Best Bass Compressor in 2022| A Step by Step Guide

While not as romantic as envelope filters or synth pedals in their inventiveness, Compression serves two critical functions: the first is to equalize the loudness of your soft and loud signals; the second is to increase the output volume. While this may appear straightforward, the effect of compression on your overall sound quality is substantial.

Although compressor pedals are neither flashy nor exciting, they can play a significant role in producing a tone you’re happy with. A compressor’s thickening/sustaining effect can give your signal an unmatched sense of presence, weight, and strength. Compressors might even introduce beneficial distortion to your sign. So, whether you’re performing live, recording in the studio, or simply practising in your room, a compressor pedal can be an indispensable instrument for achieving the tone you desire.

Compressors are among the most underestimated effects pedals and remain a mystery to many bass players. Yet, compressors are critical for ensuring that your bottom tone cuts through the mix, whether on stage or in the studio. If you’ve never used one, you may believe your style is excellent without one, but until you understand how compressors work, it’ll be difficult to ignore the benefits they provide to your bass tone.

I’ll begin this article by reviewing the most OK-best bass compressor review available at each price range. If you want to understand more about compressors before reading the reviews, check out the buying guide at the bottom of the page.

What is the Bass Compressor & Why do You Need One?

IMAGE	PRODUCT	Rating	PRICE
	MXR M87 Bass Compressor	9.5	Check on Amazon
	Wampler Ego Compressor V2 Guitar Effects Pedal	8.7	Check on Amazon
	Keeley Compressor Plus	9.5	Check on Amazon
	Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor	8.7	Check on Amazon
	5. TC Electronic Bass Compression Effect Pedal	9.5	Check on Amazon
	Ampeg Opto Comp Bass Compressor Pedal White	9.5	Check on Amazon
	JOYO R-14 Atmospheres Reverb Pedal Multi-Mode Effects	9.5	Check on Amazon
	Boss CS-3 Compressor-Sustainer Pedal	9.5	Check on Amazon
	Boss DS-1 Distortion Bundle with Instrument Cable	9.5	Check on Amazon
	COOL MUSIC A-DE01 Echolation Digital Delay Pedal with 9 Effects	9.5	Check on Amazon

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1.  MXR M87 Bass Compressor

MXR has a specific best bass compressor pedal series called the Bass Innovations. The M87 Bass Compressor is the newest addition to this limited-edition collection of pedals.

We can all agree that signal compression is not an easy process. While each effect requires a certain amount of background information, this one requires a little more complex technique. As a result, we should constantly evaluate and appreciate models that make that process simple and enjoyable. M87 accomplishes this without detracting from the nuances of your sound. It comes in a rugged case that is designed to endure regular transport in the back of your van, a few drops, and even rigorous stomping.

The design is stunning: the only colors present are black and white. That is, before plugging in. Once engaged, this puppy’s colorful LEDs will illuminate, which can be pretty beneficial during live performances. Additionally, it includes a Gain Reduction meter indicating the shifting gain reduction level and the compression’s response time. This slight improvement distinguishes M87 from the competition and simplifies its use on stage and in practice rooms.

The circuitry is the key to this pedal’s success. It makes use of Constant Headroom Technology (CHT), which means there is plenty of headroom here, resulting in pure and clear tones. In this manner, you’ll eliminate distortion and unwanted clipping at all settings and maximize the image’s transparency.

 Additionally, it features a real hardwire bypass, which prevents your sound from being sucked into the pedal. Finally, M87 can be powered by either a single 9V battery or an adaptor. Not to mention that this fellow provides a wide range of possibilities with each setting and leaves plenty of leeway for precise exploration. After all, there is no way to nail your compressor without tweaking and exploring.

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2.  Wampler Ego Compressor V2 Guitar Effects Pedal

Best bass guitar compressors are built on variants of the famous Ross Compressor/MXR Dyna Comp circuitry. The Ego is no exception – but it includes several additional functions that significantly expand its versatility, most notably blend and tone knobs.

You get a sustain control that effectively increases the degree of compression, as well as an attack knob that changes the start of your note envelope to give it the snap that country picking requires.

However, it is the blend knob that provides a wealth of additional possibilities for a realistic but compressed sound by allowing part of your raw tone to pass through alongside the compressed. In addition, the tone knob can be used to compensate for dulling and provide some sparkle if necessary.

Adding a more singing quality to clean (or muddy) leads, emphasizing picking or smoothing levels for consistency – whatever you require from a compressor, this should provide it.

Specifically, this is an enhanced version of a compressor type that has already established itself as an absolute marvel in terms of capability, variety, and value (the Ego V1). It even outsold the Equator and Latitude models, which were previously among the most popular effect pedals in recent years.

