Duncan STUDIO BASS User manual

-STUDIO BASS-
COMPRESSOR
USER’S GUIDE

Congratulations on your purchase of the Studio Bass Compressor Pedal.
The Studio Bass is a studio-grade, classic compressor in a user friendly 4 knob format.
Our unique Blend knob and 3 way mini-toggle switch allow you to select the frequency
range of the original uncompressed signal as well as infinitely adjust the amount of “wet”
versus “dry” signal that is routed to the output.
It’s often best to put a compressor at the beginning of your effects chain, but sometimes
it can work more efficiently when placed after effects such as an auto wah or envelope filter.
You won’t do any damage by putting your effects in the so-called wrong order, so feel
free to experiment and find what works best for your sound.
Typical applications for the Studio Bass include:
• Accentuate picking and single note runs
• Increase sustain
• Even out all of the notes

Battery Door (on back panel)
HOW IT WORKS
1Blend – Determines how much of the original
signal is blended back into the compressed
signal. This control allows you to play above
the compression threshold to bring the natural
snap back to individual notes or a passage
when you really dig in.
2Low/Full/Mid Switch – This switch works in
concert with the Blend knob. It determines
the frequency content of the dry signal being
blended in with the compressed signal. Using
the Frequency switch and the Blend control,
you can restore some of the dynamic range lost
in compression and choose to be frequency
selective or dial it in full range.
• In the “Low” position, frequencies below 200
Hz are given more emphasis in the dry blend.
• In the “Full” position, all frequencies are given
equal weight in the dry blend.
• In the “Mid” position, frequencies in the range
from 150 Hz to 1.5 kHz are given more emphasis
in the dry blend.
1
9 8
10
5
11
2
6
7
3
4

effect as possible. Alternatively, to use the
Studio Bass as a clean boost, set the output
to a higher setting and lower the amount
of compression.
6Status LED – Indicates when the Studio
Bass Compressor is active. LED is on when
the unit is engaged, off when in true by
pass mode.
7True Bypass Footswitch – Removes the
circuit from your bass' signal via a hardwired
connection from the input jack to the output jack.
8Input Jack – Plug in your bass or other
pedal cable here.
9Output Jack – Run a cable to the input of
your amp or to the next effect in your chain.
10 Power Jack – We designed this pedal to be
convenient. You can use any 9V to 18Vdc
regulated adapter (negative polarity center
terminal).
11 Easy Access Battery Door – When pedal is
not in use, save your battery life by removing
your cable from the input jack.
3Compression – This knob is the heart and
soul of the Seymour Duncan Compressor
as it determines the amount to which you
will limit the dynamic range. You will need
to carefully balance your Compression and
Attack settings. If you turn the Compression
to maximum, you will want to keep the
Attack control at or near minimum to avoid
pumping, breathing or other unnatural
artifacts. To some degree, you can offset
these effects by using the Blend control
to bring uncompressed signal back into
the mix.
4Attack – This crucial control regulates how
quickly the compressor reacts to your initial
pick attack with the circuit acting to compress
the input signal. For increased dynamics,
a higher setting will give a late attack that
allows your pick or finger dynamics to come
through before the compression kicks in.
5Volume – Always important, this knob can
be used to achieve the desired level balance
between the sound though the compressor
and the bypassed sound. Balance this with
the sustain knob to provide as natural an

LET’S GET STARTED!
1. Start with the unit in bypass mode
(LED off). Set Blend knob all the way
counter clockwise (off) and all other
knobs set at 12 o’clock.
2. Turn on the Studio Bass Compressor
by pressing the footswitch – the LED
will light up red when it’s active. Adjust
Volume knob and your amp level to
achieve desired overall volume.
3. Experiment with Compression and Attack
knobs to get desired “wet” or compressed tone.
4. Select frequency range on mini-toggle
switch and gradually bring up Blend
knob to re-introduce the dry signal to
the compressed signal. Blend “wet”
versus “dry” to taste. Now experiment
with the frequency switch to hear the
tonal possibilities.
5. Flavor to taste.
SAMPLE SETTINGS
Compression is a subtle effect, so try some of these example settings out as a way of
finding the best for you.
High Compression
A large amount of compressed tone mixed with very little dry signal.
Great for smoothing out the dynamics in slap-style playing and keeping
the pulled notes from becoming too harsh and overbearing.
Subtle Compression
Add just a little compression to your overall tone to even things out.

Sharp, Fast
Add a little sparkle and punch to your top end without sacrificing any of
your low end tone!
Round and Fat
Great for ballads, Motown, and anytime you want a vintage tone with a
nice even amount of top, mid, and bottom.
Punchy Rock
Add an aggressive midrange punch to your overall tone while
maintaining a fat bottom end.
Reggae
Give your sound that fat bottom end you need to have for Reggae,
Funk and World music.

SPECIFICATIONS
General Description – A low noise, low distortion soft-knee compressor/limiter pedal
with a very wide-range of available compression ratios and simple, intuitive control of
compressor dynamics.
Compression Ratio: Soft-knee, adjustable from 1:1 to > 20:1
Maximum Compressor Gain: +33dB
Attack Speed: Adjustable from 8ms to 27ms
Input Impedance: 1 Megohm
Output Impedance: 2.75K ohms maximum
Maximum Input Level: 3 Vrms
Distortion: < 0.3% at 300mV RMS output at 1 kHz
Noise referred to Input: -110dBV, 400 Hz – 20 kHz, input shorted
Compressor Type: Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA)
Power: 9V battery or 9V to 18 Vdc regulated adapter, center pin negative polarity
Current Consumption: 21mA operate, 19mA bypass
Dimensions: 2.60"wide X 5.0"long X 1.45"high
Weight: 0.67 lbs.

LIMITED WARRANTY
Seymour Duncan offers the original purchaser a one-year limited warranty on both labor and
materials, from the day this product is purchased. We will repair or replace this product, at our
option, if it fails due to faulty workmanship or materials during this period. Defective products
can be returned to your USA dealer, international distributor, or sent direct to our factory
postage prepaid along with dated proof of purchase (e.g., original store receipt) and RMA
number. Call or email our factory for an RMA number, which must be written on the outside of
the box. We reserve the right to refuse boxes without an RMA written on the outside. As you
might expect, this warranty does not apply if you’ve modified the unit or treated it unkindly, and
we can assume no liability for any incidental or consequential damages which may result from
the use of this product. Any warranties implied in fact or by law are limited to the duration of
this express limited warranty.
DISPOSAL GUIDELINES
In the unlikely event that you ever need to dispose of this product, it must be disposed of
properly by handing it over to a designated collection point for the recycling of waste electronic
equipment. Please contact your local household waste disposal service or the shop where you
purchased this product for those locations. Thanks for helping us conserve natural resources
and ensure that it is recycled in a manner that protects human health and the environment.

PERSONAL SETTINGS
USER NOTES
USER NOTES

USER NOTES
USER NOTES
PERSONAL SETTINGS

We stand for great tone:
It’s the heart.
The soul. The essence.
The core of the sound.
We stand for musicians.
Because soul matters.
Spirit matters.
Music matters.
We stand for quality.
We’re an American original.
An industry leader.
And we’re always innovating.
We stand by our work.
Our passion. Our history.
It’s in everything we build.
In everything we touch.
We stand for great tone.
Music. Power. Heart. Soul. Tone.
It’s who we are. It’s what we do.
We are Seymour Duncan.

© 2015 Seymour Duncan. All Rights Reserved.
seymourduncan.com
5427 Hollister Ave
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
[phone]