Electric guitarists are known for their pedalboards, a collection of foot pedals that offer a variety of effects and modifications to their sound. While they typically don’t use as many, electric bassists utilize pedals of their own. One of these is the incredibly useful bass compressor pedal.
This guide will cover what exactly a compressor pedal is, which factors you should look for when deciding on your purchase, and give you several incredible pedal options that are currently on the top of the market.
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Darkglass Alpha-Omega Photon Bass Distortion/Compression Pedal
This pedal is the highest-end model on this list and offers a slew of sound capabilities and customization — the features and sound quality make this pedal a must have.
The 7 Best Bass Compressor Pedals In 2022: Overview
What Is A Bass Compressor Pedal And When Should You Use It?
A compressor pedal is known as the only “must-have” piece on a bassist’s pedalboard.
The pedal works exactly how it’s named, by compressing the dynamic range of your bass. Essentially, this means reducing the volume of louder notes, thus boosting the overall sound.
This allows you to instantly switch from soft to loud playing without any clipping or popping, as the pedal continuously smooths out the differences in volume as you play. Using a compressor pedal will give you a more consistent sound and make your bass sound beefier, as well as smoother.
It is a subtle tool, and should not be overdone.
If you use too much compression, then your bass can sound crushed and lifeless. Fine-tuning must be done to suit the levels and tone of your own setup, but this is a straightforward process as it is easy to hear what amount of compression sounds good and what amount does not.
What Factors You Should Consider When Buying A Bass Compressor
The main factors you should keep in mind while deciding on which compressor to purchase are of course price, as well as inputs, power requirements, and controls.
Each pedal will have different factors and you should be aware of the differences to figure out which option is best for you and your setup.
Price
The cost of any piece of gear is always a huge factor to consider before making your purchase.
Luckily, bass compressor pedals have a fairly defined price range as most will run you anywhere from around a hundred dollars up to five hundred. This will range depending on materials, inputs, brand, and controls.
Inputs
The majority of compressor pedals will have just one input and output, with both being ¼” ports.
Some models, however, will feature additional inputs and outputs such as ⅛” aux or even XLR in some cases. A pedal with these extra inputs will most likely be larger in size and more versatile in what they can handle.
Power Requirements
In addition to varying price and inputs, not all pedals require the same voltage. Some pedals need a 9V power supply, while others may need 18V. Additionally, power adapters are often sold separately, which is certainly something you should be aware of when buying your pedal.
Controls
One of the first things you will notice about a pedal are the knobs, or controls. Pedals will have anywhere from two or three knobs, to six and more.
Some common control knobs you’ll see are level, threshold, attack, release, sustain, blend and tone. These are the most important factors in a bass pedal as they are how you operate and adjust your pedal to suit your sound.
The 7 Best Bass Compressor Pedals In 2022
1. MXR M87 Bass Compressor Pedal
The MXR M87 is one of the most widely used bass compressor pedals out there and it is easy to see why. It has a compact, simple design that is quite easy to understand. There are knobs for attack, release and ratio, as well as input and output level knobs. This is a top shelf pedal known for helping your bass sound more punchy, and it won’t cost you more than $200.
Key Specs
| Power: | 9V |
| Inputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Outputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Controls: | Attack, release, ratio, input, output |
| Cable Included: | No |
| Dimensions: | 4.37 in x 2.62 in x 2.12 in (450.6 mm x 428.75 mm x 298.45 mm) |
| Weight: | 0.56 lb (0.25 kg) |
2. BOSS BC-1X Bass Compressor Pedal
Like the MXR, the BOSS BC-1X is another staple in many bassists’ pedalboards. It is similarly simple and efficient, with four knobs that control level, release, ratio and threshold. The price is also right around $200 and is specifically known for its resistance to sound muddy or squashed when playing with it.
Key Specs
| Power: | 9V |
| Inputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Outputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Controls: | Level, release, ratio, threshold |
| Cable Included: | No |
| Dimensions: | 5.1 in x 2.8 in x 2.3 in (450.6 mm x 428.75 mm x 298.45 mm) |
| Weight: | 1 lb (0.45 kg) |
3. Keely Compressor Plus 4-Knob Compressor Pedal
This Keely compressor pedal is an excellent option that is worth considering. It works for both guitar and bass, making it particularly versatile, and has a lovely analog sound. The price is highly affordable, well under $200, and has level, tone, sustain and bend knobs with a switch that amplifies your humbucker or single coil sound, depending on which pickups you have.
