Compressor pedals?

[twangcaster1]

Did I mention the Keeley 4 Knob Compressor?

[2ndstringer]

I had the CS-3, but it seemed to suck all of the tone out of everything, and it seemed to be really mechanical in the way that it ramped up the level when the natural sound started to decay. I got rid of it. I like the clips I have heard of the Barber Tone Press, and I am really tempted, but when I did a search for the MXR Dynacomp, Musician's Friend was selling them for $69, which is standard, but with a free power supply, so I succumbed to that deal. Since Dynacomps are so popular, it must at least sound better than the CS-3.

John

[guit30]

The cheap dynacomps sound real bad to me, not in a cool way
Jim

[2ndstringer]

Originally Posted by guit30

The cheap dynacomps sound real bad to me, not in a cool way
Jim

You are saying that it has to be vintage product, or that boutique clones are significantly better? Or you just don't like the Dynacomp thing? Bad in what way?

John

[guit30]

I bought one a few years ago and it sounded like junk. You want a good inexpensive compressor, get a Guyatone ST-2, 75 bucks, still made in Japan. Really great sound, had one for about 3 years, then gave it to my best friend after I got a couple of boutiques
Jim

[Big John]

I've gone backwards and am using a CS2 for the times i need a compressor but this time i'm running it via the loop from a Barge Concepts VBJr, it allows me to feed in just a little of the compressed tone.

Yes,i know that some pedals have a 'blend' control but that's the pedals version of a blend between your clean and effected tone whereas using the VBJr i get a blend of the 'actual' clean tone + the effected one (hope that makes sense), it's about the best way i have come across to get great tone and not screw up the pick attack and the start of the note.

YMMV of course but worth a try.

[2ndstringer]

Originally Posted by guit30

I bought one a few years ago and it sounded like junk. You want a good inexpensive compressor, get a Guyatone ST-2, 75 bucks, still made in Japan. Really great sound, had one for about 3 years, then gave it to my best friend after I got a couple of boutiques
Jim

The clips on YouTube of the MXR Dynacomp sound good enough to me. The only compressor I've used so far was the CS-3, so my compressor taste is probably not refined enough to appreciate boutique at the moment. I know that the Dynacomp is a sound, and is not as versatile as the Barber or the Keeley. It might serve, however, and it doesn't cost much to try one for a while.

The five-knob BYOC sounds interesting. I might try building one of those with my son, who has more electronics skills than I do.

Thanks,

John

[Beatbx]

Originally Posted by Guitarist4u36

I have fought with compressors for YEARS! Some may or may not agree with me, but I find that compressors (along with various other effects but compressors tend to be the hardest to me) are an effect that has to really grow on you because each one (even if they're the same brand and model) has a slightly different voice which is in turn affected by the style and the way you play. Over time you slowly dial it in /adapt to it and it becomes a part of "your" sound. I have used a Boss ME-10 multi-effects pedal for 16 years (to the point that it's basically worn out) because of this very reason. I believe the compressor in the ME-10 is simply based upon the boss CS-3 but it doesn't even sound like other CS-3s that I've tried. I've tried Barbers, Keeleys, Maxons, Dynacomp vintage scrips, analogman...you name it, and as great as they are, there's still something lacking in my ears. I won't say that any of them sound BAD....just different. Some sounded very good in their own way. But when I tried them live and started playing like I play, I felt like I was "walking with a slight limp" for lack of a better way to put it. Either they squish to much or not enough, attack too slowly, attack too quickly, suck tone,too transparent, not enough sustain, ect. Again, probably affected to a degree on how I have adapted to playing. And also, if I think back about it, when I first got my me-10 I fought with it as well until I got used to it.
That being said, the one compressor that I've tried that I like the best is the Electro-Harmonix Black finger. It's an optoisolator tube vacuum that runs on either lamp or led. It has both normal and squash modes as well. I feel like it's a very warm sounding, balanced compressor...one of those hidden jewels that you don't hear alot about. Anyway that's my input and also finishes up my compressor venting on the soapbox. It's someone elses turn. haha
Dino*

I've had similar experiences with comps in general. I've got the EH, a BYOC, a couple Ibanez comps, and then for recording an RNC, DBX 160, and an Alesis Nanocompressor. For guitar the Ibanez 10 series (in bright salmon!) turned out to be the best sounding to me, but still doesn't make the board. I'm glad to have become familiar with them and have learned how to use them in appropriate circumstances, but for guitar it's a kind of 'meh' effect. My amp is a compressor.

