MXR M87 Bass Compressor Pedal Reviews

This does it all ! Great control ! I have it on all the time.

It is truly amazing how much a compressor improves your sound quality. This compressor works very well and is always on. If you have never used a compressor try one you will not believe what it does to your overall sound quality. A very worthwhile investment. As usual Sweet waters service was exceptional.

This is... just a necessity. If you're gigging or recording, basically anything outside of playing in your room (and maybe even then), you need this guy. It does so much in helping shape your tone and deliver an excellent, quality signal to whatever amp it's connected to. This is the difference of sounding like a professional vs. sounding like an amateur. No matter how much skill you possess, your fingers aren't going to always strike a string evenly. There's always going to be some "emotion," or "color," to your playing- this is great, as that's *your* sound. What this pedal does is taking the *unwanted* variances in that emotion or color and brings it in line with the rest of the signal that you're sending out. It helps eliminate the unwanted "noise" that can exist when there's too much empty headspace to live in. If you're here looking at it, chances are it's exactly what you need. It's a little more $$ than some other compressors, but it's worth. Again, there's a reason you see so many pros using this EXACT model. Put it at the front of your board before your other pedals and watch it bring those other effects to life, as well! I can't say enough good things about it. Don't listen to me, though. Try it out for yourself. You can contact Eric and Sweetwater and he can pass on the thanks you'll have for me later!

This is by far the best compressor you could ask for. It's pricy, yet fair for what you're getting. Biggest challenge I faced with it, is getting it dialed in. One you do, you'll never have to mess with it again! Buy it.

This pedal is nice. Just makes the bass more punchy. I have it running to a Sansamp for church and works great.

I'm running this through SamsAmp DI and it sounds wonderful. Tightens up the low end and maintains warmth.

Pedal is solid and versatile! I can't say enough about this pedal and it's reasonably priced. The LED lights were a selling point for me, but honestly once I got it where I wanted it was set it and forget it.

Once you set the attack and decay, there's a four position knob for selecting the amount of compression you want. It's maybe not as variable as a knob allowing graduated selection but I found the four position knob to be fine in terms of selecting compression ratio. The input and output knobs are graduated which is nice as these need to very finely. It's the only effect I run and the only one I need. It brings out the best in my Rick. I use a Markbass Combo Tech II, a Boss noise reduction pedal, an Electro-harmonix Hum Debugger, and an Audio Technica System 10 at 100 percent attenuation.

Punchy works perfectly does what I want it to do Rob Kramer my sales engineer is an amazing employee someone give this man a raise

I needed to upgrade my compressor, from an MXR Dyna-Comp Mini. This compressor is fantastic! MXR/Dunlop state the internals/circuitry is exactly the same as the Studio Compressor. The Studio was on back order, and Sweetwater had some of these left. All I can say is wow! Some of the best clean/compressed tones I have ever gotten...just gorgeous! Crunchy/in-between tones and full on distorted tones also sound great. The ratio knob is fantastic and allows flexibility in tweaking your tone. Honestly, for the price...I don't think you can beat the features/flexibility of this unit. This is pro-level gear. I play mainly Worship now, but still love my classic rock, metal blues and chicken picken' country! This compressor makes all those genres sounds better, and the guitar is more playable! Plus I liked the white paint vs. the black. You won't be disappointed.

I am amazed ...so clear and punchy sound.Thsnk you MXR.

I've been using this pedal for several weeks now and it does a great job of limiting the sound without squashing my tone. It's pretty easy to learn how to set all of the levels and get the sound you want.

For years I was a "purist" and played bass with no compressor, working very hard to keep my sound "even" for the engineer in studio or on a live board. I finally decided to try out a compressor and was choosing between this one and the darkglass.

My sales engineer Mike Baldanado was very patient as we talked about the pros and cons of each unit. I did not want to end up down a rabbit hole of endless tweaking of compressor settings, so Mike recommended the M87.

