The Empress Effects S&D Compressor Bass is the Scratch and Dent version of Empress Effects' Bass Compressor, a compressor pedal built for bass guitar. Empress sells these units direct as cosmetic seconds: pedals that, in the maker's words, are "functionally working perfectly" but carry small cosmetic flaws such as a smudge on the screenprint, scratches, or a powdercoating defect1. The trade for the buyer is a lower price than the regular pedal, with the same circuit and the same warranty terms.
The pedal comes in two finishes, Blue Sparkle and Silver Sparkle, sold as separate listings on Empress's site12.
What Scratch and Dent means
Empress's Scratch and Dent program covers pedals across its whole range, and the maker describes them the same way on every listing: the units work perfectly, and only the finish falls short. As the product page puts it213:
"Scratch and Dent pedals are functionally working perfectly. They have small cosmetic flaws such as a smudge on the screenprint, scratches or maybe a powdercoating defect."
For a player, that means the pedal is a variant of the regular version. What you give up is cosmetic: Scratch and Dent pedals have small cosmetic flaws such as a smudge on the screenprint, scratches, or a powdercoating defect. Because the flaws are small and specific, the actual appearance of any given unit can vary from one listing to another241.
Scratch and Dent stock is sold as available. Empress lists each S&D pedal as its own product page, so a finish or model can sell out and reappear as new units come in.
Silver Sparkle and Blue Sparkle versions
The S&D Compressor Bass is offered in two enclosure finishes, each with its own listing and price12:
| Version | Finish | S&D price | Regular price shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&D Compressor Bass (Blue Sparkle) | Blue Sparkle | $224.00 USD | $274.00 USD1 |
| S&D Compressor Bass (Silver Sparkle) | Silver Sparkle | $224.00 USD | $274.00 USD2 |
Both listings describe the same product: a compressor pedal for bass in Scratch and Dent condition12. The finish is the only difference between the two pages, and both carry the same price and the same warranty terms, so the choice comes down to which color you prefer on a pedalboard.
Warranty and registration
Empress applies the same warranty policy to its Scratch and Dent pedals as to its regular ones. The maker states it plainly on the S&D Compressor Bass listings12:
"You still get our awesome 2 year warranty that can be extended to 4 years for free by registering your pedal!"
In practical terms:
- Every S&D Compressor Bass carries a 2 year warranty from Empress1.
- Registering the pedal with Empress extends that coverage to 4 years at no cost1.
- The extension applies to Scratch and Dent units the same as regular ones, so the cosmetic discount does not cost you coverage2.
The Empress compressor family
The S&D Compressor Bass is a discounted version of Empress Effects' bass compressor: the scratch and dent units carry a list price of $224.00, struck through from the regular price of $274.001. The same pricing appears on the maker's own product page, which lists the S&D Compressor Bass at $224.00 against a regular price of $274.002.
For a bass player weighing options in compressor pedals, the S&D Compressor Bass offers the maker's bass compressor circuit at the Scratch and Dent price, with full warranty coverage, in either of two sparkle finishes12.
Questions
What does Scratch and Dent mean on an Empress pedal?
Empress sells Scratch and Dent (S&D) pedals as cosmetic seconds. According to the maker, they are functionally working perfectly, and the only difference from a regular unit is small cosmetic flaws such as a smudge on the screenprint, scratches, or a powdercoating defect. They are sold at a lower price than the standard version of the same pedal.
Does the Scratch and Dent Bass Compressor work the same as the regular one?
Yes. Empress states that Scratch and Dent pedals are functionally working perfectly, so the S&D Compressor Bass does the same compression job as the regular Bass Compressor. The discount reflects only small cosmetic flaws like scratches, a smudged screenprint, or a powdercoating defect, not any difference in the circuit or controls.
Is the warranty the same on a Scratch and Dent Empress pedal?
Yes. Empress says buyers of Scratch and Dent pedals still get the same 2 year warranty that applies to its regular pedals, and that warranty can be extended to 4 years for free by registering the pedal. The cosmetic condition of the enclosure does not reduce the coverage.
How do I extend the Empress warranty to four years?
Register the pedal with Empress Effects. The maker states that every pedal comes with a 2 year warranty that can be extended to 4 years for free by registering it. Registration costs nothing and applies to Scratch and Dent units as well as regular ones.
What is the difference between the Empress Compressor MKII and the Bass Compressor?
The Compressor MKII is Empress's guitar compressor, a smaller update to its original Compressor that keeps the same circuit and sound while adding a tone knob and top-mounted jacks. It includes a sidechain high-pass filter so bass frequencies do not trigger the compression. The Bass Compressor is the bass-focused counterpart in the same compressor family.
Sources (4)
- S&D Compressor Bass (Blue Sparkle), Empress Effects Inc.
- S&D Compressor Bass (Silver Sparkle), Empress Effects Inc.
- [S&D Reverb
- [S&D Compressor Mk II (Blue Sparkle)
