Jack Clayton
Tele-Holic
I recently started a thread asking for advice finding a new compressor. I already had a JHS Pulp n Peel V4, a Keeley 4 knob, and a BBE Opto Stomp. All perform well at their respective jobs, but I wanted something less subtle. More of an "effect" compressor.
I wasn't a hundred percent sure what I wanted or expected, but one track that's been in my head is House of Cards by Radiohead.
Thom Yorke is well known for using a Boss CS-3 on stage. He often uses higher end studio compressors when the band records, but this compression is so intense, so lacking in subtlety, I could imagine it just being a CS-3. Regardless, it's not a sound my other compressors can really get, and I wanted to try with it a bit. Along came an MXR Dyna Comp for $40 on CL, so I gave it a shot.
I immediately get why it's not for everyone. The noise levels alone would keep me from using it as an "always on" sort of effect. But, like a lot of pedals of the same era, it seems like the added transients are inseparable from the magic. The harmonic bleed this compressor invites into my tone is really something special.
Using it to push my Princeton to just short of overdrive creates something very similar to the guitar tone on HOC. Just a giant squish with someone of an edge to it. I'd call it less "edge of breakup" and more 'threat of breakup' if you will.
Next I tried pairing it with my Thorpy Chamoflange, into my Memory Man XO, and the result was instant Andy Summers. Hard to imagine how three pedals this famous for high end noise could somehow work together, but all that retained top end harmonic content is worth whatever flaws come with it.
I think I get the Keeley in a new way now. It strikes a nice balance between retaining much of the treble content and significantly lowering the noise floor. For many I imagine that makes it the perfect alternative. For me, I think this dyna comp is gonna live on my board forever. It does a thing nothing else can.
Thanks to all who've ever recommended I try one. Wish I'd taken your advice sooner.
I wasn't a hundred percent sure what I wanted or expected, but one track that's been in my head is House of Cards by Radiohead.
Thom Yorke is well known for using a Boss CS-3 on stage. He often uses higher end studio compressors when the band records, but this compression is so intense, so lacking in subtlety, I could imagine it just being a CS-3. Regardless, it's not a sound my other compressors can really get, and I wanted to try with it a bit. Along came an MXR Dyna Comp for $40 on CL, so I gave it a shot.
I immediately get why it's not for everyone. The noise levels alone would keep me from using it as an "always on" sort of effect. But, like a lot of pedals of the same era, it seems like the added transients are inseparable from the magic. The harmonic bleed this compressor invites into my tone is really something special.
Using it to push my Princeton to just short of overdrive creates something very similar to the guitar tone on HOC. Just a giant squish with someone of an edge to it. I'd call it less "edge of breakup" and more 'threat of breakup' if you will.
Next I tried pairing it with my Thorpy Chamoflange, into my Memory Man XO, and the result was instant Andy Summers. Hard to imagine how three pedals this famous for high end noise could somehow work together, but all that retained top end harmonic content is worth whatever flaws come with it.
I think I get the Keeley in a new way now. It strikes a nice balance between retaining much of the treble content and significantly lowering the noise floor. For many I imagine that makes it the perfect alternative. For me, I think this dyna comp is gonna live on my board forever. It does a thing nothing else can.
Thanks to all who've ever recommended I try one. Wish I'd taken your advice sooner.
