Limiter or Compressor? Too 'Dynamic'...

[Mr Kite]

Hey...

I've recently been using a Fulltone Fat Boost 3 with my PRRI to allow me to get a slightly cranked tone at lower volumes (the fat boost has gain as well as boost) and it's been working really well, apart from it's a little bit too dynamic.

I tend to use picking attack and pickup selection to go from clean to overdriven but the difference in loudness between the two is just too much. We're fronted by an acoustic player so we try to keep volume down to a minimum, but 4 is really the quietest my PRRI will go without starting to sound 'choked' and tinny, so I was wondering if running a compressor or a limiter AFTER my Fat Boost would help.

If I were to set it up in such a way that it was only affecting the higher levels, and therefore not clamping down on the whole signal, and it was set to unity gain rather than as a boost I think I'd be okay with quieter passages not coming up in volume, and the louder parts being more controlled...

Does anyone agree or disagree? Any recommendations as to a pedal to do this? I'm guessing probably not a Dyna-Comp style compressor, but something more akin to a studio style one, ideally for around the £100 mark...

[greggorypeccary]

A compressor may help you - you'd want to put it after your boost for what you want.

But if you need a tone that's overdriven but not loud you may want to try a mild OD pedal like a Barber LTD, then use the boost to get louder for solos if you need.

Though from the description you wrote, it sounds like you play at a pretty low volume already so even small changes in volume can sound pretty drastic.