I'm so glad he did! This is the perfect compressor for anyone who struggles to understand the intricacies of compression like I did. I think the LEDs are the biggest difference that made it easy for me to use and understand how it was working.

Using this was a revelation and it made me wish I had looked into compression years ago. I no longer have to fight my basses to generate an even output. This also solved the problem I had of some of my bases having hotter output than others. This pedal is always on and at the front of my pedal chain now. Regardless of which bass I am using, my effects pedals are getting a consistent signal now, so I don't have to have different effects settings for each bass anymore!

If you want intuitive easy to dial in compression, get this pedal!

I wanted a pedal compressor for bass that didn't require a special power supply and was under $200 and of course I wanted it to sound good above all else. I read lots of reviews and watched/listened to lots of demo videos. Everything pointed me toward this compressor and I'm really happy with it. So far I find this to be perfect for the job not just for live performance but I'm quite sure I'll use it while recording as well.

There are quite a few compression options out there. I chose the MXR because it is the most like a traditional compressor with threshold, ratio, attack, and release settings as well as input and output gain options. The downside is you have to spend time with it to understand all the options and how they work with your bass. The input and output gain options are important to me because I have basses with both active and passive pickups, so I need the ability to accommodate the wide range of gain I might have. I also wanted something I could use in my signal chain for both live performances and recording. For recording, I wanted something that gives me as much customizability as possible. The MXR delivers that in spades. Other compressors are a little more plug and play and don't have that many settings to worry about. They can sound great but are limited. The MXR took me a while to dial in, but once I did it, it sounded every bit as good as those other pedals but with a lot more options.

This pedal does not not color your tone, it just compresses it. It did seem to compress the high mids more, but I just boosted those in EQ.

Also, the gain reduction meter doesn't seem that reliable. At lower compression settings (4:1 ratio, slow attach and quick release) it was definitely compressing my signal even though the compression wasn't showing up in the meter. Use your ears!

...this would probably be it. Bass is by nature a very dynamic instrument. Any compressor will help even out the differences in volume, but the amount of control packed into this pedal unit makes it perfect. The controls are very similar to a classic 1176 compressor. The input gain knob makes it easy to switch between active and passive basses without adjusting all of the settings. Attack and release allow you to dial in the compressor to enhance sustain, reduce a sharp attack, or really anything you need from a compressor. The four preset ratio settings (4, 8, 12, 20) allow you to quickly adjust the amount of gain reduction. The output gain allows you to add some boost to the signal or keep it transparent by matching on/bypass signal levels. The lights are nice and bright, but not distracting. You can even turn off the gain reduction meter lights by taking off the rear cover and toggling a switch inside.

Pros: Clean, clear, transparent compression with a level of versatility typically only seen in rack units (and for the price of a pedal!). A beautiful, clean, and sturdy chassis which looks great and feels like it'll last for many years (I've been using mine for over 4 years now, and no signs of wear).

Areas for improvement: There aren't any real cons for this unit, but there are some things I've wished were a bit different over the years.
1. I'd prefer to see the DC jack in a different location. It's a bit odd for my pedal chain to have the jack located in in front of the input jack rather than behind either the input or output jack or on the rear of the unit (like many pedals). Using a right-angle plug means you have to angle underneath the input cable, which can be a bit cumbersome. It's pretty easy to work around, but it is a bit awkward.
2. Although I appreciate the clean, simplistic design, it would be handy to have a quick reference on the attack and release knobs to indicate whether CW or CCW is increasing or decreasing the length of each control (CW is faster; CCW is slower). I don't often adjust my settings, so by the time I need to make an adjustment, I've typically forgotten. Although it can be determined through trial-and-error, it'd be nice to have some assurance. This is easily remedied by a marker if you don't mind marking up the pedal.

Overall, I can't recommend this pedal enough for any gigging bass player. Learn to use a compressor effectively, and the sound engineer will thank you.

And this compressor is the one you should get.

