This is an optical limiter designed to replicate the legendary vintage Teletronix LA-2A in pedal form. Since it only has two knobs, it's super simple to dial in, and in my opinion, that's a big part of the beauty of this circuit. Instead of fiddling with attack, release and ratio controls, you just set the "Limit" threshold control, set the level and you're ready to go. It uses a NOS National Semiconductor 2N5457 Jfet and two Burr-Brown OPA2134 opamps for high fidelity in the 100% analog amplifier and limiter stages.
As compared to a compressor, this pedal does not raise the level of softer inputs, but rather, only limits the peaks of hot signals. It is extremely punchy and actually adds punch to your bass's attack, yielding better string to string balance. With the Limit control at its minimum (fully counter clockwise) it has zero limiting and can be used as a clean boost. When the limit control is at maximum, it's capable of very heavy limiting. It is also very low noise, Surprisingly, I like as much as my Darkglass Hyper Luminal and my Origin Cali76 compressors (which raise the lower level inputs, along with any inherent noise). When you raise the limit control, the yellow led indicates how much limiting is taking place. I generally run it with the Limit control in the 9:30 to 12 o'clock position depending on how hot of a signal the particular bass that I'm using has.
This one comes in an etched, satin finished 1590B with all top jacks and a standard true bypass. My pedals are completely hand-made, including the etching of my own PCBs, and I make them in very limited quantities. Nothing is farmed out.
Soundclip below: First bypassed, then limit @ none, 9:00, 11:00, 12:00, 5:00 and finally 3:00
