MXR M87 Bass Compressor Pedal w/ 4 Cables

Listening to demos or video reviews of this online won't do it justice. Compressed audio/video can't really capture this thing in action; I watched many reviews of this thing on YouTube, and honestly couldn't really hear a difference when it was switched on vs off. I bit the bullet and ordered it however, because I wanted to step up my sound when playing live. Whenever I listen to my recording post-performance, my volume level can be all over the place - boomy at times, and thin/weak at others. So adding a compressor to my signal chain, I decided, was the solution to make my volume level more consistent and to alleviate the woes of our sound guy.I followed the instructions that came with the pedal and set the knobs accordingly. For my bass with single coil pickups I have to boost the input volume quite a bit before the compression kicks in, and with my higher-output humbucker bass I have to cut the input volume a bit (just follow the instructions that come in the box). With this thing set to the 4:1 ratio, it compresses beautifully. I have no need to go any higher, but if you play slap style you may need to go to 8:1. The 20:1 setting just seems excessive to me.With the compressor off, I played the strings very quietly to very loud, until my amp was blasting and vibrating things in the room. With it on, it was impossible for me to get to that boomy/vibrating volume level, even picking the strings as hard as I could (at the 4:1 ratio, mind you). The idea then is to bring up the overall volume level with the output knob so now your signal can be at your desired level, but without the risk of it getting into that boomy territory if you accidentally pluck some notes harder than others.I will say that this pedal did not add any hum or buzz to my sound, but it did sort of change the tone of the slight hiss that was already in my signal. So if your signal is already pretty clean and hum-free, you have nothing to worry about. Of course, try to put this compressor early in your chain (I have mine placed 2nd, right after my tuner pedal).

You can’t bear this for the price. Super clean compression, very little tone coloring at all. Works well as Botha. Limited and a sustained depending on the settings. The visual meter is nice.

The amount of control offered by this compressor is unbelievable. The sound is very clear compared to other bass compressors I have used before.The compressor comes in a very nice quality box package that feels premium. For those who wonder, the knobs are not flimsy and are very sturdy and feels smooth like premium pots on a bass.The compressor pedal itself is lightweight and the back cover is easily removable for the battery as shown in the picture.The visible LEDs is a big bonus and sort of adds a cool factor. And not to mention the free cables, although not highest of quality, make this bass compressor a value deal. This is a great buy for all bass players who need a compressor.

Im not much of a pedal guy, but apparently battery usage really is not ideal for the complete led response... use an adapter, always

The MXR M87 works great, nothing wrong with it. The problem is that amazon claims the package was handed directly to a resident in their delivery comments. 100% lie. The package was left out in the rain.

I replaced my Markbass comp with this one. Markbass comp is also very good but too big to carry on with gig bag. MXR comp generates tight sound without any noise I satisfy. And the cables - quality is very good thanks.

Exelente producto es necesario setearlo y revisar según los controles y la potencia de cada bajo. Ofrece varias configuraciones

Great pedal but it’s got a design flaw. I bought this in April 2014 and it broke July 2018. The whole time I had it I loved it. Worked every weekend gigging and was versatile enough for every type of music I played - country, hip hop, rock and folk. While it lasts, it’s awesome.When it broke I researched how to fix the pedal and it sounds like everyone loves the pedal but it lasts 4-5 years then just stops working. After reading all the forums AFTER it broke I don’t think I would’ve bought this pedal.The part that needs to be replaced is only available online and you have to be handy with a soldering iron.