[PorkRollExpress]

I use the Boss CS3 for 3 reasons.

1) I like the tone control, especially for my Rickenbacker.
2) It's no a "staple" item to me, so I guess I don't know, or care any better.
3) It was cheap, used.

[biker joe]

Take this with a grain of salt because I think I just don't like compressors. Had a dunlop MXR block dynacomp reissue that I thought sounded pretty bad. Made me wonder why everyone said the dynacomp is the standard. I've had an analogman bicomp for a couple of years and think it is an improvement but I'm still not in love and it remains off the pedal board. I actually like the OS side better than the ross side. In general, I like the gain, compressors can add but not the noise. I also think there is a fine line from where the squish cleans things up nicely to where it just sounds cheesey.

The new custom script Phase 90 is phenomenol and blows the dunlop block reissue version out of the water. It has me thinking maybe I should give the new custom script mxr dnycomp a try. But then again... maybe I just don't like compressor pedals.

[2ndstringer]

My M 102 Dyna Comp (Dunlop MXR) came today, and after a quick spin I think it sounds pretty good. Syrupy country chicken picken jangle, with my Tele. Doesn't seem to affect the tone much when it's off. So far so good. That's probably all it does though.

John

[Andrew W]

Carl Martin makes a very nice, though hi-fi, compressor pedal. AC power only. Very quiet. Has an adjustable attack which can be set very fast, almost like a rack compressor -- I've used it with good effect on the direct signal from an acoustic pickup in the studio. It can also be squishy, but a little sterile if you're looking for that effect.

I have a BYOC 5-knob kit waiting for me to get to it -- it comes with a number of opamps to customize the sound. They also make kits for the Armstrong Orange Squeezer and an optical compressor, though most seem to prefer the 5-knob (Ross clone).

[Joel]

Anyone got anything on the BYOC optical compressor?

[thaus]

Just got a JangleBox........best sounding compressor I have heard (stompbox). Makes my rickenbacker 12-string sound just awesome.........

[Grin'n'pick]

Analog Man Mini Bi-Comp. Tried pretty much all of 'em out there over the years and that was the one I settled on. Sadly I just had to sell mine but I'll get another one when I'm more flush. Short be on everyone's shortlist.

[Joel]

I feel I have to choises,
1: I need to start somewhere so i'll just buy the dynacomp and see where it takes me.
2: I keep on trying and listening to advice and watching reviews and hope I will solve it someday,
The problem with the second choise is that I feel like I'm missing play-time while sitting on this forum just listening to advices.
The problem with the first choise is that it could suck and then I would realize that when it comes to comp pedals you just have to take your time, Back to square one.
It sucks to have no money.

[Darrell]

I think 2ndsling has the right approach. You shouldn't ask too much from your compressor. Some balance, some punch, that is really it. I have too MXR's, script and block. I prefer the block. The script has so much compression, it is almost off the charts. I just want a tad of compression in most cases, unless playing some really loud blues.

By the way, to me the beauty of the MXR is the two knobs. I am just lost if it is more complex than than when incorporating it with all the other pedals and amp settings. Less knobs, the better.

[Joel]

That's what I like about the MXR Dynacomp, The lesser knobs the better! (there should be a joke in there somewhere)

[guit30]

The Wampler Ego Compressor is incredible, takes a bit of everything, but the compression and sustain is just great, like the video. But if
you are not into compressors, it doesn't matter
Jim

[Joel]

The BBE's compressors sounds awesome, they look like poop though.
I might go for one of those.

