Considering Bass Compressor

[Snake Aces]

For most of my bassplaying life (since 98), I have not used a bass compressor. I'm a finger player, not a picker.

I effed around with a budget Ashdown bass compressor with the bands I played in from 2007 to 2010. Other than that, never.

That Ashdown didn't move the needle for me but it had its moments.

Now I am debating between the Origin Effects Cali76 or the Empress Effects Bass Compressor.

I'm leaning towards the Empress, not because of the lower cost, but because some people I've read reviews from say they prefer the Empress over the Cali76.

Anyone have experience with these two bass compressors?

 

[Chistopher]

I have no experience with those, but let me tell you man, you're gonna wonder why you didn’t get a compressor 28 years ago...

 

[Snake Aces]

I have no experience with those, but let me tell you man, you're gonna wonder why you didn’t get a compressor 28 years ago...

I think you're right about that, especially since I love fat bass tone.

 

[Snake Aces]

Maybe I should get both of them since I am building my dual amp rig this year... see which one I like more for deeper octave rig and which one will pair with the more traditionally-toned rig.

 

[uOpt]

I always used a dbx 160x (19" rack). Among other things it has better visual feedback.

 

[Snake Aces]

I always used a dbx 160x (19" rack). Among other things it has better visual feedback.

My current rack is full. I could consider looking for a bigger rack but then it gets even heavier.

 

[beaubrummels]

I've wanted the Cali76 but couldn't afford at the time. I got a Keeley Limiter instead, which has ratio, threshold and makeup gain; the three most needed knobs to make any compressor sound natural. Keeley has a Bassist and a GC guitar one; he told me the Bassist just has some circuitry to make it more sensitive to the peak lower frequencies of a bass, but both will work just fine. The guitar one is just a studio compressor like the Cali76.