Markbass compressore tube replacement matters!

[MoNada]

I like subtle compression on my bass most of the time, not always on but almost. I was using a Duncan studio bass pedal and pretty happy with it. then one day it fell off my practice amp, so only like 20"s and not hard knocked off or anything... and it broke.
So I need a new compressor and fast and the first interesting thng I find is a Markbass compressore. OK I'll give it a try. WOW, just awful! The compression part of it wasn't bad, I could set it up to compress how I like but the tone was terrible! just mud, smeared but not in a good way, covered in a heavy blanket of tone suck and an utter lack of clarity when I used finger technique that would normally give me that. Well may as well at least try putting a new tube in it.. Oh my what a difference! I had a generic used 12AT laying around, I don't even know what it is, prob chinese. but it was a night and day difference. So I ordered an NOS phillips holland tube and yep even better. I have since seen the stories posted about this and I want to let any users know. CHANGE the stock tube! I'm gonna grab a Gold lion and maybe a couple others and try a few because in this circuit it really matters. SO if you're a compressore user, try it!

 

[catalin gramada]

I bought a new one few days ago. Mine is pretty transparent. The tube is a bit microphonic but not in a way to worry about. Despite the fact it was adverted as absolute quiet it is not. It is quiet but not absolute as time I can hear it in my speaker cab in a quiet room environment. I built a linear supply for it, a very good one (2mV ripple at 500mA draw by compressor at 12V). The cheap smps supply included in pack is as good as mine in term of noise. Maybe a selected tube may do a difference...What tube was in yours, a Chinese one ?

 

[catalin gramada]

Allright, I swapped the original Psvane ecc81 with a brand new selected JJ ecc81. Except the fact I get rid of the minor noise issue the compressor sound identical. I may conclude the tube problems is a matter of selection, the original tube is as good as anything else if is in good shape (mine was microphonic a bit but still well usable).The compressor is absolute quiet now.