Dirty Compressor options.

fretmeister · June 17

After some youtube recommendations I've gone down a rabbit hole of dirty / driven compressors.

Like the JHS Pulp & Peel or Fairfield Accountant and that sort of thing. They get really quite dirty and are the total opposite of transparent compression.

Other than those 2, what else is there? I think I'd like to try something like that.

The mini size of the Accountant would be perfect for me, but I'd like to know about alternatives.

Cheap or expensive recommendations welcome.

ta.

oh_pollo · June 17

Celmo Sardine Can does this.

JezWynd · June 17

VFE White Horse. There’s one on eBay atm. Capable of light or extremely heavy compression with an add drive control. Also the Philosopher’ comp has a version with grit control (I just sold mine).

GavRichList · June 17

The Accountant is definitely the one for a gritty comp. Long time user, can attest.

Supportact · June 17

I use an Orange Squeezer clone live. It seems to add a bit of grit and has plenty of volume boost available to drive the amp or any drive pedal after it. I'm guessing from the name the JHS one you mention is related in some way, but I've not tried one.

fretmeister · June 17

GavRichList said:

The Accountant is definitely the one for a gritty comp. Long time user, can attest.

That's currently at the top of my GAS list if I can find a used one for sensible money.

I love this bass video of it. Shows how different a bass can sound just by adding the drums. What was a bit farty / nasally when isolated turns into a gloriously fat but surprisingly clean sound just by adding the drums.

I've got a few drive pedals that will do something similar, but then I need a compressor as well etc, so if I can do it 1 mini box that would be ace.

ThorpyFX · June 17

fretmeister said:

After some youtube recommendations I've gone down a rabbit hole of dirty / driven compressors.
Like the JHS Pulp & Peel or Fairfield Accountant and that sort of thing. They get really quite dirty and are the total opposite of transparent compression.
Other than those 2, what else is there? I think I'd like to try something like that.
The mini size of the Accountant would be perfect for me, but I'd like to know about alternatives.
Cheap or expensive recommendations welcome.

ta.

the catalinbread NICOMPressor does that nice gritty fet based compression thing. its based on the lockbox choker which is an awesome and highly collectible vintage compressor.

fretmeister · June 17

ThorpyFX said:

the catalinbread NICOMPressor does that nice gritty fet based compression thing. its based on the lockbox choker which is an awesome and highly collectible vintage compressor.

I'm going to have to try one just because of the silly name!

fretmeister · June 17

It seems the NINCOMPressor has been discontinued.

Bah.

UnclePsychosis · June 17

I really want to try an Accountant but I can't remember the last time I saw a used one for sale. They're basically non existent it seems.

Kebabkid · June 17

I've always thought the Dynacomp was good for that but found some good ones in the Zoom MS-70 CDR and the Orange Squeezer clone was very good. One recently went on Basschat for £50 and then you have all the other good stuff, too, from that pedal.

fretmeister · June 17

I've heard good things about the Zoom as well. But for this board build I want old school!

Yorkie · June 20

I realise this won’t be for everyone, but an Orange Squeezer DIY clone will do that job. Just tweak components to suit your taste.

Kurtis · June 20

I use an orange squeezer for bass too with an od after it. You can use the volume on the os to shape the sound a bit.

Yorkie · June 20

And you could put the OD in front of the OS to get even more of a squeeze

jellybelly · June 20

Not a dirty compressor but dirt and compressor - Strymon Compare is outstanding and when both sides are used in conjunction with the boost set to 'dirty' and the flat mode selected, you can get some incredible dirty compressed tones.

fretmeister · June 21

jellybelly said:

Not a dirty compressor but dirt and compressor - Strymon Compare is outstanding and when both sides are used in conjunction with the boost set to 'dirty' and the flat mode selected, you can get some incredible dirty compressed tones.

I'll give it a listen. It's quite a big unit though and I'm looking for nothing bigger than a Boss size.

Shipwreck · June 21

Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone? The new-ish 2 model has an additional footswitch. Would bleeding love to try the Fairfield though. Love the Barbershop and literally all the demos of their stuff but - again - v scarce.

fretmeister · June 22

I just got an email from a shop announcing they had a delivery of The Accountant so I’ve ordered it.

Hopefully it will do the trick!

Wazmeister · June 23

UAFX MAX - the red knob is designed to add dirt/OD

pluckbuddy · June 23

The Accountant is nice. Adds some brightness - at least it did with my set up.

In the end I preferred the Barbershop v2 for grit and using the sag control to add some compression, and it has a switch to roll off high end if required.

I want to try more from Fairfield - shallow water, Randy's revenge and meet maude... the list goes on.

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Dirty Compressor options.

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