I wish compressors had never been invented, then I wouldn't have this ****ing problem.

[Deville2Rocket]

Joel, since you're in Sweden, why not try the EBS MultiComp? Aren't they based out of Sweden?

The company focuses mainly on amps, cabs, and FX for bass guitar, it seems... but I have an EBS MultiComp and a TremoLo on my guitar pedalboard, and I think they're both great.

[Higgs F. Boson]

I have a CS-3 and a Dunlop/MXR Dynacomp I bought probably 10 years ago. The Dynacomp is great for what it is, really unique, but sucks tone when it's off. The CS-3 doesn't. I'm not a compressor connoisseur, but I find the CS-3 to be more versatile and transparent.

One very important thing to consider is that the Dynacomp does not have an "attack" control, whereas the CS-3 does. So if you go for one of the readily available, mass-produced cheapies, be aware of that. With the Dynacomp, no matter how you set it, you get the same "attack," so the compression kicks in at the same time.

My opinion is the Dynacomp is a neat one-trick pony - it really warms up the tone of a bright Fender amp. The CS-3 is more utilitarian, if you just want to smooth things out without altering your tone much.

At gig volume, I find compressors to be useless.

[Joel]

The electro harmonix white finger comp sounds very good on their homepage. Has anyone ever tried one of those?

[Fret Wilkes]

Originally Posted by Joel

That's what I like about the MXR Dynacomp, The lesser knobs the better! (there should be a joke in there somewhere)

How about: The MXR Dynacomp-"The Lesser Compressor"

I've just invested in the Barber Tone Press.

[gibsonjunkie]

I missed out on the MF Orange Squash sale, but I found one through Amazon for $40. That will do.

[scooteraz]

Another vote for Keeley. 2-knob and 4-knob have same controls, you just have to open the back to get to the other 2 pots on the the 2-knob. A pain, but if you don't reset those settings often (I don't) it is no problem.

[eddie knuckles]

My Diamond compressor is righteous. Not much love for them here on this forum. I can't understand why.

Absolutely blew me away with the subtle changes you can make to not only clean up and boost your signal, but find a great sweet spot that lets your playing dynamics shine.

[nixpix]

Yeah Eddie, the Diamond Comp is an awesome compressor. It is super transparent and does a wonderful job of tightening up your notes. I unfortunately traded it because, for the time being, I can have only one compressor. I like how the Ross types mess with my tone, so I traded my Diamond for an Analgoman Comprossor. The AM is a great sqashy, yet musical, compressor. In the future though, I'd like to add a Diamond again.

[cqmurphy]

Living in NYC, I am lucky enough to have had the opportunity to walk into a guitar shop and try out 11 different compressor pedals ranging in price from $79-429.

Frame of reference: I play a classicized (callaham retro fit bridge, fralin old school specs pups) 96 American Tele (and other stuff that I don't love as much) through a few different amps.

After much deliberation and frustration on the part of the guys at the shop I walked out with a new Analogman CompROSSor. Transparent, simple, adjustable attack (you can get a model with this on the inside or outside of the pedal). I put it in FRONT of my Keeley TS9DX and my Tele sings in ways tele's aren't supposed to.

[gitold]

I've retired my late seventies Dyna Comp for a Super comp.Just don't turn the attack past 10 oclock and its a very nice sounding compressor.I also use a Line 6 constrictor after my od pedals for a smooth creamy kind of sound.So I have 2 comps on my pedal board.Sometimes I use them together.Talk about squash.

[richoz]

I use EHX Soul Preacher. Two knobs (volume & sustain), 1 switch (attack: slow, mid, fast) and hidden internal trim pot. A bit tricky for setup. But after experimenting with the hidden trim pot, I really love this pedal. It does the compression very good without noises.

