Gear Reviews
Review: Empress Bass Compressor
Review of the Empress Bass Compressor…
Compressor pedals seem to be contentious territory for bassists. Some players swear by them as the glue that helps keep their levels stable and consistent, while others feel they squash their dynamic range and limit their ability to play with nuance and touch. I like certain compressors for their ability to fatten up my sound and bring the bass forward, acting as a bit of a “fat boost” if you will, but I don’t want to hear coloration, or any pumping or squashing. So, for me, it’s critical to have control over the various compression parameters to ensure that I’m getting all the attributes I want, and nothing I don’t.
There are a lot of compressor pedals available that are suitable for bass, which can most simply be broken up into a couple of different camps: The simpler vs the more complex, and the transparent/clean vs the more voiced/colored units. I’ve owned a handful of compressor pedals over the years, bass-specific and otherwise, and it’s taken me a minute to figure out exactly what I like. When I first got into compression, I understandably gravitated towards the simpler ones, some of which sounded darn good. While the 1 or 2 knob comps are less overwhelming and typically harder to get a bad sound out of, the cost of simplicity is lack of control over individual factors affecting behaviors like attack, decay, threshold, ratio, etc. The flipside of course is that the more complex compression pedals require a working knowledge of how a compressor works. Thankfully, users who spend the time to learn how to dial in the parameters to their liking are rewarded with results that best suit their preferences.
As far as the ‘transparent vs. voiced’ question, I’ve gone back and forth over the years. There are some REALLY good-sounding compressor pedals with built-in desirable coloration that sound fantastic. Personally, my journey with compressors has led me to look for units that have studio-level transparency with a high degree of adjustability and some key features that allow me to indulge my very finicky degree of preference. My best results seem to come from getting voicing and coloration from other effects or preamps specifically for that purpose, so that color is not automatically tied to the compression effect. Others like to achieve both goals with one pedal. Your mileage, as always, may vary.
To that end, and to get to the point, I have been using the OG Empress Compressor for the last several years with great satisfaction. The original dark blue Empress is just a classic. It checks all the boxes for the versatility I want while sounding transparent and clean. The huge bank of LED’s is fantastic for level setting, and the whole package just plain works like a charm.
Naturally, when Empress announced they were releasing a new bass-specific compressor in a smaller chassis with top-mounted jacks and some bass-specific features, I was all in.
So too was the rest of the market it seemed, and the initial couple of runs went quick. It took me a while to finally get my hands on one, and I’m happy to report that it was well worth the wait.
Like the original Empress Compressor, the Empress Bass Compressor has an Input knob to control how hard you drive the compressor as well as an Output level to get the desired amount of signal coming out of the pedal. I like setting the input so that it is engaging the compressor but not slamming it and setting the output to roughly match the bypassed signal so that it plays nice with input-sensitive effects downstream. Like the original, the Bass Compressor has great LED metering: One set to show how much signal is coming in, and one to show the level of gain reduction (how much compression the unit is generating).
Dedicated Attack and Release knobs allow you to precisely control how fast or slow the compressor latches on to and releases your signal, effectively allowing you to sculpt how the pedal responds, and how long it holds on to your sound before letting go. This is where a lot of the character of the compression is controlled.
One of my favorite features of both the new and old Empress Compressors is the Mix knob, which lets one fine-tune how much of the sound is affected; perfect for the guy like me who doesn’t really want to hear the compressor working and ultimately wants a subtle effect. The Sidechain High Pass knob is one of two new standout features that set the Empress Bass Comp apart from the original. In a nutshell, as you turn this knob up, it allows more of your low end to pass through unaffected, with compression applying increasingly to the low mids and mids. This is great for those who want to tame their upper frequencies while retaining a full low end with less gain reduction in that register. Those who feel that compressors mess with their dynamics will appreciate this control, as it lets them feel the impact of the bass as usual but can help wrangle the transient spikes in the treble and upper mids. In conjunction with the Mix knob, these two controls offer a great way to increase the subtlety and transparency of the Empress Bass Compressor while still retaining the effect.
