The MXR Blackout Series Bass Compressor is a limited-edition version of the MXR Bass Compressor, built in a matte black housing with gloss black text and a bright yellow LED. Jim Dunlop produced it as a special edition run of 1,500 pieces, marking 15 years of MXR Bass Innovations, under the model number M87B1. It is a legacy product and is no longer in production1.
What it does
Like the standard MXR Bass Compressor it is based on, the Blackout version carries a complete array of controls: Attack, Release, Ratio, Input and Output, which MXR describes as allowing you to fine-tune your sound from subtle peak limiting to hard squashed compression effects1. The Output knob controls the overall effect volume2.
The RATIO knob selects four compression ratios: 4:1, 8:1, 12:1 and 20:1. The manual explains the idea with the lowest setting: at 4:1, if the input level rises 4 decibels above threshold, the output level rises by 1 decibel2. The Release control covers a release time of 50 ms to 1.1 s2.
A signature feature of the Blackout finish is the front-panel metering: ten highly visible gain-reduction status LEDs that indicate when your signal reaches the compression threshold1. On a dark stage, that display is the practical difference a player sees compared with the standard version.
Controls at a glance
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Attack | Part of the control array for fine-tuning your sound, from subtle peak limiting to hard squashed compression1 |
| Release | Sets the release time, 50 ms to 1.1 s2 |
| Ratio | Selects 4:1, 8:1, 12:1 or 20:1 compression ratios2 |
| Input | Part of the control array for fine-tuning your sound1 |
| Output | Controls overall effect volume2 |
Power
The pedal runs on a single 9-volt battery; remove the bottom plate to install it1. For adapter power, MXR specifies a 9-volt AC adapter such as the Dunlop ECB003/ECB003EU, or an MXR Brick Series power supply1. The manual lists the power supply requirement as 9 volts DC2.
The Blackout Series and how it differs from the standard version
The Blackout Series Bass Compressor is a special edition version of one of MXR's most popular bass pedals, released to celebrate 15 years of MXR Bass Innovations12. Functionally it is the MXR Bass Compressor; the differences are the finish and the limited run. The series also included the MXR Blackout Series Bass Envelope Filter, a matching special edition of the MXR Bass Envelope Filter, likewise limited to 1,500 pieces and also no longer in production3.
Jim Dunlop lists the Blackout Series Bass Compressor as a "LEGACY PRODUCT / NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION"1. Players looking for the current version of the circuit are directed to the standard MXR Bass Compressor.
For a wider view of where a compressor sits on a bass board, see Bass Pedals and Compressor Pedals.
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Questions
Is the MXR Blackout Series Bass Compressor still made?
No. Jim Dunlop lists the Blackout Series Bass Compressor as a legacy product that is no longer in production. It was a special edition marking 15 years of MXR Bass Innovations, and the standard MXR Bass Compressor remains the current version of the circuit.
How many Blackout Series Bass Compressors were made?
Jim Dunlop describes the Blackout Series Bass Compressor as a special edition run of 1,500 pieces. The companion Blackout Series Bass Envelope Filter was also a special edition run of 1,500 pieces.
Does the MXR Blackout Bass Compressor take a battery?
Yes. The pedal is powered by a single 9-volt battery, which is installed by removing the bottom plate. It can also run on a 9-volt AC adapter such as the Dunlop ECB003/ECB003EU or an MXR Brick Series power supply.
What is the model number of the Blackout Series Bass Compressor?
The model number is M87B, listed by Jim Dunlop as the M87B Blackout Series Bass Compressor. It is a special edition version of the MXR Bass Compressor.
How is the Blackout compressor different from the standard MXR Bass Compressor?
The Blackout version is the same pedal in a different finish: a matte black housing with gloss black text and a bright yellow LED, produced as a limited run of 1,500 to mark 15 years of MXR Bass Innovations. The controls and circuit are those of the standard MXR Bass Compressor.
Sources (3)
- MXR® BLACKOUT™ SERIES BASS COMPRESSOR, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- M87B.pdf, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com), 2023
- MXR® BLACKOUT™ SERIES BASS ENVELOPE FILTER, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