I put this after EHX Doctor Q and Marshall Bluesbreaker II, and before any other modulation pedals.

http://www.ehx.com/products/soul-preacher

[bonedaddy]

Janglebox. Best compressor I've heard. I love mine and it works great with my Ric, my Gretsches and my Tele.

[CLAZ]

the CS-2 MIJ Boss is perferct to me

[sjtele]

+ 1 for the Janglebox. Sounds amazing with my Tele, Strat, Gretsch and especially Ric 12.

[mojoming]

Just about any Orange Squeezer clone. My main "squeeze" is a baja tech custom da squeezer. Fantastic sustain and not too compressed sounding, very clean.

[Del Pickup]

I've always found these discussions about compressors to be greatly confusing.

I was never a fan of compressors as I tended to dislike the squashed tone that I heard other players ending up with when they used them.

But I got a Marshall 'Ed The Compressor' a couple of years ago and found that it was quite good and I could dial in a tone that suited me. But then I heard the Barber and it just blew me away as it really was so transparent and 'uncompressor-like' in its tone.

At the end of the day, there are no rights or wrong answers to any of this. Everybody's ears are different and what works for one won't work for another.

Thank goodness there's such a wide choice of pedals on the market!

[guit30]

I got my first compressor about 3 years ago, it is the only effect that does something I wildly like. Yikes, so many choices though. I'm pretty happy with my wampler and Hartman, one is an orange squeezer and one is a Ross.
seymour duncan just put out a doubleback comp (another way of blending) I like 2 knob comps best, I want to get a Pedalworx Mcsqueeze after I decide how I'm going to pay for my car accident, it is relatively inexpensive 135 shipped. Will be made by Bob Mcbroom, who made the original, that pedal and 1 Keeley are the 2 best compressors that I have ever used. I can't find a Keeley that I like anymore, they changed somehing , I don'yt know what, Sometime, I'll have to get an old one off of ebay
J

[Al Watsky]

Used a Script logo MXR in the 70's, bought a Boss in the 80's , retired the boss in the 90's went back to my script logo, bought a 2 knob Keeley in very late 07' , sold the Boss, use the Keeley, hangin' on the the MXR because of the "charming" coloration , ya know it has a "sound". The Keeley is clearly the better unit.
Lately bought a Guyatone, and with single coils it rocks ,but it breaks up with humbuckers if I run them flat out. So ??
The bottom line for me is, I'm a guy that uses compression. I'll stick with the Keeley and Guyatone cause' they do the job and have a small footprint. My compressor is almost always on.
Level up, compression down, same way I ran the MXR , more as a line driver/boost.
Sometimes as an effect I raise the compression, to squash a rhythm track.
YMMV

[Joseph Hanna]

Interesting topic here. There are SOO many ways to use a compressor and soo many expectations and understandings of what a comp does it's not surprising there are varied likes and dislikes. The whole idea is not single ended.

Some expect compressors to provide some transparent leveling and there is a bunch of comps that excel at that task. Some want "not so transparent" leveling. I've seen a couple post here that use them as "sort of a boost". And finally there's those that want comps for a recognizable effect. Some great country players come to mind here as Steve Wariner, Vince and a host of 80's and 90's country pickers that clearly used the Dyna Comp as a sound.

For me I use a comp to obtain a feel as much as a sound. I love the touch and sensitivity of high gain amps especially at volume but not an appropriate sound for most of my country gigs. Cleaner sounds (even GREAT cleaner sounds) don't have the touch and sustain as high gain amps. That and often we're fighting to stay dynamic so I gotta watch volume levels to a degree. I haven't tried em all but for me nothing replicates the feel of a loud amp better than a Dyna Comp.

Just my 2 cents and YMMV

[cooktimj]

Boss CS-3. Not Noisy, out of the way when switched off. (mine is anyway) And fairly versatile. You can pick one up for cheap on eBay and you can always get rid of one if you decide you don't like it.

Boss and MXR comps are probably the easiest to resale as everyone has heard of them.