A 3-way switch allows users to choose between a subtle 2:1 compression ratio, a more standard 4:1 ratio, or a more extreme 10:1 ratio. I would prefer a ratio knob offering more granular control over ratio, but I’ve actually never found myself struggling to find the right choice with these 3 settings, as they’re very well chosen for light, medium, and heavy compression settings. The other 3-way switch controls the other new standout feature, the “Tone and Colour” setting, which essentially transforms the Empress into a more colored compressor on demand. While the middle setting offers the flat transparent sound I am used to, there are gentle mid-scoop and mid-bump settings, which are really well voiced and not too overt, but shift overall tonality in a musical and effective way. This makes the Empress Bass Comp compete strongly in both the “transparent” and “voiced” compressor camps. One could argue that because it does both very well, its double threat capability makes it a no-brainer.
Lastly, like the OG Empress comp, the Empress Bass Compressor features a 1/8” mini-input jack for sidechaining. This is the old studio trick of triggering your compressor not by your input signal, but from an external source. One classic application for this would be using the attack of the kick drum to compress the bass signal, sometimes used to create dynamics and space for the kick drum by ducking the bass signal when the kick drum hits. This is just one example though: the sky is truly the limit for all the creative ways this can be used on stage and in the studio.
Overall, the new Empress Bass Comp is a slam dunk.
It took everything I loved about the original, added some fantastic new bass-specific features, put it in a smaller, more pedalboard-friendly format, and gave it a sharp makeover. The build quality seems even better than the original, with more robust feeling pots and jacks and a wicked royal blue sparkle paint job (also available in silver sparkle). Kudos to Empress for taking something great and truly making it better for bassists. The new Empress Bass Compressor retails for $249.00.
For more info on the Empress Bass Compressor, visit online at empresseffects.com/products/bass-compressor
Gear Reviews
Review Transcript: BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass
This is a written transcript of our video review of the BITE Custom Bass Black Knight PP Bass originally published on March 4, 2024
BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass Review…
Bass Musician Magazine did a review on a Steampunk bass from BITE Guitars about three years ago, it was an amazing instrument, and we were very impressed. Now we’re happy to bring you another BITE bass, the Black Knight PP.
Everybody needs a P-type bass, it’s the standard of bass. If you’re recording, they want you to have a P bass. So why not have something that gives you a little more by having two instead of one P pickup. That’s the idea of this bass, it’s the first thing that leaps out: the double P pickup configuration.
Installing two of their 1000 millivolt split-coil pickups, BITE then went one step further and wired them up in a 4-way parallel/series circuit, a look at the controls reveal a 4-way rotary selector:
The first position, marked “B”, gives you the bridge pickup by itself.
The second position, marked “P”, gives you the bridge and neck pickups in parallel mode, that’s the traditional J-type circuit, it reduces output due to the physical law of parallel circuits.
Position number 3 is marked “N”, it gives you the neck pickup by itself.
And finally, number 4, marked “S”, gives your bridge and neck in a series (humbucking) mode which adds up resistances and thus boosts output. The other two controls are master volume and master tone.
What’s more, like every BITE bass, this one also has a reinforced headstock heel designed to give it extra output and sustain. The BITE website features a graph and explanation of what they have done to the heel, as compared to traditional headstocks.
A look at the body reveals a beautiful Black Blast body finish and underneath that we have alder wood. The bass has a matching headstock with a 4-in-line tuner setup and the traditional bite out of it, so everybody will know what kind of bass you’re playing. The pickguard is 3-ply black, the neck is vintage tinted hard maple and it has a satin speed finish at the back which keeps your thumb from sticking.
On top of that, there’s a clear-coated roasted black locust fretboard with black blocks marking the frets. The nut is a black Graph Tec nut, we’ve got diamond dome control knobs, and the tuners are lightweight compacts with cloverleaf buttons and a 1:17 ratio precision gear. The bridge is a Gotoh brass bridge with 19-millimeter string spacing.
Overall measurements: we’ve got a standard 34″ scale, a 1.65″ width nut and a C neck profile. This bass weighs 8.2 pounds, or 3,7 kilograms for our metric friends, and it uses standard 18% nickel silver frets.
Taking a closer look at the sound, this bass is a joy to play. The BITE proprietary 1000 millivolt pickups deliver an extraordinary amount of output which is surprising considering this is a passive instrument. You may even want to set your amp to active mode because of all of the juice you’re getting out of this guy.