The first ‘issue’ you may have when perusing Wampler’s assortment of coolest bass pedals is the sheer variety of various designs, even within the same pedal category. The Ego V2 is unquestionably an accurate representation of their excellence, yet most beginners would hesitate to attempt it due to its hefty price tag.

Whatever the case may be, the Wampler Ego Compressor V2 is our top option because of its well-balanced performance that allows little space for compromise. So if you know what you’re going for, this is the compressor pedal to use.

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3.  Keeley Compressor Plus

The Keeley Compressor Plus is a compressor that also functions as an expander/sustainer. Not only does it behave like a standard compressor, minimizing the peaks in your playing, but it also gradually increases the gain as notes fade out. You now possess sustain. Nothing is more depressing than a note or a bend that has expired prematurely. The Keeley Compressor Plus enhances your notes with just the proper amount of sustained and expressive bloom.

The Keeley Compressor Plus’s new Release Switch is meant to make switching between single-coil and humbucker guitars a breeze. Because humbuckers have higher average energy than single coils, they might cause compressors to stay in “compression mode” for an extended period. When this occurs, any sequence of notes you play becomes monotonous. With the new Compressor Plus’s rapid release, your humbuckers keep their natural sound, and each letter retains its powerful attack and definition. In addition, the Tone Control is ideal for softly reintroducing those lost highs throughout the compression process.

Blend and Tone Controls

The Blend control allows for the passage of peaks while maintaining sustain. Therefore, if you’re interested in sustained compression rather than peak-limiting, this form of Manhattan Compression is for you! Utilize the Blend and Tone Controls to retain all peaks and transients while sustaining the back end.

This compressor is no longer limited to heavy funk or chicken pickin’. The new Compressor Plus is designed for guitarists who desire a smooth, delicate wash from their instrument. Remove just enough peaks to create an ambient layer, and then blend in just enough treble to give your guitar a lovely shine. Utilize in conjunction with your favorite fuzz to produce a wall of tone reminiscent of something you’ve only heard on records. With this compressor, looping has never been easier. Consider it a necessary tool for generating well-balanced loops. So put all aside and utilize the Compressor Plus to achieve the most acceptable amplifier boost you’ve ever heard.

The Compression Plus emulates the classic stompbox compressor tones. Its additional capabilities enable relatively delicate tweaking without being excessively fussy. The build quality is excellent, and the $129 price tag is somewhat reasonable for a high-quality American-made pedal.

Compressor Plus, an Excellent Example of high build quality

Keeley Electronics is a firm that is well-known for the high quality of its pedals. And the Compressor Plus is an excellent example, combining high build quality and tone with intuitive controls. It features hand-matched transistors with less than 1% tolerance and high-quality metal film resistors and capacitors. The blend knob lets you combine the dry and compressed signals, which helps reintroduce dynamics as desired.

Additionally, the pedal can be rapidly switched between single-coil and humbucker pickups through a switch, a convenient feature that simplifies the pedal’s integration into rigs. Other straightforward controls include level, sustain.

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4.  Seymour Duncan Studio Bass Compressor Pedal Bass Compression Effect Pedal

Studio Bass is constructed from durable materials, has a small footprint, and has an elegant design. The top-mounted I/O and power jacks provide elbow space for adjacent pedals, and the flared black knobs are simple to access and read. In addition, the pedal features high-quality pots, switches, and jacks, and the package includes thin adhesive-foam strips for pedalboard mounting.

While some bass-compressor stompboxes offer extensive control via the ratio, slope, and threshold parameters, Duncan takes a more straightforward approach. Blending is used to control the wet/dry mix. The level parameter specifies the master output.

The Seymour Duncan studio bass compressor is a soft compression unit that is used in professional studios. Its most distinguishing feature is a switcher that determines which frequency band is compressed the most. Thus, the fundamental frequencies can be emphasized either in the middle, or in the low, or throughout the range. The Blend knob enables you to combine the original signal with the compressed sound, and the switch’s Mid/Full/Low positions allow you to customize the nature of the sound signal mixing.

The Attack controller alters the speed of the compressor in response to the sound’s initial pulse (from 8 to 27ms). The increasing tuning position results in a delayed reaction, allowing the selected sound dynamics to take effect before compression begins to act. The pedal consumes 180mA and is powered by a 9-18V DC power supply.

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5.  TC Electronic Bass Compression Effect Pedal (SPECTRACOMPBASSCOMPR)

Are you new to this whole compression and effects processing thing? The TC Electronic SpectraComp is a high-performance mini-compressor with a single rotary control knob. Most of the work has been completed in the backend, with high-tech circuitry and an MD3 dynamics engine integrated directly into the solid metal casing, which will withstand all the knocks you can throw at it over an extended period of rough handling.

