YOUR COMPRESSOR, and WHY YOU LOVE IT!

FirstExit

Ok, so my goal for the end of this week is to have a brand new compressor pedal. I'd like to keep my budget at around the $200-250 range, but if you think a pedal that's more expensive is REALLY worth it, I'd love to hear your suggestions. Thanks!

exhausted

i've tried lots over the years. i gravitate towards the ross/dynacomp type compressors. just the simply two knob deals.

so that means things like the keeley compressor (find a used one) or perhaps the MXR handwired version of the old dynacomp. but honestly, the bog standard current production dynacomp is perfectly fine too.

another good option is a barber tone press which is a similar circuit but with a clean blend that makes it all the more flexible for guitars with different pickup outputs and the like. they're great value.

diamond makes a really good one too but it's optical. totally different approach but sounds really good.

i currently use a clone of the old dynacomp circuit that i built for myself from scratch. sounds excellent and i love it because i built it myself from the ground up (no printed circuit board even) and it just happens to have turned out really good.

ryanevolution

Although I dont have this pedal (yet!) I'm still going to recommend something from PIGTRONIX. Either the Philosopher's Tone" http://pigtronix.com/products08/philosopherstone.html. Or the slightly more advanced "Philospopher King" http://pigtronix.com/products08/philosopherking.html. The "King" contains all the compression and sustain of the "Tone", but then also adds envelope generator, distortion, and a lot of expression options.

Check out those video samples! KILLER sounds!

mccreadyisgod

If there wasn't already an older MXR Dynacomp on my board, I'd be looking at the 4-knob Keeley. The 2-knob Keeley is great (like Ex already said), and so are the MXR, script MXR, or the Maxon. It's the definition of guitar compression sound.

For bass, I'm really interested in the TC Electronics Nova Compressor; it appeals to the audio engineer in me to have all those controls, and the LED indicator lights; would also be great for acoustic guitar. I'm sure it's great for guitar, as well, but for me an electric guitar compressor should have that classic MXR/Ross kinda sound.

keeponrockin

I just use an MXR Dynacomp. Not perfect, but it gets the job done. Gives my Strat a little extra 'umph' and kinda gives me a little bit more gain for everything.

ScrapeMySky

I REALLY don't want to piss anyone off, but seriously: get a Boss! I once thought I needed a compressor and got one (it turned out I really needed one) and my Boss CS-2 has always worked just fine FOR ME. If you're looking for something extravagant you might want to keep on looking but if you want an affordable pedal that gets the job done look into a CS-2.
Bottom line: Everything you'll get here is opinions. If you want to find out about all that for yourself, try some out and find the best one in your pricerange.

MaxGoldenrod

ScrapeMySky wrote:

I REALLY don't want to piss anyone off, but seriously: get a Boss! I once thought I needed a compressor and got one (it turned out I really needed one) and my Boss CS-2 has always worked just fine FOR ME. If you're looking for something extravagant you might want to keep on looking but if you want an affordable pedal that gets the job done look into a CS-2.
Bottom line: Everything you'll get here is opinions. If you want to find out about all that for yourself, try some out and find the best one in your pricerange.

+1

I agree with you. I have the CS2 as well. For what I use it for and as shitty a player as I am, it works just fine for me. Plus at $40 used, it was in my budget too!

mccreadyisgod

I've always viewed the CS-2 as more of a sustainer than a compressor; the concepts are mostly the same, but there is a nuanced difference. But then again, a lot of that perception is that the MXR/Ross compressor was the sound you heard from every guitar player for ages, because they were the only real compressor pedals out there. So the MXR/Ross sound is instantly recognizable. All in all, the CS-2 is a great pedal, it just sounds different than I personally think of a compressor pedal sounding.

ScrapeMySky

You're right about that. My CS-2 mostly gets used in more of a sustainer role too.

