MXR M87 Bass Compressor Pedal Review

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[JehmzGo]

3 years has past and this is still the best demo video for this pedal. Explained well. Great video.

[yellowflagh]

I (thought) I liked this pedal after years of use on stage. It was my standard issue. Few weeks ago I somehow forgot to take it it with me on a gig. And while playing this gig I was pleasently surprised with the dynamics in my play. I am not saying this pedal is not good. Maybe I used it the wrong way all along. I only suggest that you now and then remove your pedals out of the chain to refresh your ears. Kind regards, J.

[Bootjuh]

every once i a while i come back to this video for some tone inspiration for this pedal. Best review on youtube!

[LeoMrz]

this is THE VIDEO for the M87, great work 👍

[Crispy_Music_]

0:08Intro bass playing with pedal off

0:17 Bass playing continues with pedal on

4:50 Tone 1 sound demo

5:36 Tone 2 sound demo

6:35 Tone 3 sound demo

[matthewmeyers]

Thank you for demoing this with a pick!!! I think your review is the first I've seen, where picking was demonstrated. I have been on the fence about which compressor pedal to get; I am currently playing bass in a metal band, and needed something simple to improve my tone, without having to buy a pedal board (or a new amp, as I already have 2...); you have effectively demonstrated its applicable capabilities, and have sold me on this pedal. Thank You!!!!

It's a shame you won't get a commission; let me know if there is else anything I can do (other than following/subscribing/liking) to see you get some sort of credit for that.

From one professional to another, and with no offense intended, as you are clearly better than I am: a guitar-dominant instrumentalist, but can hold my own (if not better than), in estimable company, on bass: Clearly, you finger your bass [that's what she said!]; I recommend learning some thrash metal guitar; strengthen your thumb up a bit; your upstrokes are significantly more refined than your downs, which tells me you have very strong fingers. As a thrasher, and a bowler (Yes, bowling regularly will improve your picking, sadly; COVID virtually destroyed my thumb strength, and my calluses; I am known for making guitars scream to high heaven!), I can tell you that having a good balance between thumb and finger strength, is invaluable; if you can effectively finger-pick on guitar (classical, flamenco, jazz), the possibilities are boundless! Lately I have been working on strengthening my 4&5th fingers, to accommodate a combination of pick and pluck; the band I am currently playing with uses a lot of drop-tunings, and it sounds better to ride the open strings when you can, plus; having to split my time between three instruments usually enables me to into using shortcuts, bad habits, and LOT'S OF PICKING! lol.


Anyway, I'm rambling; thanks for the demo man!!!

[chrismorris]

Thank you for reviewing this pedal! This is the Bass Compressor pedal I purchased!

[ConstantineBassCovers]

I'm thinking of getting a compressor pedal, once again, you already demoed it. Love the intro playing also. thanks for sharing this with us.

[ginatokina]

Great bass playing, I really enjoyed the groove. thanks from Jacksonville FL

[markgeorge]

Another great review, and that tone is always so awesome!! Thumbs up from Fort Myers!!

[Funkbass]

I know this an old video but an excellent demo. FWIW Planetshakers bassist played a PJ bass until just a couple years ago. PJ basses can be great slap funk machines.

[larrybrachle]

The Yamaha bass sounds great (BBx24?) They make such nice instruments. Thank you. This was a very clear explanation of the MXR Bass Comp pedal.

[BubblyProduction]

Great video! Been looking at compressor pedals this last month, wonderful review you gave

[feroafterlife]

Great review! I was deciding between a M87 and a BC-1x, for my style M87 works better! Thanks.

[fudgesauce]

I just picked up one of these, used. To be honest, I don't know if I'm stupid or what. On my passive bass, I need to crank the input knob nearly all the way before I start seeing the LEDs light up. Whether the compression ration is minimal (4:1) or maximal (20:1), when I play a note over and over from soft to loud, they sound the same -- the LEDs indicate compression is in effect, but I can't hear much difference.

I have other compressor pedals; while all of them have different control knobs and thus can't be directly compared, I can tell that all of them are doing something reasonable (cali76, keeley bassist, mooer yellow comp). The M87 (at least the one I have) seems to be nothing more than a boost pedal -- the input and output knobs make the output quieter or louder, but the other three seem to do little if anything.

A minor complaint is the manual for the M87 seems to be confused about how the attack and release knobs work. The attack description is this: "Rotate the ATTACK knob clockwise to increase reaction time of compression or counterclockwise to decrease it." Increased reaction time means slower reaction. But in describing compression, it says the opposite: "To accentuate the sound of your attack, dial in a slower attack time (CCW)..." Looking at the meter, it is clear: CCW means slow (longer time) attack and release, CW means fast (shorter time) attack and release.

[jamesgoulet]

I hate to say it but this compressor isn’t NECCESARILY/KINDA/SORTA gonna really change your tone that much. It’s really about controlling the dynamics of the harmonic content that’s already there

[simonpaulengland]

very nice my bass friend, I will pick up mine later

[throttleup]

Hey RM. Thanks for all your great videos. What is the song you are playing at the beginning?

[mikerotch]

Seems like a damn good pedal to me. How would you dial in compression while using an overdrive like Darkglass Microtubes B7K?

[omroi]

What are you running through?
You have a very tight rounded sound.