With its light-up LEDs that give real-time readings of gain reduction, you'll be able to fine tune in seconds to get the compressed sound you want.

I would compare this evenly with some of the more expensive rack compressors but with the ease of use of a stompbox and much less expensive. It'll definitely beat your onboard compressor on your amp. Paired with a good overdrive pedal, this thing will give you some great tone for live shows.

Super pleased with this purchase.

Pedal was all it was said to be
Love it
Works well with all my others effects

This is a super smooth compressor. At light settings, you won't notice it until you switch it off. Also at heavy settings, the transitions are very smooth. I've been using the T-Rex Squeezer and Boss CS-2 for years. On their heavy settings, the grab and release are VERY noticeable. This is more like a nice rack-mounted compressor. Having the LEDs to track gain reduction is a major plus too!

This pedal is amazing. Very versatile. Tons of headroom. Bit more advanced than mxr red compressor which features only volume and gain knobs. I recommend watching YouTube tutorial on Sweetwater official page which explains all its capabilities very thoroughly. Thanks Team Sweetwater-You’re the best

I use this for acoustic guitar and it"s near perfect. Of all the pedal compressors I"ve tried this has the highest function and affects the tone of the acoustic guitar the least. I can"t say enough positive things about it.

I also use it for electric guitar, especially jazz tones. I didn"t use compression for years because it messed with the tone so much and the level of compensation with eq and other things wasn"t worth the effort.

Not anymore.

I found that the tonal needs of bass and acoustic guitar are very similar, and so I"ve been using a set of MXR bass pedals on a acoustic pedal board with fantastic results! Specifically the bass preamp DI, the bass chorus, and the best one of the lot, the M87 Bass Compressor.

Adding the MXR REVERB and the new six band EQ as a frequency specific solo boost creates an incredibly portable and high functioning acoustic guitar rig.

The M87 rules!!

This pedal makes everything sound so much cleaner. I'm actually way more excited to play my bass now. Worth every penny.

Bass tracks, either live or recorded, have more sustain, punch and clarity when compressed. Not squashed...but an over easy approach that automatically blends the bass into the music so you can concentrate on your chops, not the levels. I purchased the MXR M87 for live performances with my Trio. Works GREAT!....of course I really didn't expect not to be impressed...after all...it is an MXR. My choice was between the M87 and Hyper Luminal by Darkglass. Although the Darkglass is a great choice, I really didn't need all the "bells and whistles". The MXR is straight forward, plug and play, which I like in live performances. Although not a factor in my choice, the M87 price was a bit lower.

One of the best purchases I've made

The MXR M87 Compressor is an awesome compressor... evens out my bass playing... very versatile ! Attack and release, compression ratio, and input /output... can adjust anything from slap to finger or pick... smooths it all out, sounds great!

I leave it on probably 90% of the time..It's very versatile and transparent with as much width and squish as you dial in as much or as little as you want.a must have for any bass player who wants legit tone.

All I can say is that this pedal really brings out my bass guitar! It levels the signal and enhances the tone in my experience. Totally recommend!

I've used a few bass compressors. Most fall into two categories. Either I can't tell they are engaged (transparent) or they color the tone more than I'd like. Much of these two things are cause by one thing...my poor skill in using a compressor. It's a wonderful tool when used properly, but a total tone suck when used improperly. The MXR Bass Compressor has done something no other compressor has done. It's taught me how compression works through the use of the meter on top. Now, to all you pro players who are laughing at me now...go ahead....but we all have to learn somewhere.

With only a few minutes of twisting the knobs, watching the meter, and listening...I was able to dial in exactly what I wanted. I was able to fatten the tone, take the spikes out, and provide the FOH guy a good, level, signal.

What's there to say - this thing has the reputation it does for a reason. You won't be disappointed. Arrived in great packaging in a very timely fashion. Nothing but thumbs up across the board.

