. I believe this bass has a high output signal. Play through Shuttle 3.0. Some compressors are better than others with active basses. Since I "think" a compressor would be a good pedal to have. I've searched Talk Bass and got some good info such as the Maxon CP9 Pro. Don't want to experiment with pedals. Got the VT and happy with that. Thanks for your time. I'll post a pic soon.
- Thread starter SMurch
- Start date
adouglas
Well-known member
If you're new to this, allow me to suggest that while fiddling with gear is very tempting, it's really just a waste of time until you've got a few million notes under your belt. You've got one of the best basses on the planet in your hands. Play the heck out of it. Use your time and mental energy to build your chops. Pay attention to the music and pulling tone out of your fingers, not finding a magic bullet.
Don't worry about the hot output. If you set your input gain right, you'll be fine. Extreme settings are always a bad idea with active basses. Don't dime the volume on the bass... you don't need to. Don't crank any of the EQ knobs all the way up... ditto. Let the amp do the work.
I've messed with various compressors from time to time, but to be perfectly honest, the vast majority of the time the Bongo sounds better with nothing at all in the signal chain. It is a powerful force of nature all by itself.
If you must, I have three words for you:
Tubes are good.
Don't worry about the hot output. If you set your input gain right, you'll be fine. Extreme settings are always a bad idea with active basses. Don't dime the volume on the bass... you don't need to. Don't crank any of the EQ knobs all the way up... ditto. Let the amp do the work.
I've messed with various compressors from time to time, but to be perfectly honest, the vast majority of the time the Bongo sounds better with nothing at all in the signal chain. It is a powerful force of nature all by itself.
If you must, I have three words for you:
Tubes are good.
Jimmyb
Well-known member
Or.....
You could use effects to fire your imagination for new musical ideas...
As for whether you'd need a compressor or not, only you can decide that. If used in the traditional way, they're not a 'noticeable' effect (compared to say a chorus or overdrive), rather they serve to control the output level of your bass, compressing any notes that exceed a volume threshold that you set.
Pretty much all of the music that you hear nowadays will have been compressed somewhere along the way to the final product.
You could use effects to fire your imagination for new musical ideas...
As for whether you'd need a compressor or not, only you can decide that. If used in the traditional way, they're not a 'noticeable' effect (compared to say a chorus or overdrive), rather they serve to control the output level of your bass, compressing any notes that exceed a volume threshold that you set.
Pretty much all of the music that you hear nowadays will have been compressed somewhere along the way to the final product.
Last edited:
adouglas
Well-known member
Yeah... like I said... the vast majority of the time the Bongo sounds better with nothing at all in the signal chain.
Jimmyb
Well-known member
Yeah, but if you record it, or play live through a PA, chances are it's going to get compressed anyway by the main mix.
I love the sound of my Bongo played clean, but I love effects as well.
When effects are used to add some colour to what you play, they can be a great thing. Of course, overdone, they can really distract.
five7
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2008
- Messages
- 4,295
A compressor is not an effects unit and I would only insert one in a mixer if the bass player was up and down on his volume or had a noisy rig and then I would probably gate it also.
Rick Auricchio
Well-known member
Yes to all of the above.
Work on your playing to keep from having wild volume swings from note to note. The best players need little (if any) compression.
As Andy (adouglas) said, for now you should not worry about more equipment and make the most from your fingers.
Work on your playing to keep from having wild volume swings from note to note. The best players need little (if any) compression.
As Andy (adouglas) said, for now you should not worry about more equipment and make the most from your fingers.
Grand Wazoo
Well-known member
It also depends very much on what type of amplifier you use, infact if you use an all valve amp you will find that you do not need a compressor as the valves have the tendency to naturally add a decent level of compression through the whole audible range.
Also the most modern and recent transistor amps such as the Mark Bass series are so well designed that a bass player seldom needs worrying about the compression of active instruments like a Bongo, as these amps are voiced in a way that they can fantastically reproduce the bass sound without the need for a compressor pedal so I would agree with the other poster's replies.
But if you really really want to have one, I would then advise you to get a dual band compressor pedal which allows you to compress both the low range and the high range of the bass indipendently like the Ashdown compressor as in the example below.
Ashdown Engineering | Bass Amplification
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/press/press_images/bass_mid_size/pedal_dbc.jpg
Also the most modern and recent transistor amps such as the Mark Bass series are so well designed that a bass player seldom needs worrying about the compression of active instruments like a Bongo, as these amps are voiced in a way that they can fantastically reproduce the bass sound without the need for a compressor pedal so I would agree with the other poster's replies.
But if you really really want to have one, I would then advise you to get a dual band compressor pedal which allows you to compress both the low range and the high range of the bass indipendently like the Ashdown compressor as in the example below.
