Which compressor would you use?

[jkingma]

I've got a $25 ebay special comp that doesn't sound to bad for the price I paid. I've also got a BYOC Ross Comp that I have yet to put together. I've read great reviews about them.

[guit30]

Got the Fish Press in the mail today, will probably be a couple of days before I get the chance to play it!!!
Jim

[multivir]

Guys,

To save some money I first ordered a Monte Allums Mod Kit for my CS-3 (that I'm still waiting for...)
Then I thought "Why should I just mod my pedal & not build one myself?".
So I checked www.diystompboxes.com and spent an unreasonable amount of money on parts to learn how to build a stompbox. I read a bunch of internet articles and bought Wampler's (the guy that builds the Ego Compressor & Brent Mason's Hot Wire pedal) intro to DIY pedal building.

Now to all the pedal fetish guys out there, I just found two interesting videos about true bypass and Op-Amps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOBn75-WN30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpTv2jAree8

So my current status on the point where I started this thread:
- I spent tons of money on parts (more than a Keeley would cost...)
- I bought an Allums kit that I'm still waiting for
- I learned a little about building stompbox effects
- I know of many different compressors now whose (brand) names I've never heard before
- I have not decided on which compressor to buy or stick with, since the only one I know is my stock Boss CS-3 ;-)

I guess I should focus on playing the guitar and stop messing with my gear.

[guit30]

There are differences in op amps, no 2 are the same, you have watched 2 very well orchestrated commercials, Do a blind study between his buffered compressor and a Keeley Compressor, see which one sounds better.
Jim

[Dave Hopping]

I had a DynaComp,got a CS3,thought it sounded too overdriven,gave it to my nephew,went back to the DynaComp.Still use it,although less than before-it seems to me that all the nice gain-y sustain comes at the expense of a certain kind of punch in rhythmic parts.

[multivir]

I guess the easiest would just be having the spare $ to get all the different pedals and try them at home. As you said, Jim - this might be a commercial - I can't tell cause I haven't tried.

Unfortunately, there's no decent store in Zurich, Switzerland that cares for pedal geeks. To try a Keeley I'd either have to buy one or drive 8 hours.
We do have good selection of chocolate though ;-)

The other pedals that I use have accumulated over the years. Some of them were bought just by recommendation of the brand name (Fulltone Clyde & FullDrive) which I'm very happy with, others were traded (like my good ol' purple Boss analog delay) or bought as the only option for the lack of a decent choice (like my CS-3...)

[schenkadere]

Originally Posted by drjordan

+1

I have a friend's MXR at my house now. He bought it and let me borrow it so I could A/B it with my Marshall. The Marshall was far superior to my ears.

I use the stock Dyna Comp...it's my favorite. I've had many including the ED-1 which I found unusable with humbuckers.

[nic'o'caster]

Hey I live in Switzerland and own 3 compressors among the best out there : the Analogman bi-comp, the Diamond and the Okko Coca comp. I'll keep the Analogman because it's so versatile but the 2 others are basically the same flavour, subtle compression but great smooth tone enhancers. So I'll certainly sell one of the two. Email me for further informations.

[multivir]

Just went to one of the larger music stores in my area today & tried the MXR script reissue and the T-Rex compressors. I didn't like the T-Rex. The MXR reissue sounds fine, but since it's a limited custom shop thing they ask 345 CHF for it. They didn't have the standard model to compare.

The custom shop model has no status led and no external dc plug. So all you pedalboard freaks - get your soldering and drilling devices ready.
I wouldn't spend that much on a pedal that I have to abuse before I consider it usable (although it sounds nice....)

[LuvN Guitars]

I've tried a few over the years and was never a big fan of any of them. I picked up an old DOD FX 80B (orange paint job) about a year ago and it works for me better than any other I've tried. With my gear and to my ears it just does what I allways hoped a compressor would do.

[Joel]

1+ for the Barber tone press

[multivir]

Yesterday my Monte Allums mod kit arrived & I installed it right away.
I'm really satisfied with it. I couldn't A/B it with any other pedal, but to my ears & wallet, the Monte Allums mod kit is worth every penny. I just went ahead and ordered Monte's TR-2 tremolo kit...

[ravindave_3600]

A little late, considering your last post, but...

Originally Posted by Roli

Marshall ED-1

+2

It's inexpensive (got mine for $40US shipped) but musical and makes my leads fat, long, and full.

I didn't like the dynacomps I tried (more squish than sustain) or the CS3s either (noisy, not great at anything). Sounds like Monte turns CS3s into what they should be!