I have a Diamond Bass Compressor. Best damn compressor pedal I've ever heard. BUT I needed a smaller good compressor for a smaller dumbed down version of my board, for practice (didn't want to lug around my big predal board). I did my research. Almost went for the Aguilar TLC, but the MXR caught my attention. It basically just sounds better.
So with that said...If u r looking for a good Bass Compressor, and want to save space on your pedal board...Look no further. You have it right here ;)

When you're doing it right - you're doing it right!

This thing works great. Not much of any color to my tone. Barley any color. I got a p bass with Aguilar hot pickups. Keeps my gk 1001 from clipping all the time. Great for hot pickups and normal pickups

Works perfect! i have two now .. in a two separate rigs .. how much i can tell??

By far the best compression pedal I've owned. Like night and day between this and the Ashdown model I was using. Plenty of control for any type of playing style or passive/active basses. Brings out the high notes when slapping it and adds plenty of sustain when you want it. Clear meter in compact rugged case. Also love the Blue 'on' LED. Well worth the money. Can't go wrong with pedal!!!! Can't recommend it enough. Stop debating and purchase it !!!!!!

Clean, transparent. Really brought out the tone of my bass. Am now able to play with a lighter touch.

.made a world of difference in my sound

Now im compressed!!! ... and its awesome!!
Its amazing having all the control of the attack and release times!! im really amazed with the results.
I have 3 different bass guitars with different gains and i found useful to me, getting the signal matched with the rest of my gear

Im as ol school as they come, been playing bass over 30 years, never used a pedal, I have 2 high end hot active Basses, at high volume or slaps clipping occurred, tried the built in compressors in the amp to no avail, ended up ruining a couple of cabinets, talked to the guys at Sweetwater, they suggested a compression pedal, absolutely love it! No more clipping,didn't sacrifice tone,easy to use,and plenty of headroom! Great pedal!

Great pedal. Easy to use and it makes a world of difference. My bandies noticed the improvement iinstantly.

Very versatile, but easy to use product. LEDs are very helpful in finding good settings. This unit is very transparent with no noticeable noise. You can go from smooth compression to hard limiting. The manual is very useful and easy to understand. The unit's construction is very solid and should last for many years. A lot of bang for your buck. It's a keeper. The folks at Sweetwater are very customer service oriented and friendly.

It does what it claims to do, at a surprisingly high quality.
Just plug a decent bass in and start tracking or jamming.
Worth every penny.

Nice hands on pedal, wide range on what you can do with it, very smooth no buzz at all! ,the meter can be seen far away in the dark but not to bright, for the money its the way to go.

This pedal has become integral to my live setup. Highly functional parameters gives great flexibility. My only beef is the control knobs, they fall off at any given time.

Even though many reviewers have said this is not exactly like a classic
rack mount compressor (1176? dbx?) in a pedal, I'd say it is amazingly
close. With a moderate threshold (input) slow attack and fast release
and a 4:1 ratio it provides incredibly musical compression. I personally
don't use much compression and while I have played around with the
higher ratios (limiter) settings to put the device through it's paces, and
it seems like it handles it well. The meter is very good, very visible and
the unit is built like a tank. Well worth the price.

Good pedal works well but the led for reduction amount only worked for about a month.

I purchased this to try to punch through more in a loudish Oi!/Streetpunk band. I prefer a Jazz bass but they have less punch than P bass. I am also a heavy finger style player so some notes needed taming. I know, not punk, right? This seems to be doing the trick, I can now hear the notes I wasn't hearing before and I'm sure there are still more setting adjustments to come. I'm giving it a 4 only because it's a little more difficult to use than the Spectra Comp I had previously. The MXR is quieter, as well.

This is a great pedal - I used it both playing live and in the studio. The engineer was blown away at the fact that this was in a pedal and not in a $1000 rack unit. I gave it only 4 stars because it just stopped working one day. It powered up and everything, but when I turned it on, it muted the sound. Apparently this is a known issue, so I sent it back to Dunlop for repair. Since it was out of warranty they're going to charge me $75 for the repair. We'll see. I really hope it doesn't happen again.