Key Specs
| Power: | 9V |
| Inputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Outputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Controls: | Level, tone, sustain, bend, coil/humbucker switch |
| Cable Included: | No |
| Dimensions: | 4.41 in x 2.35 in x 2 in (112.01 mm x 59.69 mm x 50.8 mm) |
| Weight: | 0.58 lb (0.26 kg) |
4. Origin Effects Cali76 Compact Bass Compressor Pedal
The Cali76 by Origin Effects is a stellar piece of gear for any bass setup. It is on the pricier side, costing well over $300, but its top-quality craftsmanship makes it perfect for any intermediate to advanced player. It is assembled and polished by hand, each pedal is checked and tested for defects. It is analog, with a wonderful low-end and a huge amount of sound control with attack/release, in/out levels, dry blend, highpass filter and ratio knobs.
Key Specs
| Power: | 9V or 18V, depending on power supply |
| Inputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Outputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Controls: | In/out levels, dry blend, attack/release, highpass filter, ratio |
| Cable Included: | No |
| Dimensions: | 5.59 in x 2.59 in x 2.32 in (141.99 mm x 65.79 mm x 58.93 mm) |
| Weight: | 1.36 lb (0.62 kg) |
5. Darkglass Hyper Luminal Bass Compressor Pedal
The Darkglass Hyper Luminal compressor is a wonderfully nuanced pedal. It is an analog pedal with a digital modeling system that allows you to choose from three different kinds of compressors with the ‘Mode’ button. There is also a ratio button, as well as time, output, compression, and blend knobs.
Key Specs
| Power: | 9V |
| Inputs: | 1 x ¼”, Micro-USB |
| Outputs: | 1 x ¼”, Micro-USB |
| Controls: | Blend, output, time, compression, ratio, mode |
| Cable Included: | No |
| Dimensions: | 4.37 in x 2.51 in x 1.65 in (110.99 mm x 63.75 mm x 41.91 mm) |
| Weight: | 0.51 lb (0.23 kg) |
6. Xotic SP Mini Compressor Pedal
Don’t let the size or lack of knobs fool you, the Xotic SP is the highest-rated bass compressor pedal on Sweetwater. It is shockingly compact and versatile, working well with both guitar and bass, and has a blend and volume knobs that work great and give you all the control you need. You can also select lo/mid/hi compression with a small switch and this pedal is also the cheapest option, costing under $150.
Key Specs
| Power: | 9V |
| Inputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Outputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Controls: | Blend, volume, lo/mid/hi compression |
| Cable Included: | No |
| Dimensions: | 3.5 in x 1.5 in x 1.5 in (110.99 mm x 63.75 mm x 41.91 mm) |
| Weight: | 0.57 lb (0.23 kg) |
7. Darkglass Alpha-Omega Photon Bass Distortion/Compression Pedal
The Darkglass Alpha-Omega Photon is the premium bass compressor pedal on this list. It is larger than all the others, as well as more expensive, with more input/output options as well. It is unique in that it is both a compression and distortion pedal in one, with both effects able to be active at the same time and a user-friendly onboard EQ to blend and adjust your sound to your liking. It is also known to be a great pedal for tracking, as it can easily connect to your DAW setup for quick recording.
Key Specs
| Power: | 9V |
| Inputs: | 1 x ¼”, 1 x ⅛” aux, USB |
| Outputs: | 2 x ¼”, 1 x XLR, USB, 1 x ⅛” headphones |
| Controls: | Compression, drive, blend, level |
| Cable Included: | No |
| Dimensions: | 7.08 in x 4.72 in x 2.36 in (179.83 mm x 119.89 mm x 59.94 mm) |
| Weight: | 1.54 lb (0.7 kg) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a compressor pedal do for bass?
A compressor pedal smooths out the dynamics of your bass in real-time as you play. It will make your bass sound punchier by keeping the lower frequency notes below a certain level, thus boosting your overall sound. It is an essential piece of gear that evens out your sound drastically.
Should I get a compressor pedal for bass?
Yes, you should. If there is one pedal you buy for your bass, it should be a compressor pedal. The impact of evening out your sound cannot be underestimated.
Can you use a guitar compressor for bass?
You can, but it is not ideal as bass compressors are specifically designed for managing the low-end frequencies of a bass that guitar pedals don’t account for as well.
There are pedals on this list that are marketed as working for both guitar and bass, and those are fine. A pedal that is purely for guitar likely won’t sound great with your bass running through it and may make your tone sound squashed.
Where does a bass compressor go in the pedal chain?
You want your bass compressor to be last in the pedal chain, just before the amplifier. This is so your sound effects, as well as your bass are receiving the same amount of compression and this will give you the cleanest sound possible.
How do I set a bass compressor?
Every pedal and setup is different, but this is a general idea for a beginner when setting their pedal.
Credit: Musician on a Mission
First, turn your threshold knob between 3 and 4, set your attack very low, and your release very fast. Then slowly turn these knobs in the opposite directions as you play and go off what sounds good, while also tweaking volume and gain as you go. Refer to the chart below for basic compressor information.
