MXR Dyna Comp Bass

The Dyna Comp Bass nails that classic compression sound that made its guitar sibling legendary, but it’s been thoughtfully tweaked for bass frequencies. It’s one of those pedals that makes sense fast: within minutes you’ll dial in exactly what you need and get back to playing.

Built around the same CA3080 “metal can” integrated circuit as the original, the bass version adds some crucial controls that bassists actually need. The Clean blend lets you maintain that low-end integrity that often gets lost with compression, while the Tone control tweaks the upper midrange so your bass doesn’t disappear in the mix.

Controls

The top row of knobs reads Clean on the left and Sens on the right. Directly below them sit Output on the left and Tone on the right. Up at the top center is the Attack pushbutton, which toggles between vintage slow attack (position 1, LED off) and modern fast attack (position 2, LED on). Fast attack mode also adds a touch of saturation that really helps you get closer to that plucky, Tame Impala-style bass sound.

In the demo above I’ve set up sweeps for the Clean blend, Sens, Tone, and the Attack switch, so you can hear what each one does to the same riff.

How It Sounds

What I love about the Dyna Comp Bass is how it evens out your signal without making everything sound squashed or lifeless. Whether you’re holding long notes in a ballad or playing punchy funk lines, it keeps everything consistent while preserving the natural character of your bass.

The four presets map the range well. Subtle Comp (attack slow, clean at 4, sens at 8) is the always-on tightener: you hear the leveling more than you hear the compression. Juicy Boost cranks the sens to 9 with the fast attack engaged and clean at 5, pushing output for a squishy, forward boost. Squishy Sub drops the clean to 0 and the tone to 3 for a pure, pillowy low-end squash. Hidden Distortion pushes the sens to 10 and tone to 10 with fast attack and almost no clean signal, where the CA3080 tips into gritty territory and the pedal stops behaving like a transparent compressor altogether.

Dyna Comp Bass vs M87 Bass Compressor

The MXR M87 Bass Compressor is the other obvious MXR choice for bass players, and the two pedals start from opposite design philosophies. The M87 gives you full studio-style controls: separate Attack, Release, Ratio and Input knobs, plus a 10-segment gain reduction meter that shows exactly what the compression is doing. It’s built around Constant Headroom Technology and is deliberately transparent, the kind of compressor you’d reach for in a recording context or when you want your fundamental tone untouched.

The Dyna Comp Bass is the CA3080 character compressor. It has fewer parameters, no metering, and the squish is part of the appeal rather than something to minimize. The Clean blend and Tone knob are quality-of-life additions for bass, but this is still a pedal you dial by ear rather than by numbers. If you want studio control and meter feedback, the M87 is the better fit. If you want a compact, musical compressor that adds a bit of personality alongside the leveling, and especially if you want that fast-attack pluck character, the Dyna Comp Bass earns its place.

Who It’s For

The compression is musical and transparent when you want it to be, but push the Sens and you can get into more aggressive territory. It works great as a subtle always-on effect to tighten up your sound, or as a more obvious effect for sustained lead lines. For bassists who’ve been curious about compression but intimidated by complex controls, this is a perfect entry point that delivers professional results.

Funk and R&B players who want that plucky, percussive attack will get a lot from the fast attack mode. The Clean blend makes it safe for any style where you can’t afford to lose low end. If you play slap and want the surgical ratio control and level metering that technique demands, look at the M87 instead.

Specs

• Circuit: CA3080 “metal can” integrated circuit
• Controls: Clean blend, Sensitivity, Output, Tone, Attack switch (slow/fast)
• Bypass: true bypass
• Power: 9V DC (Dunlop ECB003 adapter or compatible isolated supply; not included)
• Housing: MXR mini format

Signal Chain

• JMJ Fender Mustang*, La Bella Flats* and Curtis Novak Fat Mustang pickups, played with 0.60mm Dunlop Tortex Triangle pick*
• Dyna Comp Bass
• Bogren Digital Bassknob STD*

Where to Buy

Cure your GAS! Buy now, brag later

Buy through these links and support Loopy Demos at no extra cost to you.

Get detailed specs on MXR's website

Similar Pedals

M294 Sugar Drive Mini - MXR

M309 Joshua Ambient Echo - MXR

M102 Dyna Comp - MXR

Timmy Overdrive - MXR

Classic 108 Fuzz - MXR

M81 Bass Preamp - MXR

M87 Bass Compressor - MXR

King Comp - Orange

Kinematic - Dreadbox FX

The Vacuum - Poison Noises

<div data-loopydemos="mxr-dyna-comp-bass" data-title="MXR Dyna Comp Bass | Loopy Demos" data-width="400" data-height="520"></div>
<script src="https://loopydemos.com/embed.js" async></script>