MXR M87 Bass Compressor Review
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Pedal Info
If there's an effect that's standard fare for bass players, it's compression. Most bassists use either an external compressor or have compression built into their amplifier rig. Whether it's to provide basic limiting or to give your sound more "pop," a compressor is standard fare for just about any bassist. Few compression pedals, though, allow for the range of adjustment that you can find with quality rack units. Enter the MXR M87 Bass Compressor.
The MXR M87 features a slew of controls all aimed at helping the bassist hone his or her signal: Output, Input, Release, Attack, and Ratio (which selects one of four preset ratios). The pedal offers MXR's CHT (Constant Headroom Technology) which offers tons of headroom and clean sound. A rare inclusion for a pedal is a series of ten LEDs that display gain reduction. The true bypass M87 is powered by either a 9V battery or a standard Boss-type adapter. In short, the M87 is a rack-quality compressor that's been "compressed" into a pedal format. While designed for bassists, MXR notes that it can be used on a variety of instruments, including guitar.
User Reviews
User reviews of the MXR M87 are exceptionally positive, with hardly any negative criticism of note. Most players are impressed with the studio-level compression available in the pedal format, including features generally unseen in pedals such as the gain reduction LEDs. In short, most reviewers comment that it is easily the most flexible and versatile bass compressor pedal they've encountered. Just about the only common criticism is that the battery is somewhat cumbersome to replace, assuming you don't use an external power supply.
Summary
Name of Gear: MXR M87 Bass Compressor
List Price: $318.25
Street Price: $189.99
Manufacturer Info: Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc.; jimdunlop.com
Pros: Studio quality compression in a compact unit; low noise; versatile
Cons: Battery can be hard to replace
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