Clarky Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Hi all, am I missing something here? I have an Aphex Punch Factory. I play pick-style in a fairly fast punk band with lots of 16th notes. Try as I might I can't really notice the pedal doing anything other than boost the volume. I had assumed it would even out peaks/troughs in my playing, as slap bassists swear by these. Is it just the style I play or are these just too subtle for old rock gits like me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnylager Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/punchfact.shtml"]This[/url] may be why, though plenty of peeps like 'em on here. I have not tried one, by the way. I find the Boss limiter [previous], & the EBS MultiComp [current] do the job nicely and I am also an old rock git. The effect is subtle though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 [quote name='johnnylager' post='314955' date='Oct 26 2008, 11:01 AM'][url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/punchfact.shtml"]This[/url] may be why[/quote] Aah, this does sort of replicate my experience (without me using the science). Too subtle by half. Hmmmm, anyone wanna Punch Factory? After reading this, maybe not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 It's not a bad pedal, but perhaps not for the style of music you play. The Trace Elliot Dual compressor might be a bit more of what you're looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Lots of compressor choices available. I use the EBS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 Thanks chaps, I am going to sell the Aphex at my usual large percentage loss (!) and will investigate some of the other options you have mentioned. Its in the marketplace section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Never mind. The old adage "try before you buy" applies to compressors as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 (edited) [quote name='bass_ferret' post='315067' date='Oct 26 2008, 02:10 PM']Never mind. The old adage "try before you buy" applies to compressors as well.[/quote] At least its ony £29 I am dropping! I shudder to think over the years how much my bass and amp losses amount to PS I did read lots of reviews before buying this pedal, the vast majority were positive Edited October 26, 2008 by Clarky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Yeah. The problem with reviews is that they are somebody else's opinion. Any lots of reviewers, either in magazines where the product under review is advertised, or on forums where they have just ponied up their own money for something, are reluctant to say something is a pile of poopenhausen! Big up for you for being honest and not just sneaking it in "for sale" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 [quote name='Clarky' post='315071' date='Oct 26 2008, 02:14 PM']At least its ony £29 I am dropping! I shudder to think over the years how much my bass and amp losses amount to [/quote] thats why i pretty much never buy new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 [quote name='Hamster' post='315055' date='Oct 26 2008, 01:46 PM']It's not a bad pedal, but perhaps not for the style of music you play. The Trace Elliot Dual compressor might be a bit more of what you're looking for.[/quote] Did a quick scout of the interweb and the Trace does indeed get great reviews (like the Aphex ) but looks like they stopped making it a few years back so am unlikely to find one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 i can say the trace is a great compressor, however i found it to sometimes be slightly overloaded by my bass, which at the time was a pretty powerful p bass special with emg's and aggy pre (yes [i]that[/i] one), even with the input gain right down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 [quote name='BassManKev' post='315115' date='Oct 26 2008, 03:43 PM']i can say the trace is a great compressor, however i found it to sometimes be slightly overloaded by my bass, which at the time was a pretty powerful p bass special with emg's and aggy pre (yes [i]that[/i] one), even with the input gain right down.[/quote] I am using passive P and J basses, albeit with hot pickups (DiMarzio, SD Quarter-Pounders) so assume this would not be a problem for me. Nevertheless can't see me getting hold of a Trace as none FS on interweb or the Forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Fixxxer Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Anyway, a compressor is the kind of effect that you're not actually supposed to hear. I mean, you notice it when you switch it off, that's the whole point When it's there, you can't really tell if it's on, but turn it off and you'll realise you need it I had an EBS for quite a while but now I have a very cheap Alesis Micro Limiter. Believe it or not, I like the Alesis more. [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/microlimiter.shtml"]http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/microlimiter.shtml[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted October 26, 2008 Author Share Posted October 26, 2008 [quote name='Herr Fixxxer' post='315243' date='Oct 26 2008, 05:55 PM']Anyway, a compressor is the kind of effect that you're not actually supposed to hear. I mean, you notice it when you switch it off, that's the whole point[/quote] With all due respect, I did try switching it off (as well as on) to see if I could spot any difference - and therein lay the problem, I couldn't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noisyjon Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 [quote name='Clarky' post='315257' date='Oct 26 2008, 06:16 PM']With all due respect, I did try switching it off (as well as on) to see if I could spot any difference - and therein lay the problem, I couldn't![/quote] Hi Clarky, I've had similar problems and gave up in the end as most pub & club soundmen compress it for Front Of House, separately, anyway. JTB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 [quote name='bass_ferret' post='315067' date='Oct 26 2008, 02:10 PM']Never mind. The old adage "try before you buy" applies to compressors as well.[/quote] +1 The old Trace Elliot compressors do come up for sale on here from time to time, so keep looking or put a post up in 'Items Wanted'. I had one for a while and was quite pleased with it but I found it did take some low end out of my sound.. So in the end I sold it and bought a DBX MC 6 and that does a great job for me. But like BF says, best to try first if you can because what works for one person will be completely wrong for another... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheddatom Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 For a good punky pick tone, I like the digitech bass squeeze - but it might be a bit too "full on" for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 You [b]might [/b]have more luck with a limiter. I really like the cheap-as-chips Behringer green bass limiter/enhancer. I play fingerstyle, but it really makes fast 16ths pump out nicely. You may not notice much when you turn it on, but you'd probably notice more when you turn it off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clauster Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 As another rock / punk player I found the Trace Elliot comp a bit too subtle for most of what I did. Great for slap 'n' pop though. Monte Allums modded CS3 is great if you want a high ratio and that opto-comp squish. I'm looking for something a bit less squishy. Top of my list is the JoeMeek Floor Q (when it finally gets to the shops) or a multicomp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Fixxxer Posted October 27, 2008 Share Posted October 27, 2008 [quote name='Clarky' post='315257' date='Oct 26 2008, 06:16 PM']With all due respect, I did try switching it off (as well as on) to see if I could spot any difference - and therein lay the problem, I couldn't![/quote] Have you tried that while playing with your band? Anyway, you may just have a comp you don't like, just too subtle for you. Try the Alesis Micro Limiter if you can find one, it goes for a steal on fleabay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted October 28, 2008 Share Posted October 28, 2008 You could always buy one of the DHA optical valve-based compressors: [url="http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/Products,%20VT1-BassCompressor.htm"]http://www.davehallamps.co.uk/Products,%20...sCompressor.htm[/url] If you hunt through basschat they get rave reviews....but they're a pound short of £150. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted October 29, 2008 Share Posted October 29, 2008 i pl;ay metal and the bbe optostomp works really well for me. We play fast and i mean fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bremen Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 [quote name='Clarky' post='315117' date='Oct 26 2008, 03:52 PM']I am using passive P and J basses, albeit with hot pickups (DiMarzio, SD Quarter-Pounders) so assume this would not be a problem for me. Nevertheless can't see me getting hold of a Trace as none FS on interweb or the Forum.[/quote] [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRACE-ELLIOT-SMX-DUAL-COMPRESSOR_W0QQitemZ200277958098QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Access_RL?hash=item200277958098&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRACE-ELLIOT-SMX-DUA...A1%7C240%3A1318[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 [quote name='bremen' post='333370' date='Nov 20 2008, 07:58 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRACE-ELLIOT-SMX-DUAL-COMPRESSOR_W0QQitemZ200277958098QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Access_RL?hash=item200277958098&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TRACE-ELLIOT-SMX-DUA...A1%7C240%3A1318[/url][/quote] Thanks for heads up but its for someone else to buy as I sold my Aphex and bought a Boss CS-3 with Monte Allum mod which works well for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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