Analog Man Bi-Comprossor

Features

We have one rev3 with free 4 jack option, and one rev4 in stock. And REV5 is now available!

We have a new 2017 version of the Bicomp with 5 knobs in a row (MIX and ATTACK knobs). They are wider than they are tall, like the KOT, switches are wider apart for easier stomping. If you want black instead of the antique silver, ask as we may have some black ones left.

Link here for all about the Bi-CompRossor:

http://www.analogman.com/rossmod.htm#bicomp

We always use New Old Stock (NOS) CA3080E chips in our comps, I don't think any other well-known brands are still using them. We have some original 1979 RCA chips that I have been saving for years, so I am putting them up as an option. I don't think they sound much different, but they are the exact same ones used in the old grey Ross compressors so it's pretty cool to have one in your pedal.

Rev5 circuit- MIX control available in 2016!

In April, 2013 we came out with REV4, which improved the COMPROSSOR (left side of BICOMP) circuit. Mike had been playing in a band for a few years, and noticed that SOME pedals on his board would not drive a load well, they would get dark and dull, due to a bad (high) output impedance. This is easily tested by running pedals into something like a low impedance volume pedal, with a switchable buffer between them. The ARDX20 with the delay level down is excellent for testing - when ON it's a great buffer, when OFF it's true bypassed. To test a pedal, simply turn the buffer on and off and listen for a change in tone. With most pedals, like our Chorus, Juicer, etc, there is no difference - they can drive the signal to your amp through long cables or volume pedals no problem. But the Comprossor sounded dull when the buffer was removed. The original Ross, Dynacomp, and all the other Ross clones do the same exact thing- they really need a buffer after them to sound good.

Also these pedals don't have a very loud output, especially when you hit them hard, for example with humbuckers or a boosted signal. One other problem all these pedals have is phase reversal - they flip the phase of your signal when you turn them ON. This may not be a problem for most people, but if you split your signal and combine it, or run into two amps, the out of phase signals will cancel and you will get a VERY thin sound. Also, for use as a clean boost, there was too much compression even with the SUSTAIN pot all the way down. So we reduced the minimum compression amount, without changing the maximum amount. Now the pedal is more usable as a clean boost, and also sounds great left on all the time as a tone sweetener/buffer. It's great stacked into dirt pedals, chorus, vibes, etc now. With these problems fixed, there is no need for a blend knob, you should be able to keep your pure tone without the need for additional circuitry.

All of these problems are fixed in the REV4 circuit -

Excellent output impedance for a clearer tone with no signal loss or need for a buffer
More available output for boosting your amp
No phase reversal
Less compression available

Here is a good article on the REV4 comp from Tone Quest Report : Tone Quest 2013 article

Rev5 circuit (old style case shown below)

This is pretty much the same as REV4 with the addition of a MIX control, which can go from full dry (no compression) to full wet (same as REV4). Mixing in dry gives you the attack of the note, which is compressed away normally, if you want to hear that. When set at full dry, the pedal becomes a clean boost/buffer pedal and makes pedals after it sound really great, with more presence. Mix is available as a trimpot on the circuit board or as a fifth external knob above the sun logo on the old taller case or with 5 knobs in a row on the wider case. We can also put the MIX knob where the normal ATK knob was, on the old 4 knob box, and put the attack control as a trimpot on the board. Attack is subtle and not often adjusted.

We also offer the USA 12V power supply for a little more headroom, good if you run a hot signal into the comp and highly recommended.

Here are the optional 9V power supplies for overseas:

Ryck toggle option

The Dynacomp and Ross circuit is not very bright, to keep white noise down. But sometimes it's nice to have a bright trebly tone, as heard on Rickenbacker guitar's built-in compressor. Looking at the Rickenbacker schematic, it's about the same as the Dyna/Ross except it allows more treble for that jingle-jangle sound. We decided to offer this with a three-way switch so you can get just the amount of treble you want. One position is the normal Dynacomp/Ross value for the normal comp tone and low noise. The second position adds a bit more treble and just a touch of noise - this may be great to use all the time with a dark guitar like a Les Paul with high output pickups. The third position is twice as bright, close to the Rickenbacker setting, for a sound that really pops, with a bit of noise that you won't notice till you stop playing, if at all. We can put this toggle on any of our new CompROSSor or Dynacomp pedals when ordered, or we can add it later on which costs a bit more as it's more work to add it after the pedal is built.The Treble boost is only on the WET (compressed) sound of the REV5, the dry sound mixed in will be normal tone.