The Strymon OB.1 Bass is a Strymon compressor pedal, currently around $251.99. Close alternatives include the Caline Blue CP 45 Caline and the Empress Bass Compressor Blue. It pairs well with the Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp and the Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head.
Strymon OB.1 Bass
Strymon · pedal
The Strymon OB.1 BASS is an optical compressor and clean boost pedal for bass guitar from Strymon (Westlake Village, California), delivering smooth optical compression with a clean boost channel optimized for bass frequencies. The OB.1 BASS provides studio-quality optical bass compression at Strymon premium quality for professional bass players who need transparent compression and boost from one trusted pedal.
What stands out
“1 BASS is an optical compressor and clean boost pedal for bass guitar from Strymon (Westlake Village, California), delivering smooth optical compression with a clean boost channel optimized for bass frequencies”
— from the listing
“Its standout strength is the studio-quality optical compression with clean boost optimized for bass at Strymon premium quality”
— from the community notes
“Transparent bass dynamics at professional standards”
— from the reviews
“1 BASS provides studio-quality optical bass compression at Strymon premium quality for professional bass players who need transparent compression and boost from one trusted pedal”
— from the listing
“The Strymon OB”
— from the listing
- clean boost
- optical compression
- studio
- bass
- boost
- optical
- transparent
- compressor
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Strymon OB.1 Bass is commonly used in
- Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country Pop
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Strymon OB.1 Bass
Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp
Laney
16% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp leans toward mid-forward, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head goes after Strymon OB.1 Bass in the chain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Synergy SL2 Module after Strymon OB.1 Bass
ENGL Special Edition E670
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
ENGL Special Edition E670 goes after Strymon OB.1 Bass in the chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt goes after Strymon OB.1 Bass in the chain
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head goes after Strymon OB.1 Bass in the chain
Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II goes after Strymon OB.1 Bass in the chain
Bogner Snorkler 50
Bogner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Bogner Snorkler 50 goes after Strymon OB.1 Bass in the chain
Pedals that stack with the Strymon OB.1 Bass
Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2
Electro-Harmonix
16% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2's own fuzzy character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Wren and Cuff Box of War OG
Wren And Cuff
16% matchRun the OB.1 Bass before the Box of War OG to keep the low end controlled going into that fuzzier, sustaining Muff-style gain.
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Hammertone Reverb
Fender
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Fender Hammertone Reverb after Strymon OB.1 Bass in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Strymon OB.1 Bass — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Electro-Harmonix Memory Boy Analog Delay after Strymon OB.1 Bass in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Strymon OB.1 Bass — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 after Strymon OB.1 Bass
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Warm Audio Jet Phaser after Strymon OB.1 Bass: modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set
Donner Big Mouth Distortion
Donner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Donner Big Mouth Distortion after Strymon OB.1 Bass
Demon FX Gladiator Double Preamp Just
Demon Fx
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Demon FX Gladiator Double Preamp Just after Strymon OB.1 Bass
Cheaper alternatives
Demon FX Optocoupler Bass Compressor Just
Demon Fx
62% similarityShared character: bass response, bass, compressor
Fender Bassman Compressor
Fender
52% similarityShared character: bass, compressor, transparent
Arcade Audio Button Masher Compressor
Arcade Audio
48% similarityShared character: compressor, smooth
Providence Bass Boot Comp BTC-1
Providence
46% similarityShared character: bass, compressor
Ampeg Opto Comp Compressor
Ampeg
41% similarityShared character: bass, compressor, transparent
Similar character
See all alternatives to the Strymon OB.1 Bass (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Strymon OB.1 Bass?+
The closest matches in character are the Caline Blue CP 45 Caline, the Empress Bass Compressor Blue, the Empress Bass Compressor MKII Silver. Budget picks: Demon FX Optocoupler Bass Compressor Just, Fender Bassman Compressor, Arcade Audio Button Masher Compressor.
What pairs well with the Strymon OB.1 Bass?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp, Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head, Synergy SL2 Module — Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp leans toward mid-forward, and that's a real, usable character to pair with.
How much does the Strymon OB.1 Bass cost?+
Around $251.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).