Adding a Comp with a Pre-amp DI pedal? Wise or not?

[PatsonGodinho]

I own a B7K ultra and have set up a great CLEAN tone for my active bass. Recently I've been doing some research on the Cali76 and Super Symmetry Comps and i wonder if going with any of these comp pedals will improve my tone or over compress it...Cause I feel the B7K Ultra already has a minor compression element to it and I use a Fuzz in the chain as well.

If any of you guys can feed your thoughts on using a compressor with a Preamp in the chain..i play finger style and mostly Rock and Funk and I do tend to go overboard sometimes with the amount of energy I use while fingering!

 

[Fenflex]

I use the B7KUltra with a MXR M87 (same controls as the Cali76), the B7KU EQ stays on, so does the compressor which is use to reduce the dynamic difference between each string and thicken the sound.

I found the B7KU to be a really dynamic pedal, especially when the drive section is engaged with low/medium gain and I am able to keep a lot of that dynamic even with the compressor. It's all a matter of settings, if you want to keep a consistent volume no matter what (=high input, 8:1 compression in my case) you will reduce the interraction with your preamp.

That's why I'm also interrested in the Super Symetry. I guess that with a blend knob, you will never be in the position of being over/under compressed, therefore, you may not end up frustrated. I'm going to test my MXR along with a Boss LS2 to split my clean and compressed signal and blend them to emulate a blend knob.

However, and I think this is what you need : you can also use the compressor at the end of the whole chain as a limiter (low input, 20:1 compression). That way, you will have to dig quite hard to hit the threashold, leaving you a lot of dynamic (but not enhancing quiet notes) and assuring you will never exceed the maximum volume of the limiter.

Because you seems to like your clean tone, also keep in mind that some compressors affect the tone, and others don't.

 

[RickyT]

I use the Super Symmetry always on.
I run it into my B7K, which I only use for my distortion since I upgraded to the Microtubes 900. I run the Output of the SS a bit higher than needed, the hotter signal going into the B7K really livens up the distortion.
The SS sounds so nice and warm and dark but still gives me a tonne of punch.

 

[jimfist]

There are a number of bass preamps that include compression as part of the design, so without a doub the manufacturers of those preamps feel it is worth including and has beneficial qualities. But just like anything else, compression is just a tool. When used properly can make a world of difference. When applied poorly, compression can - unjustifiably IMHO - make you want to never use compression again. If you do a little homework on how to use compression, apply that knowledge and you should be fine.