Compression Pedal Magic

I believe so, thanks

3 Likes

WHAT?!? I was not informed of this when I traded my Zoom and started buying pedals. I have to feed them? Give them water? And I have to start shopping for a larger pedalboard because they’re going to grow?

What have I gotten myself into? :woozy_face:

5 Likes

You have to remember, most of these things come down to personal preference. if you are having good results from it, then you are with many other people on YouTube and other places that are using it and liking it.
If you think its not doing enough, then. you might consider returning it, but in no way should you feel sheepish.
There is a slight upgrade MXR version the MXR Super Comp for only $10 more

And then this one gets great reviews by Guns and Guitars, and the guy is really a Bass player. it is pretty much a copy of the same MXR I listed above.

IDK about this one, but it is an Optical Compressor, and for the price, I would give it a try if I were in the need of compression, or looking for different compression, but I am good with what I have.

I really wish the San June were available, I can’t say enough good things about it.
I will check to see if any other sites cary it, but I didn’t see it on Reverb.
If anybody outside of the US can find it, please let me know, I would buy another for back up.

Here is one of the many 5 star reviews from Amazon.


Bass Player Mike

5.0 out of 5 stars It sounds as good as it looks ! Easy to use, High quality construction, Bargain Price !

Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2020

Verified Purchase

Bass guitar compressors are a curious thing. Probably one of the most important pedals, yet easily the most overlooked. Most players, including myself, don’t even know what a compressor really is. Well, I do now after thee last month or so. This is after 35 years of playing !!!
There are alot of boutique quality compressors out there that go from $150 on up. There are also a lot of cheapo compressors for $25 bucks.
I recommend from experience to save the money and get a good one. Your tone is your expression so take good care of it.
At $66.99 the SanJune Optical Compressor pedal is great on Bass Guitar, whereas a lot of pedals are good on guitar, but not bass. This one is easy to dial in a tone quickly. You can have the notes super squashed, or open and free with just enough compression to cut off the unnecessary waves. It really sounds like a professional, studio grade comp pedal, to me so far. I’m kinda new to it so I may still be in the Honeymoon phase, but I do know this is a high quality pedal.
The pedal itself is rugged, weighs just the right amount, and doesn’t feel cheap at all. The knobs look and feel like brushed aluminum. The pots turn easily, but with authority. There is just enough resistance so it feels good to turn. Also, you know your settings will stay where they are from home to the studio.
I’ve been looking for a pedal that rivals my rackmount compressor, a dbx 160A. The Keeley Bassist and the Maxon CP-9 always come up in search results. I’ve not played the Maxon yet, because it’s $200 bucks used still for a 20 year old pedal. I do own the Keeley and I think the SanJune is just as good if not a little better. More to come in time.
Bottom line, I recommend this pedal and for $66.99 it’s worth just to have in your arsenal

3 Likes

Don’t worry, it is FUN. They love you back if you treat them right.

3 Likes

In the cost-is-no-object category, this is purported to be the closest thing to an LA-2A in pedal format . . .

@T_dub It looks like the SanJune is on eBay, but at a higher price $95.

4 Likes

Thanks for the tip. I don’t check E-bay all that often, but now I konw.
Since I have one, I would see if I can find one closer to $70, but if anybody is looking for a compressor right now, and wants to get a great one, AND stay under $100, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the San June.

4 Likes

Looks like a monster, and better be at $340. The Zoom model is not bad either, of course, not the real thing, but it works pretty well. So does the 160 comp.

4 Likes

What’s so special about San June? I googled, but couldn’t find anything.

3 Likes

It is a very quality pedal in a very affordable price.
I posted one of the 5 star reviews I found on Amazon from other players. most reviews were from people playing and recording or giggind more then 20 years, and they agreed with my evaluation of the pedal.
I didn’t read the reviews until AFTER I got it and played with it.
in fact
I had already posted that I think this pedal is probably comparable to the Keeley Bassist compressor (the one on Josh’s board) before I went back to read that review I posted above, who compared it to HIS Keeley Bassist pedal and said it is AS GOOD if not BETTER.

I can’t really answer the question @PamPurrs other then to say it is a great compressor.
I could also easily recommend the other compressor I have. it is a $200 compressor and it is GREAT as well. It is great for other reasons, but the two are so good that I decided to keep both.
Of course, I got the $200 pedal in a trade, and I may have never tried it otherwise. But when I got it and fell in love with it immediately, it did not make me fall out of love with the San June. I could have returned the San June for refund, or credit to amazon account, but I love it so much I decided my board will have two compressors.

