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Amps with built in compression?


fretmeister

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Not that I have anything to carry anywhere at the moment, but maybe for the future..

I'm trying to put together a list of amps that have built in compression to limit the stuff I need to carry.

So far... ( I realise some are heavy, but if I'm doing a list I might as well do it properly)

 

 

AER Amp One / Two / Three

 

Ampeg PF500

Ampeg PF800

Ampeg SVT-4 Pro

Ampeg SVT-7 Pro

 

Ashdown ABM series

Ashdown Rootmaster

Ashdown Shavo 22

 

Bergantino Forte HP

Bergantino B-Amp

 

Bugera Veyron

 

Darkglass MT900 V2

Darkglass Alpha Omega 900

 

EBS Reidmar series

EBS HD series

 

Eden WTP900

 

Eich T-1000

 

Hartke TX8500

 

Markbass Evo 1

 

Marshall MB range

 

Mesa M Pulse 360

 

Orange 4 stroke

Orange Little Bass Thing

 

PJB Briefcase

 

SWR Headlight

 

TC BQ series

TC BH series (using a Tone Print slot)

TC RH Series

TC Blacksmith

 

Tech21 dUg Ultrabass 1000

 

Trace Elliot SMX series

 

Warwick LWA 500

Warwick LWA 1000

 

 

That's all I've found so far - what else is there?

 

 

 

Edited by fretmeister
Added more amps
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Just now, pete.young said:

Phil Jones Briefcase has one, so some of his other stuff might do too.

Cue 17-page discussion on whether there is any point to single-knob compression systems.

Using my Briefcase a lot during Lockdown and the post-Covid wasteland of low-volume social distancing.

That one-knob compressor is surprisingly effective. If I was feeling pretentious, then I might even say 'musical'.

 

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Much as I enjoy my Ashdown RM500, the compressor isn't in the same class as the optical compressor I used to have. I sold it because the Ashdown had a built-in compressor, but I'll be getting another when the time is right.

It would be interesting to know which head manufacturer fits a genuinely high quality compressor to their product.

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With regards to the TC BH550 - The toneprint is modelled on the Spectracomp and is without doubt, the best compressor I have used.  I even tested out a few compressor pedals before CV struck in a local shop and didn't think any of them were near the level of the onboard Spectracomp Toneprint.

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1 hour ago, 40hz said:

With regards to the TC BH550 - The toneprint is modelled on the Spectracomp and is without doubt, the best compressor I have used.  I even tested out a few compressor pedals before CV struck in a local shop and didn't think any of them were near the level of the onboard Spectracomp Toneprint.

TC BH250 here with Spectracomp loaded as my only effect, no pedals. About 9 o'clock does me which just thickens up the sound. Suits me as I just want light-weight & simple allowing the tone of whichever instrument I plug in to shine.

Edited by grandad
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3 hours ago, scalpy said:

Hartkes often have onboard compression- the new class D 800w job certainly does.

 

 

Yep the New Hartke TX8500 has a compressor.

tech21 dUg Ultrabass 1000 Has one

Without derailing and getting into massive battles I always thought tubes are not actually technically compressors one the truest sense of what compression is

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Apart from the TC BH250 the other amps I've owned with one knob built in compression were - a PJB Briefcase and a Roland cube. Both were good, quite smooth subtle as you turned it up if I remember correctly without changing the sound too drastically. The Spectracomp is the one that can be subtle or heavy, all with one knob control. I think TC got it right. At least try the Spectracomp and compare with any other if you can before you decide.

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Just now, grandad said:

Apart from the TC BH250 the other amps I've owned with one knob built in compression were - a PJB Briefcase and a Roland cube. Both were good, quite smooth subtle as you turned it up if I remember correctly without changing the sound too drastically. The Spectracomp is the one that can be subtle or heavy, all with one knob control. I think TC got it right. At least try the Spectracomp and compare with any other if you can before you decide.

I like this about the Spectracomp. It's like having 3 distinct compressor characters with one turn of the control. 

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12 hours ago, Japhet said:

A TC Spectracomp mini weighs less than a fairie's fart. No hardship carrying that around.

It's still a faff.

IIRC it's power supply only. So that's the pedal, power supply, couple of patch cables.

One of the reasons I'm doing the list is because I volunteer at a music trust and when (if) we get back to it then I have to move rooms every 40 minutes. So I have to break it all down and set it up again. Every 40 minutes.

 

I have a new cab on wheels and a head stock tuner. If I can get an amp with compression in it then there's only a power cable and guitar cable to worry about. The head can stay on the cab while I wheel it about.

It's all about speed of moving rooms.

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