I play a lot of reggae and rock And this is essential to my rig trifecta (active pickups, 15" ampeg other 2 ingredients). Blows me away with evening out volumes and makes for super tight pro sound.

The biggest thing is learning to use it correctly. Still exploring the possibilities.
Purchased based on general reviews. So far, so good. It seems to be a good tool.

This compressor is almost perfect, but it could use a few tweaks. 1. It needs a toolless battery box. 2. The 9v input jack is located right next to the 1/4" input jack and interferes with right-angle patch/instrument cables. Why not put it in the standard spot?

Gripes aside, this is like having an 1176 at a fraction of the price. I wouldn't buy it again, but it works for now. Will replace with the DarkGlass offering when they start making them again.

I had high expectations for this pedal but I'm disappointed. There's an unpleasant artifact on note attack that I've never encountered with any compressor - even my studio compressors. Also, I can hear a noticeable degradation of my bass signal when engaged. The audience will never hear that in a live situation and it may not be heard in a studio mix but I was disappointed to hear it. I absolutely hate having to set knobs to avoid these problems when I should be using them to get the sound I want.

I had this pedal for a few years and got a lot of use out of it. It's a great pedal with a lot of options to dial in your tone. One day mine just stopped working and it cost $ to repair at Dunlop since it was out of warranty. It then worked for a year or so and then the same problem happened again - lights worked but no sound. Dunlop repaired it for free this time but I still paid to ship the thing. It worked when I got it back and I sold it. Fool me twice, shame on me. I hope my experience was a one-off because it's a great pedal otherwise, but it is what is. Figured I'd share.

I've been using an M87 for a couple of years, at least I was. I finally found out what the noise source on my pedal board was, and it was the M87.

First some context and some positive comments: I don't like using much compression on bass, but I felt I could use something at the front end of my pedal board to buffer the input and provide a more consistent signal level to other pedals. The M87 is great for that. It is transparent. It has a very wide frequency range -- highs and lows both pass unmodified. I like that it has input and output level controls, allowing its use with passive or active pickups before the amplifier or in the effects loop. I just stuck it at the front of the pedalboard, set the controls so it almost never reduced the signal and left it on all the time. I have found it to be reliable. It's built very solidly. The control layout is easily understood, although the controls are a bit unlike other compressors I've seen.

A month ago, I changed the layout of my pedalboard and found the M87 was generating hiss, actually a lot of it. I see how I missed this fact, because I use a noise gate at the tail end of the pedal board. Whenever I wasn't actively playing, the hiss was gated off. It actually was there, breathing through any other pedals I had turned on.

A second problem I noticed earlier when I was trying to use the compression effect is that it has a tendency to clamp down. I notice this most often when I include slap licks in my playing. I do that a lot, mixing slapping and fingered lines together. If I pluck a high note, or worse pluck a high note twice in a row, it can completely shut down the M87's voltage-controlled amplifier. When that happens, whatever I'm playing cuts out for a half second or so until the VCA recovers. Unacceptable.

I know there are many satisfied M87 users in the bass world. It's a classic. I'm certain it provides great service to many players. Ultimately, though, it doesn't work well for my applications. I'm giving it two and a half of five stars based on quality, ruggedness and transparency, docking it two and a half because it just don't work for me.

I purchased my MXR M87 from Sweetwater in 2018, and since then it's been a regular part of my signal chain. It's a fine compressor, as others will attest. The problem is that it is prone to failure--do a quick Google search, and you'll discover no shortage of stories with identical details: the pedal works well, sometimes for years, when suddenly the gain lights maxxes out and there's no sound. The only option seems to be to send it back to Dunlop for repair, which, if the pedal's out of warranty, will cost you half of the cost of a new one. Other more reliable options abound--try them instead.