The tonal possibilities are very versatile, it’s a straight P if you want but also much more with those different arrangements of the circuitry. So why have multiple basses when you’ve got one that can give you your basic P plus a lot more?
To sum it up, the Black Knight PP is an amazing instrument. The attention to detail that BITE puts into their basses is second to none. This bass is also amazingly balanced and gorgeous to hold and feel with the satin neck finish.
For more information, visit online at bite.guitars/product/black-knight-pp
Bass Videos
Reviews: Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17
Phil Jones Bass Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17 Reviews…
In this issue, we take an in-depth look at two new amps from Phil Jones Bass, the Compact Plus 450 and Bass Engine 17.
For more information, visit online at pjbworld.com
Bass Videos
Video Review: BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass
BITE Custom Bass – The Black Knight PP Bass Review…
I am sure many of you saw my review of the Snobby Steampunk Bass from BITE Guitars back in February of 2021 and will remember what a remarkable bass it was. BITE has been building custom basses since 2019 and has a unique custom approach where you can configure your bass to your specs.
I am very excited to have another Bass From BITE Guitars in my hands, The Black Knight PP Bass!
The need for a P-Bass in one’s armamentarium is pretty standard for bass players and I recall chatting about this with Marty O’Brien about a year ago. It turns out that Marty and BITE Guitars got together and came up with this excellent configuration that gives you a P-Bass with a whole lot more. Marty even played his own Black Knight PP bass at the 2024 NAMM show. You can see his review here.
Join me as I take an in-depth look at this very cool instrument and share all the details.
Here is The Black Knight Bass from BITE Guitars!
For more information, visit online at bite.guitars/product/black-knight-pp
Gear Reviews
Gear Review: Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass
Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass Review…
Throughout the evolution of music, bass players have sought tools to sculpt and enhance their sonic landscapes, and one indispensable ally in this pursuit has been compression. Origin Effects, a name synonymous with premium audio craftsmanship, introduces the Cali76 Compact Bass Compressor, a pedal that pays homage to the legacy of compression and brings forth a new chapter in bass sonic mastery.
As we delve into the world of the Cali76 Compact Bass Compressor, we’ll explore how Origin Effects seamlessly weaves together the heritage of compression and contemporary bass demands, promising a pedal that not only honors the past but propels your bass playing into the future. Join us on this sonic expedition as we dissect the nuances of the Cali76 Compact and uncover the secrets it holds for bass players seeking the perfect blend of vintage warmth and modern versatility.
For Starters, the Cali76 is a studio-grade FET compressor pedal, based on the classic Urei 1176, but with some features optimized for bass guitar. For those of you who are not familiar with it, a FET (Field Effect Transistor) compressor is essentially a solid-state tube compressor emulation that allows for fast and precise control over the attack and the release parameters; allows for extreme compression ratios; and finally adds the typical 1176 color and character to the sound.
Together with the common controls we see in most compressor pedals – Ratio, Attack/Release, input (just like the original 1176, the threshold in this pedal is fixed), and output (makeup gain). The Cali76 offers two more controls dedicated to us bass players.
A Dry control – This allows us to mix in our dry, uncompressed signal to the pedal output. This is great for when we want to add back some of our playing dynamics to the compressed sound or for when you want some volume back in situations where the compression starts taking away the volume.
A High Pass Filter control – Low frequencies on a bass guitar signal normally overwhelm compressors. This high pass filter allows the compressor to only react to higher frequencies, which helps preserve the natural dynamics of our playing while keeping the low end intact.
Metering on this pedal can be a bit hard to get used to at first. There’s a single LED light on the pedal, that not only serves as an On/Off light, but it’s also our meter. It glows red when no compression is applied and orange for active compression. The brighter the light, the greater the amount of gain reduction. Yellow signifies that the gain reduction reached 27dB and maximum reduction occurs around 38 dB.
In practical terms, it’s all about working with the input and the LED to find the sweet spot (turn the input to zero, start playing and slowly increase the input level until you start seeing the LED glowing orange, which means there’s reduction going on).