3 Likes

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SanJune-GB-CP-Optical-Compressor-Guitar-and-Bass-Effects-Pedal/174351638861?hash=item28982ae14d:g:LrQAAOSwwiVfEPMA

They are $95 on amazon, shipping from CA, and there are more then 10 available.

Even at $95 I highly recommend it, and I am keeping this seller watched, and one day might get a second one myself.

2 Likes

This is the description on Ebay

SanJune GB-CP Optical Compressor Guitar and Bass Effects Pedal

Description

Very limited stock from our supplier

  • This GB-CP is a professional studio compressor in compact pedal format. It takes an instrument such as an electric guitar or bass guitar. Amplifies or compresses it and restores average volume after compression.
  • Simple to use yet extremely powerful, the gb-cp will give the gloss of a professional studio production to all your performances. It is equally at home both live and in the studio.
  • The PhotoOptical compressor is what gives GB-CP unique character. It makes an instrument sound denser and playing seem more even for “produced” results.
  • This pedal doesn’t accept a battery, it requires a standard 9V DC power supply (not included).
  • Quality assurance, SanJune always stand behind our products with one-year .

SanJune, a quality sound within your reach!

2 Likes

I wouldn’t worry about it for now.

The DynaComp is the basis for a whole ton of clones. It’s basic and simple. It’s a fine compressor to start with and may be all you ever need. It might be the best selling compressor. It’s not a bad choice.

There’s definitely better compressors. But if it does what you need, it’s fine.

Also, it didn’t read to me like he slammed it, more like he described it for what it is - an inexpensive, relatively clean, simple compressor.

Lots of clones. Here’s the skinny on the cloning of that circuit:

http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/rossclones.shtml

Even the original Keeley, often held up as a great option, is a Dynacomp clone at heart.

3 Likes

This is my compressor, absolutely love this thing.

http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/cmclassic.shtml

2 Likes

There is one on reverb for $117 with $15 ship. I may put in an offer for $75, so $90 shipped. I would love to give it a shot. I would love to see if the San June can hold up to this one.
I saw some other interesting pedals by Carl Martin. the one that caught my eye most was the Bass Chorus pedal, but at $329 or something, I don’t think it will get to be tested by me.

1 Like

It’s a nice, really smooth optical compressor great for what I want out of a compressor. It’s not a hard limiter like the Boss LMB or a compressor I would use later in the chain, but for me it’s perfect.

4 Likes

Yeah, I read up on that site you showed me. He compared the Keeley Bassist Limiter to the Carl Martin optical compressor, then which were both compared to the MXR M87, and the Carl Martin Classic Opto was a economy version of the Carl Martin Optical compressor (or something to that effect), but he said the Carl Martin Classic Opto was HARDLY a budget, and was a compressor he recommends to anybody that wants to still stay in the budget range, but wants more close to High End, or basically a studio rack unit in a stomp box.
I am bummed he still doesn’t do the reviews. I would like to see what he said about the San June to these. I think it must be based on the same model and probably would run with them. maybe as good, or maybe close, but I would guess it is close enough.
I also wish he were around to do the Boss BC-1X, I would love to hear what he has to say about it.
I don’t know if I will get the Carl Martin now, but once my board is done, and when I get GAS for a pedal or something, I may try and find one for under $100 so I can do some testing with the two I have on my own, I really enjoy testing the compressors. I liked it much more then doing the reverb tests.
Speaking of which, I have three pedals set up right now that I am testing. probably some sound samples later tonight, or by this weekend

2 Likes

as always that’s an important point, @howard : one should not forget that we don’t all search the same things from a compressor (or more or less any piece of gear, by the way).

for example in my case I’m not searching for transparent/studio compressors in my signal chain. I prefer compressors that add a little flavor to my tone, so they are a part of my tone and not “only” a cold dynamic leveling device.

but when I do some mix/production I like/need real transparent digital studio compressors, because at this point the tone already exists, so I want a purely transparent dynamic shaping tool.

different gear for different goals and uses.

4 Likes

Yep yep totally true. I’ve used the second compressor on my Battalion to add some post-fuzz crunch before myself.

5 Likes

I think you might like the Boss BASS COMP BC-1X. It adds almost a boost with its compression, I love it. That is why I have a 2nd compressor on my board. Well, that and the fact I got the $200 pedal in a trade for which I did not give away quite that much, well, not nearly that much, but that pedal was offered for what I had listed, so, YAY me.
great pedal tho.

2 Likes

maybe. I had a Boss CS-2 (more than 10 years ago) and I was not a big fan at the time. I’ll try the BC-1X if I have the opportunity, but I don’t plan to replace my FX84.

4 Likes