Ashdown Engineering | Bass Amplification
Last edited:
Jimmyb
Well-known member
Yes, but it's common practice to have the whole L/R/M mix compressed in PA systems.
As for whether or not it's an effects unit, it really depends on your definition.
Sting
Well-known member
IMHO, a compressor can be either a tool or an effect depending on how you use it. If it is used simply to keep dynamics under control so the over all mix can be boosted, it's a tool. If it is being used to totaly squash your signal and add sustain, it's an effect.
Just buy a EBS compressor pedal and use it wisely.
Just buy a EBS compressor pedal and use it wisely.
I have had GREAT results with a Diamond compressor and my Bongo (through a Markbass LM II). They are supposed to be launching a bass version of this pedal soon, but even the existing pedal is way better than the Maxon you reference (and I've tred the Maxon...and a few other compression pedals).
Let us know what you go with and what you think!!
Let us know what you go with and what you think!!
Aussie Mark
Well-known member
Aphex Punch Factory is a nice transparent and subtle optical compressor.
Rick Auricchio
Well-known member
I'm still with Andy on this thread, treating the question as "Should I get a compressor?" rather than "Which compressor do you like?"
As a beginning player, you have the opportunity to hone your playing skills to keep your level well-controlled. You don't have to play like a machine, but having fairly consistent level from note to note is a beautiful thing.
I've been striving to play with an even lighter touch than I usually use, which helps greatly toward getting consistent levels. I have Super Slinkys on the SR4, after playing with half-round strings for decades. Roundwound strings tend to bite my fingers when I begin digging in too hard; that's when I alter my technique to get the effect I want. Often it's just a tweak of the volume control that I need.
You can use a compressor to make your playing sound better, or you can achieve it with your fingers.
As a beginning player, you have the opportunity to hone your playing skills to keep your level well-controlled. You don't have to play like a machine, but having fairly consistent level from note to note is a beautiful thing.
I've been striving to play with an even lighter touch than I usually use, which helps greatly toward getting consistent levels. I have Super Slinkys on the SR4, after playing with half-round strings for decades. Roundwound strings tend to bite my fingers when I begin digging in too hard; that's when I alter my technique to get the effect I want. Often it's just a tweak of the volume control that I need.
You can use a compressor to make your playing sound better, or you can achieve it with your fingers.
oli@bass
Well-known member
Why do you need a compressor? IMO, first learn to control the dynamics of your playing with your fingers.
WOW!! Thanks for the replies. You are 100 % right I need to articulate each note at the same volume and achieve tone through my fingers. That's a life long goal. For now the compressor is on the back burner and I'm sure when I'm ready I'f I ever need it; there will be more compressors to chose from.
Steve
Wilmington, NC
Steve
Wilmington, NC
adouglas
Well-known member
Please understand that I'm no purist (geez, just look at my amp) and I'm all for huge pedal boards if they do something for you....
...but I've lived long enough and been "playing" bass (more like butchering bass with a blunt machete and a soup spoon) for long enough to have been around the block two or three or five times with this stuff. I've spent a fair bit of money on it over the years and tried a bunch of different things.
My current signal chain goes from Bongo, to cable, to amp, to my ears.
I'm happy.
But that's just me. People I respect hugely use a lot of effects, including compressors.
I still own a BassPOD XT, a SansAmp programmable BDDI, a really nice Ampeg tube DI and a few other choice pedals, including the very same compressor pedal Tony Levin has. They just don't get used.
The older I get the more I appreciate simplicity.
...but I've lived long enough and been "playing" bass (more like butchering bass with a blunt machete and a soup spoon) for long enough to have been around the block two or three or five times with this stuff. I've spent a fair bit of money on it over the years and tried a bunch of different things.
My current signal chain goes from Bongo, to cable, to amp, to my ears.
I'm happy.
But that's just me. People I respect hugely use a lot of effects, including compressors.
I still own a BassPOD XT, a SansAmp programmable BDDI, a really nice Ampeg tube DI and a few other choice pedals, including the very same compressor pedal Tony Levin has. They just don't get used.
The older I get the more I appreciate simplicity.
Jimmyb
Well-known member
I agree completely, it's about finding what suits you.
I don't subscribe to using effects just for the sake of it, but at the same time, I'm not going to get rid of them.
If it fits the mood of the song, whatever you play is fine.
I don't subscribe to using effects just for the sake of it, but at the same time, I'm not going to get rid of them.
If it fits the mood of the song, whatever you play is fine.
Rick Auricchio
Well-known member
If having a Bongo will eliminate the need to haul my speaker cabinet, I need one!
As you say, Steve, it's a goal to shoot for clean, consistent levels, and it just takes time. I'm six years older than you, and after 39 years of playing, I still surprise myself---in both good and bad ways---when playing. Some days it seems like the best I can do is "Damn the dynamics! Get the notes right!"
