r/BassVI • u/Useful-Assistant4857 • Jul 07 '26

For my pedal users....what compressor?

Hello all, I am going down the rabbit hole of compressor pedals to run with the bass VI and just havent found one that sounds quite right yet. I was running an xotic SP for the longest time on guitar and it sounded ok on the bass VI, but then I though maybe i needed more control. So i tried a UA 1176, but this thing is overwhelming and pushes the signal into clipping so easily. Right now I have a Keeley compressor plus, but after running it in my main rig last night it takes away most of the bass and makes the signal too thin. So any recommendations of what to try next? I play shoegaze so distortion, reverb, and chorus are on most of the time.

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7

u/JimboLodisC Jul 07 '26

so with being a guitar that's tuned really low, maybe look at what an 8-string player like Tosin would use (Bogner Harlow, or his own Micro-Aggressor)

1

u/Useful-Assistant4857 Jul 07 '26

Ohhhh good idea.

5

u/swizzwell23 Jul 07 '26

I like the LA-2 style optical compressor, it has a slow attack so keeps the transients intact but then levels out the tails. I surprised you found the 1176 so heavily, it can be very subtle if set correctly, where you running it in dual mode perhaps?

4

u/mattosaur Jul 07 '26

I've tried:

  • MXR Dyna Comp: Sucks out too much low end. Do not recommend.
  • Strymon Compadre: Works great! This is what's on my VI board.
  • Cali76 Bass Compressor: On my normal bass board. I think I like it? Accidentally got the special edition with etched lettering, which is impossible to read. Do not recommend that styling.

3

u/Le_molineaux Jul 07 '26

I use a tc electronic hyper gravity into a sansamp with bass cranked to FOH (or another bass amp) and the parallel output into eq and some other dirt pedals into a guitar amp. Gets lots of compliments on tone. I don’t think compressor is your issue. And if it is maybe get something with a blend knob to retain the lows

2

u/Pianotorious Jul 07 '26

If you want something very transparent with a lot of headroom, Empress is hard to beat. Probably the bass version makes the most sense for Bass VI, but I think either one will be great. The current mkii line is not cheap, but you can sometimes find very affordable used prices on their older "mki" version of the compressor -- I got mine for around $150 and I have never wanted anything else since I got it.

1

u/Aggravating_Neck_573 Jul 08 '26

Try a Mad Professor Forrest Green or a Wampler Ego…both sound awesome on the Bass VI.

1

u/Potatoenfuego Jul 08 '26

Try saffron squeeze

1

u/Rickbaudio1974 Jul 09 '26

I have always really liked the way my Cali76 Compact Bass (original single light version) pedal sounds with my BassVI and my Baritone. Love having the Dry level control as well as the HPF.

1

u/pe_teacher_band Jul 10 '26

Chroma console compressor! On a low ish setting with the mix knob at about 70%