tbonesullivan

An old picture, as I have since cleaned up the power cables and wiring. Just replaced the original picture wit ha new one. Sure it's not super high end but it does everything I need. Signal Chain is: Polytune -> ISP Decimator -> Octamizer -> Bass Overdrive -> Envelope Filter -> Bass Chorus -> Bass Comp -> Sansamp Programmable. Took me like a year to put this together because I was so indecisive. Nowadays I'd probably just get a Plethora X5 and call it a day. Still, the Sansamp is such an incredible sounding preamp pedal. I do not know how Tech 21 gets their gear to sound as good as it does.

I have sound, but it is soft and compressed. The LEDS are showing how much compression is being used, so the pedal is pretty much stuck in full compression mode, even without any signal and in bypass. They light up right after I plug it in or attach a battery. By turning down the ratio control, I can make the signal louder, and the output / input controls still also can alter the volume. Gradually the LEDs show less and less compression, and the signal gets louder, and you can start to see the LEDs react to playing. Once the LEDs are completely unlit while there is no signal, then I can hear it working correctly, and the LEDs show transient compression. There was a post on talkbass about there where someone said "If their "Constant Headroom Technology™ " is a charge-pump circuit, then that may be the problem area with latch-up causing part of the internal power circuit to fail. For some this failure will "remedy" itself after a while and the comp will start acting normal again." https://www.talkbass.com/threads/dead-mxr-m87-bass-compressor.1284462/#post-20072010 I may just contact MXR, who apparently will fix it out of warranty for $75 or something. It sounds like they will pretty much change out the entire electronics section, and really not say what is wrong with it. It's cheaper than a new one, but what's to say it won't happen again?

Well, I am another one of the owners of an afflicted unit. My pedal now takes 10-15 minutes to "warm up" before the compressor works correctly. When It is first turned on, the LEDs light all the way up, and the pedal is pretty much in full compression mode, even if no signal is applied at all and the pedal is not engaged. I have read some other forums where they say that sometimes things can normalized. It sucks because I really do like how the pedal works, but waiting for 15 minutes to use a pedal is just not usable. I've considered seeing if I could send it back to MXR for repair, as it is definitely well beyond my abilities. My pedal is Rev D and I probably picked it up back in 2014-2015.

Greetings! My name is David and I am from the Eastern Coast area of the U.S., specifically NJ (not that part that has the accent). I've been playing electric bass on and off for about 25 years now, and just got back into it (again) after a bit of a break. I also play Electric Guitar, Trombone, and some other brass instruments. I play on Music Man and Carvin Basses, with a Carvin backline from some years back. Currently just looking for a place to talk about bass guitar that is fairly low key. Current Pedalboard Signal Chain: TC Electronic Polytune, ISP Decimator, Aguilar Octamizer, Boss OBD-3 Overdrive, MXR Bass Envelope Filter, Boss Bass Chorus. I was using an MXR M87 Bass compressor at the end, but it decided to stop working, so I've switched out to a Boss Bass Comp BC-1X. This is run into a Tech 21 Sansamp Programmable, and all powered by a Pedal Power 2 Plus. I play mostly 5 string, but have a 4 banger for when I want a P-bass sound, and I also have a fretless in the wings for when/if I finally decide to learn to play it.