As with the Xvive, this pedal is minuscule. However, it is a little more challenging to use. To get the most out of this pedal, it must be used with the accompanying app or software. If you’re into technology and gadgets, this will suit you; however, if you’re looking for a toy that functions independently, the Xvive is a more suitable micro pedal.

One significant advantage is its diminutive size. As a result, it will take up very little space. The low price makes it a viable first option or ideal for a bassist on a budget, but you’ll need to use the accompanying App to get the most out of this pedal.

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6.  Ampeg Opto Comp Bass Compressor Pedal White, Opto-Comp

The Ampeg Opto Comp is a two-channel optical analog compressor with three knobs and two LEDs. Compression, release, and output level are all controlled via the three knobs. The purple LED indicates whether the pedal is on or off, while the green LED indicates how much compression is occurring. Despite its all-metal chassis, the Opto Comp weighs only 0.6 pounds, making it one of the lightest compressors on the market.

It provides a silky, vintage-style compression that effectively manages your peaks and valleys. There are few tweaking options, and the tone quality is reasonably transparent. This pedal is designed for musicians in need of a simple yet powerful compressor pedal.

The white metal box has only three knobs to contend with. Compression controls the amount of effect applied to your signal (up to 20:1), release controls the point at which the signal reverts to its original state, and output level controls the signal’s volume. That is all! There are two LEDs: purple-ish to indicate that the pedal is engaged and green to indicate the compression and release levels.

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7.  JOYO R-14 Atmospheres Reverb Pedal Multi-Mode Effects

MIX, DECAY, and TONE controls are located on the JOYO Reverb pedal. Additionally, we added a Modulation effects depth control for adding additional time and modulation effects to a few of the available reverbs.

The TRAIL function switch is a unique feature of the Atmosphere reverb pedal; it is used to turn on or off the Trail function. The trail enables the effect tone to fade out more naturally when switched on and off the pedal. Thus, you have the option of a natural fade or a quick cut-off.

You can use the reverb effect on acoustic guitar, classical guitar, bass guitar, vocals, drums, keyboards, and synthesizers in addition to electric guitar. Whatever atmosphere you desire, this pedal creates it, from a small room to being trapped inside a trailing comet.

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8.  Boss CS-3 Compressor/Sustainer Pedal

The guitar is not only a vehicle for lightning-fast shreds, breathtaking solos, groovy riffs, and tasty licks; it is also a vehicle for dynamics and feels. When you’re playing the instrument, your pick attack or strum technique can cause variations in the volume of your appliance. You may be playing riffs and double stops at the appropriate volume, only to pull out your pick for your solo and discover that you are not cutting through the mix because it is significantly lower.

Certain funky and groovy riffs may also require a consistent volume when strumming them out to achieve the desired effect, which can be difficult to achieve throughout an entire song without accidentally playing too loud or too soft in certain sections. Again, compressor pedals are an excellent solution to these problems.

This Boss Compression Sustainer pedal is an excellent addition to any guitarist’s rig with all its features and practical functions. Due to the CS-3’s dual function as a sustainer pedal. What distinguishes the CS-3 Compression Sustainer from the competition is the addition of Theirgot impact tone control and the standard compression control knobs. This enables you to shape your tone to your liking – something that is impossible with most compressor pedals on the market.

The Boss CS3 pedal is also similar in design to the company’s other pedals – it’s large and practical, with a wide footswitch that makes it easy to activate it in your chain during a performance. In addition, the Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer’s control layout is intuitive and straightforward, with all the parameter controls you could want – Level, Attack, Sustain, and Tone knob encoders.

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9.   Boss DS-1 Distortion Bundle with Instrument Cable, Patch Cable, Picks, and Austin Bazaar Polishing Cloth

Among the numerous incredible brands out there, Boss is one that consistently creates products with a consistent pattern: their units are always high-quality and incredibly durable. They keep their prices low, and the majority of their devices can produce a variety of effects. These are the reasons they have gained popularity among legendary musicians, amateurs, and professionals alike. Their market niche has not been supplanted by anything else, ensuring their continued popularity despite the occasional criticism.

The Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer is a typical compressor pedal package. It includes all of the necessary features for balancing your sound, dampening loud and harsh strums, and emphasizing subtle notes. Additionally, it provides tone-shaping controls, which is always a welcome addition to pedals of this type.

This bad boy is designed similarly to its siblings, with a bulky enclosure, wide footswitch, and Boss logo. It’s available in blue and can help round out your color palette if you already own other stompboxes from the brand. So naturally, it is built like a tank and will withstand even the most severe abuse and frequent accidental drops.

