Carvin BX500 is the compressor enough or would I benefit from a pedal?

twc1313

twc1313

Practice is the cure for GAS...or so I've heard.
Oct 28, 2013
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#1
I have a bx500 and am looking to add some effects to my playing. I play in a 90's cover band and am going with a Behringer DI (sansamp rip off) a tuner, an overdrive and am thinking about adding a compressor pedal.

The BX500 has a built in compressor and it seems to work fine, but would i get better results out of a separate pedal?
 
#3
I have always liked the compressor on Carvin amps, but I don't use any other effects, and use just enough to give me the right amount of squish when popping and slapping. I have tried some pedal compressors, but I have found that they are overkill for my needs. If you go to extremes in your effects or tone, I don't think the Carvin will satisfy you. My favorite pedal compressor is the EBS Multi-Comp, which has three types of compression, plus two internal trim pots that allow you to adjust the amount of compression to high and/or low frequencies.
 
#5
I’m in accord with Luke above. The particular setting of any control on an amp or pedal comes down to a personal choice. I don’t use compression of any kind. For me it sucks the life out of the tone.

I don’t use Flats for the same reason. I left them behind as soon as Rotosounds became available in the Sixties.
 
#7
I have the BX500. I like the compressor when it's just barely on. It adds a nice punch, especially to my slap lines. But it's not substitute (for me) for my Markbass Compressore. YMMV.

And I almost hate to post this after some of the threads we've had lately, but: you will likely be getting some compression out of your overdrive pedal already.
 
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#8
twc1313 said:
I have a bx500 and am looking to add some effects to my playing. I play in a 90's cover band and am going with a Behringer DI (sansamp rip off) a tuner, an overdrive and am thinking about adding a compressor pedal.

The BX500 has a built in compressor and it seems to work fine, but would i get better results out of a separate pedal?
Click to expand...
I would turn it off and be happy! :-) Seriously the only proper use for a compressor on bass is in mixdown, either live or a recording; you don't want to play and listen to the compressed signal as it will not be a direct representation of what you are playing, taking control out of your hands (literally) and placing it in the electronics. Sounds great in the mix, though...
 
#9
I gig a BX500 regularly. I used to use the on-board compressor and it was OK. IMO, it works fine if you keep it low, below about 9 o'clock. If you turn it up much more than that it sucks out too much bottom end. I switched to a MXR M87 pedal and like it much better, even at a mild setting. ... your results may vary.
And for what it's worth, I'm not much an effects guy. I have the MXR Compressor and a VT Bass pedal, and sometimes I'll use one or the other, but not both.
 
#10
I have an Mb12, which has a BX250 for its pre and power section. I agree that the compressor is alright on low settings. For serious compression use, it's not even in the same league as a nice dedicated outboard compressor, whether in pedal or rack format.
 
#11
Bassist4Eris said:
I have the BX500. I like the compressor when it's just barely on. It adds a nice punch, especially to my slap lines. But it's not substitute (for me) for my Markbass Compressore. YMMV.

And I almost hate to post this after some of the threads we've had lately, but: you will likely be getting some compression out of your overdrive pedal already.
Click to expand...
My feeling exactly. On my BX1500 I Keep it around "2" on the setting. Just enough to see the light faintly come on when I slap or dig in. Any more it sucks the life out of my tone.
 
#12
On my MB15 I turn the compressor up just enough to see the light come on while playing. I use it just for taming some volume spikes at louder volumes. It's on just enough to keep the speaker from distorting when playing hard. I guess you would call that a limiter. I think to get it to where I like it you turn it up about one notch.
 
#13
Keeley Bassist Limiter - One of the best compressors I have ever used. It keeps my low end peaks in check, allows my higher notes to sit in the mix more, does NOT kill the original tone of my bass, the high end remains the same. I always play with it on a separate clean channel blended with a distortion channel. Distortion pedals almost always add in some compression and it's best to separate them. IMHO.

I had the BX1200 and the compressor knob just did not do it for me. Too much or not enough. I never could set it right.
 
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