With 6 highly interactive knob controls, this pedal implies some degree of compressor knowledge and also some amount of tweaking and experimentation to find the perfect settings. The good news is that it is very hard to make this pedal sound bad…
It can go from very subtle compression settings to very extreme, and it can do everything in between. Also, the team at Origin has been kind enough to add a couple of sample settings in the manual to get players started and to help us understand better how the pedal works.
Dynamic Control is a setting that provides natural compression, balancing dynamics between various playing techniques. It is a subtle compression that will work almost out of the box almost all the time. Having a medium setting for the High Pass Filter ensures an honest translation of the lower string dynamics.
Parallel compression is a popular studio technique, where both compressed and natural signals are blended. We get the sound and feel of hard compression while retaining the natural playing dynamics.
Percussive, lively & Fat is a setting that uses a slower attack time to accentuate the start of any note. Then using a fast release allows the compressor to recover between notes so that the phrases sound more percussive. Ideal for slapping and other percussive techniques.
Finally, I would like to mention the classic 1176 tonal coloration. It’s not a secret that engineers all around would sometimes use the 1176 compressor, without applying any compression, just to get the tonal coloration into the instrument sound.
And the Cali76 compressor is no different, it has such a rich, warm, and full coloration that’s super pleasing to the ear and makes you want to have it ON all the time. So be aware, that if you want a transparent compressor, this pedal is not for you!
All in all, it is easy to understand why this pedal became a favorite of so many bass players around the world. The Cali76 Compact stands as a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and thoughtful engineering that Origin Effects is renowned for. It seamlessly navigates through the rich history of compression, offering bass players a gateway to the soulful resonance of the past while empowering them to sculpt a contemporary sonic future.
Whether you’re a seasoned bass maestro or a budding virtuoso, the Cali76 Compact invites you to embark on a sonic journey where every note is held in a delicate balance between tradition and innovation. As we bid farewell to our exploration, we do so with the realization that the Cali76 Compact is more than just a pedal; it’s a sonic companion that elevates the artistry of bass playing
For more information, visit online at origineffects.com
Gear Reviews
Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass Review
Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass Review…
Not long ago, I did a review of the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass and I have just been given the honor and privilege of reviewing the Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass. I have to say, another great bass from Spector that is hard to put down! While there are some similarities between both basses, there are also some noticeable differences which is why I believe having both is essential to any bass arsenal.
Spector, widely used by many rock and metal bassists like Ian Hill, Alex Webster, Colin Edwin, Doug Wimbish, and many more, just to name a few, has a long-standing in these genres. Well, that’s about to change! The bass I used for the review, didn’t see any of those genres, matter of fact, I used it on a few classic country gigs and at church too! However, when at home in the studio, I let the funk out. The NS Ethos HP 4 Bass is an all-around great bass for any genre and will not disappoint.
Let’s get into the specs about the bass, and here we will find the differences between the HP 5 Bass and the HP 4.
Forget that one is a 5 string, while the other is a 4, while that is a difference, that’s not one that I feel needs to be noted as both models are available as 4 and 5 strings. The Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass has a 34” scale, 24 fret, 3 piece maple neck through construction with solid alder wings, ebony fingerboard along with centered and side dots and the 12th fret Spector logo inlay with a brass nut.
While the pickups are different as the NS Dimension HP 5 Bass uses the EMG 45DC and the NS Ethos HP 4 Bass sports the EMG 35DC pickups, they are the same pickup configurations, the difference being, one for 4 string, the other for 5 string. The electronics are the same, consisting of a Darkglass Tone Capsule preamp which consists of +-12dB @70Hz for Bass, +-12dB @500Hz for Mids, and +-12dB @2.8kHz for Hi Mids. Controls for Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass consist of Master Volume, Blend, Bass, Mid, and Hi Mid controls. The electronics are powered by a 9-volt battery.
The bridge is a Hi-Mass locking bridge with intonation screws and the tuners are sealed die-cast. All hardware is black. Same as the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass, the HP 4 Bass is available in 4 different finishes, White Sparkle Gloss, Gunmetal Gloss, Plum Crazy Gloss & Black Gloss. The bass also comes with a very nice and well-padded gig bag.
Check out the Spector NS Ethos HP 4 Bass at a Spector Music Retailer today near you or visit online at spectorbass.com/product/ns-ethos-hp-4/