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10.  COOL MUSIC A-DE01 Echolation Digital Delay Pedal with 9 Effects

COOL MUSIC is a reputable manufacturer specializing in the design and manufacture of electric drums, amplifiers, and guitar pedals. their products adhere to international quality standards and are highly regarded in a diverse range of markets worldwide. An LED light indicates the status of the effects and bypass. And it’s incredibly convenient to use at night or in dimly lit areas.

The pedal measures 4.9 * 2.8 * 1.8in and weighs 220g, making it easy to carry. The solid case is constructed entirely of solid metal. Nine delay effects may satisfy your need for a delay pedal. Three control knobs: DELAY, TIME, and FEEDBACK.

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Selecting the Appropriate Bass Compressor Pedal (Buying Guide)

Understanding what a compressor accomplishes and the functions of all its controls is also highly beneficial while shopping for one, as not all compressors have the same control layout: Some manufacturers provide you more control over your compressor, allowing you to dial in particular settings (more control knobs), while others opt for more automation with fewer controls, keeping things simple but restricting your customization possibilities.

Compressors exist in various shapes and sizes, ranging from little pedals to significant rack-mounted devices and computer software plug-ins, but we’ll focus on the pedalboard-friendly format here.

1.  Acquainting Yourself With Bass Compressor Terminology

While most of the bass compressor pedals I’ve tested have been intentionally simplified to emphasize performance, some are geared toward people seeking ultimate tone control.

The best bass compressor is more subjective and is not determined by the number of control knobs. However, a few abbreviations, settings, and parameters exist across models and are worth familiarizing yourself with.

2.  The Three Primary Types of Bass Compressors

The VCA – “Voltage Controlled Amplifier” is one of the most often used types, with a reputation for rapid response times and little to no color (for example, distortion). The optimal sort of bass compression for complete control and flexibility.

FET – “Field Effect Transistor” has a reputation for having comparable reaction speeds to VCA but produces slightly more color and frequently has less control. FET is capable of providing somewhat more unique and fascinating sound properties.

Tube – The most effective compressor for adding color to your sound. Although the reaction time is slower than a VCA or a FET, it provides a great deal of control. While most bass compressor pedals are designed to give a clean, surgical sound, tube compression produces a very organic, warm tone with the ability to push distortion levels.

3.  Controls for the Bass Compressor

The volume level (gain) at which the effect should begin. The bass compressor pedal crushes any signal that is louder above the threshold setting.

Ratio – The amount of post-threshold bass compression to apply. For example, a 6:1 compression ratio means that for every 6db that exceeds the threshold via the compressor, the output volume will only increase by 1db.

Limiter – If your bass compressor has a ‘:1’ preset, this indicates that it incorporates a limiter, with any sound that exceeds the threshold returning a 1db output. A limiter is intended to safeguard your speakers against harm (as seen on the Keeley Bassist pedal)

Attack – The rate at which the compression effect is applied to your signal. For instance, a slower attack (2-10ms) allows for more finger, slap, or pick noises to be heard, whereas a faster attack (0ms) squashes the signal immediately upon generation.

Release – The amount of time required for the signal volume to recover to standard following compression. Shorter release times result in a highly compressed sound, while longer release times provide a longer sustain by naturally following the signal decline.

Blend – On some models, you can combine the effect produced by your compressor (wet) with your natural signal (dry). Although the ability to blend increases your adaptability, it is not regarded as vital.

Input and Output Volumes – The volume the input signal (pre-gain) enters and the compressed output signal exits (gain). Suppose you want to add additional color to your guitar signal; increasing the pre-gain level results in increased overdrive and distortion.

True Bypass – Whether or not the bass compressor’s signal is altered when it is turned off. Your signal would flow through without modification (true bypass) in an ideal world, but some models differ.

Hard/Soft Knee – This expression may appear in the specifications of each model and refers to how compression is performed. The term “hard knee” refers to an immediate application of the effect as the signal crosses the threshold, whereas “soft knee” refers to a gradual application of the effect (sounds smoother than stiff knee)

The Most Effective Bass Compressor Settings

Depending on the sort of compressor you have and your experience level, it may take some time to discover the optimal settings. However, once you’ve got to impact your head around the various variations and adjustments, you’ll see how much value compression contributes to your tone.

An excellent place to start is with a compression ratio of approximately 2:1 to 4:1, which is a low to medium range. I’d also advocate a speedier attack (about 0-4ms) and a release of around 100-150ms. Once you’ve nailed the fundamentals, you may begin tweaking your threshold and making adjustments from there.

Compressing your bass guitar excessively might make it seem lifeless, but milder compression tends to sound better overall. It’s always a personal preference, but frequently ‘less is more impact tone occurs analog and compressor’s speed customize in this department.

Frequent Asking Questions