Compression pedal placement

Sparkle isn't generally what a compressor brings imo, the cs3 included.

First in chain generally. You get the boss buffer too, so first is good. You can move it to after dirt, some like that, but you'll get noise.

If you must have a compressor and want sparkle, try the Keeley 4 knob. It's around the same price. Has a tone knob even! I like the cs3, but the Keeley is more open and can have that sparkle, IME.

 

Standard advice is first, or - play around and see what you like. Mine is first but I rarely use two effects at once, and I only use it for a particular kind of clean tone with lots of reverb.
It looks like you use a lot of dirt, those might already be doing some of the compression for you.
Edit: Oh yeah, what do you mean by sparkle? That's almost the last word I would use to describe what compression does.

 

Try it after the fuzz and before the drive pedals, and chorus usually goes before delay and reverb, with reverb last before the amp. You could also try it after the drive pedals, but before the chorus, delay, and reverb

 

After trying a few different places in the effects chain, I settled on the perfect place for mine.

Reverb.com!

Seriously, though, when I used a comp, I had it after my wah, and before everything else.

 

This is an issue of personal taste. Couple of questions to answer...

Is your compressor an 'always on' or are you using it as an effect?

If 'always on' find a place in the chain where it doesn't F-with your drive pedals much. I would consider behind the Fuzz, perhaps the Rat also, (which is a fuzzy box imo) but before your overdrives.

Remember the Boss has a buffer in it, and even bypassed, it can add a lil somethin. Some cats run em real light at the end of the chain for 'always on'.

If you're using it as an effect.... I'd think running it like you are may be the best bet.

Also, single coils guitars are where compressors really shine in many's opinion.

Again, personal taste.

 

Some fuzz pedals HATE having a buffered pedal in front of it.

 

And further to that, you lose that sweet volume knob interaction that requires pick up load down.

 

It’s your board. Experiment. I’d say first or after all your dirt but before reverb or delay. So on your chain above try after the Rat. Some like it last. I don’t like to touch the atmospherics like reverb.

 

Currently loving my new tube compressor, Effectrode clone. I have this first after my pedal tuner.

 

Stealing from JHS: Should be first, possibly after your WAH as long as your WAH is quiet.

If you put it later and there's noise in the chain, the compressor will level things out... including making the lower level noise higher. The result is "my compressor is noisy".

 

+1 First after wah. Tradition that worked for me too.

 

Compression will often dull the top end a bit, a blend knob can help. Later in the chain will amplify any noise from the dirt pedals and diminish any volume boost you may have wanted from those dirt pedals. The goal of the compressor is to help your guitar sit more firmly in the mix without significantly altering your tone OR to use it as a spongy kind of effect with more extreme settings.

 

I have man last, right before the looper. I use it to smooth things out on the drives and get that nice Gilmour compressed-drive sound.
As others have said, wherever it suits ya. You'll need to play around with it to find what works for you.

 

I played around and settled on first in line. I have no engineering or scientific basis for saying so, but I feel like it makes the distortion pedals sound better.

 

Mine is first after the tuner. I don't usually have a fuzz, but if I do it's either a Muff clone or something weird that I redo everything else to accommodate it. Other pedals are typically a Peavey Hotfoot Distortion (Rat clone) and a MXR Sugar Drive (Klone).

 

CS-3 isn't the quietest comp out there, so I don't think I'd put if after dirt. It'll work fine up front if you learn how to set it right.

 

I have been experimenting, with a
Boss CP-1X compressor into Barbershop V2, boost, into a Diamond Counterpoint delay, Extra Faux Tape setting, before overdrives.

I am getting a nice enhanced, 3D echo delay tone which is fantastic for going into overdrives, EQD Hoof fuzz and especially good for slide.

After overdrives, Diamond compressor and occasionally, a Boss CS-2 at the end of chain.

 

Nowadays got compressor after dirt and before mod/delay/reverb, to tame the signal. Pretty mild settings though (blend/sustain).

Currently I'm using pedalboard without real amp, so idea to keep the most touch responsive pedals in front. And stack some dirt too to create enough roar and mayhem.

After that it's good to make signal little more civilized / avoid undesirable clipping later in the chain.

I've had it on front too when acquired it, but also laying in the treasure chest for awhile.