RedMosquito22

I am in the market for a compression pedal right now and was going to go mxr. Was anything improved upon with the Boss CS-3 over the CS-2?

exhausted

trouble i had with the CS-3 was that the threshold just seems way too low. i.e. you hit the squish part of the circuit even with very low output from the guitar. the threshold of the dynacomp seems better suited to most single coils though still doesn't work well with humbuckers.

which is where mr. squishy comes in. though i've never gotten a chance to try one of these i did put a similar input gain control on an old EHX compressor a friend had.

http://www.toadworksusa.com/MS.html

mccreadyisgod

exhausted wrote:

trouble i had with the CS-3 was that the threshold just seems way too low.

As an old-school audio engineer, that's the problem I always had with guitar compressors. I want all the normal controls: Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, Output Gain, and maybe even a Knee control. Even my beloved Dynacomp just won't cut it on most stuff with HB's (as you said) or even my P-90's. I can use it for crazy saturation with my tubescreamers, but it doesn't work clean like it does with my Strat.

It's almost surprising that MXR hasn't developed an alternate version of the Dynacomp for use with HB guitars...

Then again, that's why I find the TC Elec. Nova Compressor so appealing. Knobs, and LED's showing gain reduction! What a novel idea! When is dbx going to make a guitar comp pedal? That's one I'd be interested in.

Pacomc79

Mig, what about the Joe Meek floor comp? That's got the controls you seek if you don't want to go rack mount.

Currently I've got a Shannon Compressor (Volume, Gain, Tone) I don't have it on the board at the moment.


I like the Philosophers Tone Too! Not too terribly expensive.

I liked the Barber Tone Press too but my old standard is always the Dyna Comp.

mccreadyisgod

Pacomc79 wrote:

Mig, what about the Joe Meek floor comp? That's got the controls you seek if you don't want to go rack mount.

Yeah, the FloorQ, I forget that's even out there now. It doesn't have the LED's for gain reduction, but it's got everything else. And it's gotta have good tone, knowing the Meek reputation. But again, it doesn't have that classic guitar comp thing going for it.

DewieCox

http://www.demeteramps.com/products/pedals/compro1.html

Anybody tried this one? I was scopin out David Gilmour's rig and this is what he uses. I'm guessin it's pretty amazing. Figured I'd toss it into the conversation.

I have the EHX Soul Preacher, and I just never thought it really did anything for my sound. I ended mostly using it as a little extra boost. I'm sure spendin a couple hundred more bucks would make a difference.

I've checked out some that seemed to be quite a bit better, like the Keeley and Philosopher's Tone. Also, doin alotta research for pedals via youtube, it's hard to get excited about a comp. I generally get sidetracked with some crazy ring mod, delay or od pedal.

FinsburyParkCarrots

I use this. It's a Boss Pro CL-50 Compressor Limiter. You have lots of knobs to play with and it works as a good noise gate. You can use it live as it's not much bigger as a half rackmount than a volume pedal or wah, and it's good for recording. You can use it for different requirements: vocals as well as instrumentation:




It was given to me free when I bought a Lexicon MPX 100 from a friend.

Pacomc79

DewieCox wrote:

http://www.demeteramps.com/products/pedals/compro1.html

Anybody tried this one? I was scopin out David Gilmour's rig and this is what he uses. I'm guessin it's pretty amazing. Figured I'd toss it into the conversation.

I have the EHX Soul Preacher, and I just never thought it really did anything for my sound. I ended mostly using it as a little extra boost. I'm sure spendin a couple hundred more bucks would make a difference.

I've checked out some that seemed to be quite a bit better, like the Keeley and Philosopher's Tone. Also, doin alotta research for pedals via youtube, it's hard to get excited about a comp. I generally get sidetracked with some crazy ring mod, delay or od pedal.

pretty much everything Demeter makes is excellent.

Pacomc79

FinsburyParkCarrots wrote:

I use this. It's a Boss Pro CL-50 Compressor Limiter. You have lots of knobs to play with and it works as a good noise gate. You can use it live as it's not much bigger as a half rackmount than a volume pedal or wah, and it's good for recording. You can use it for different requirements: vocals as well as instrumentation:




It was given to me free when I bought a Lexicon MPX 100 from a friend.

Cool, I've never encountered one of these FPC.