I'm using an Aphex Bass Exciter and fin dit has an impressive effect on the overall sound and punch of my basses. MPISANEK also uses one (his recommendation led me to mine). Superb piece of kit.
 
graeme

Thanks Guys!
Bob, if I could find one of those trace units for $75 that would be a steal they look pretty good.
Im looking at the
Maxon 9-Series CP-9 Pro+
this guys runs at 18 volts for extra headroom, looks very interesting.
http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new_shop.cgi?config=&uid=RXuOZgAA1160523571&uzc=&command=link--cp9

Compression:  
 
Pedals, the blue BOSS compressors (CS3?) or the EBS are hard to beat.
 
RackMount:  Boy the sky's the limit, but I stole a closeout APHEX 661 tube compressor.  If that had not gotten in the way, a dbx 160A is fabulous.  After that, boy there's lots of them, but that's where my search led me.
 
I prefer compression done right:  Just a bit past limiting, where it's just beginning to stretch the notes slightly, level out the overall evenness of the fingerboard (I never heard those low Cs and Ds properly without one) with out that squashed sound, and keeping a lid on things when the thumb or the heavy pick comes out.  I just wanted that smooth sheen I get when it's done right.
 
J o e y

Compression:  
 
Pedals, the blue BOSS compressors (CS3?) or the EBS are hard to beat.
 
RackMount:  Boy the sky's the limit, but I stole a closeout APHEX 661 tube compressor.  If that had not gotten in the way, a dbx 160A is fabulous.  After that, boy there's lots of them, but that's where my search led me.
 
I prefer compression done right:  Just a bit past limiting, where it's just beginning to stretch the notes slightly, level out the overall evenness of the fingerboard (I never heard those low Cs and Ds properly without one) with out that squashed sound, and keeping a lid on things when the thumb or the heavy pick comes out.  I just wanted that smooth sheen I get when it's done right.
 
J o e y

Just to folow up I bought a Carl Martin Compressor/ Limiter. It has it own power supply built in just plug and play with plenty of headroom this thing sounds great with my little SCD with Flatwounds and sounds equally at home on my 5 String Essence. I will be taking this one with me whereever I go to get a better feel for it in the upcoming months.
 Thanks for all the replys !
 - Tom