Creamery Compressor

[bhcarpenter]

This is my third PPCB compressor build, after a Boneyard Delegate and Thumbsucker. They’re all great, but I find this one particularly easy to dial in. I plan to use it on my bass board.

I can’t recall if it had already been mentioned here, but it is a little tough to see the orientation of the transistors on the silk screen. I did originally install two of them backwards, but was saved a trip to the troubleshooting forum by… wait for it… visual inspection! Thanks for all the old hats who continually harp on that.

I did make the following substitutions:
- MPS4124 -> 2N42124 (from Small Bear)
- THAT2519 -> Cool Audio V2519
- KA4558 -> JRC4558D (and one RC4558P)

Ignore the lifted resistor…..

 

[MichaelW]

That looks awesome! This is still on my wishlist, even though I need another compressor like a hole in the head......

Edit: How's the noise floor on this one?

 

[almondcity]

Nice build, I love the green.

I still have mine in my chain 95% of the time. It is kinda noisy with compression higher than noon. But there is something special about it I cannot put my finger on. It seems to suck a tiny amount of highs out but it feels so nice to play I just put a low gain OD right after it to brighten things back up and it's perfect. Ymmv

 

[bhcarpenter]

It is kinda noisy with compression higher than noon.

Yep, same here. Starts to get noisy around noon. By that point I found myself backing the master volume off so it wasn’t too noticeable. You’re also getting quite a bit of compression by then. I might swap out the “W” taper pot with a logarithmic one.

 

[Joben Magooch]

I've been curious to give this a try at some point, in particular on bass. I remember years ago Ovnilab listed it as one of his favorite affordable compressors and it's been on my radar ever since.

 

[finebyfine]

Looks great! Can't go wrong with Copperplate either. I've built 3 or 4 myself and I still always barely catch the transistor orientation of that top right one before soldering. I love this pedal, and it might be my favorite PPCB compressor - it certainly is at least for bass.