Comp/Boost vs OD

[GraspnAtStrings]

I had a chance to listen to someone playing through a compressor and a clean boost and I really liked it. Very punchy and dynamic. Anyone use this combination in lieu of an overdrive pedal?

[bayside]

Yes . . I learned this trick from the manual that came with a Keely compressor. By putting a clean boost in front of the comp. it really thickens up a single coil pu and gives you that pro sound. So I put a seymour duncan clean boost before the comp and sure as **** the tone was way beefier. These are the first pedals in my chain.

[schenkadere]

Interesting concept...pushing a compressor...hmmm...I don't really get it. A compressor is a limiter. I use high out put pick ups so I can't see what this would do...maybe with single coils as mentioned. Dunno.

[Donnie55]

I use that setup with my boss blues driver works great. Artec comp-Duncan clean boost-Boss blues driver. Makes my little Princeton speak up.

[stevesz]

Originally Posted by schenkadere

Interesting concept...pushing a compressor...hmmm...I don't really get it. A compressor is a limiter. I use high out put pick ups so I can't see what this would do...maybe with single coils as mentioned. Dunno.

A similar thing is done in studio mixing frequently. A musical signal is composed of its fundamental frequency and its multiples, or harmonics. Usually the fundamental is considerably louder than the harmonics. When you push the signal through a compressor the loudest thing, the fundamental, is gain-reduced so the harmonic overtones become "apparently louder." Of course you compensate for the overall gain reduction with the output of the compressor and voila! it sounds brighter and louder. I've used this approach many times when an EQ adjustment wouldn't get what the client wanted. It's also why brick wall limiting sounds good in mastering. (when it's not overdone that is)