Compressor Pedals.

[MatchBookNotes]

I've come to the realization that for the sounds i want to experiment with I need a compressor, I don't so much need the sustainer types. What compressors are worth checking out from your personal experience?

 

[Gear_Junky]

i thought "sustainer" is a descriptor used by marketing to help people understand how a compressor would sound, because the term "compressor" is not neccessarily intuitive.

i used to have the boss stompbox (cs-3 compression sustainer?) - it had pretty good controls, but like with every effect there's cheap and simple market segment and then there's cork-sniffer's champagne'n'truffles versions made by various labels.

i'm gonna guess that the ability to control every parameter of compression will be desireable for your experiments.

 

[MatchBookNotes]

So for the best results i'm going to have to dishout for a boutique?

 

[TelePaul]

I think that with compressors you must understand that you'll love to use them for certain sounds while they wont contribute anything positive to others. You say you want to experiment a bit - can you elaborate on this?

I have the boss CS3 (used in the past by Mark Knopfler, Stone Gossard and Dan Vickrey) and a rack-mount too. For cleans, I would consider a compressor essential.

 

[MatchBookNotes]

well I play through a solid state so I'm unsatisfied with the clarity of the clean, and the punchiness of lighter overdrive/distortion through it. If it helps in these departments then I'll fiddle till i find interesting sounds that work. I generally play folk/rock-rock-blues-alt-rock etc. I'm also getting a double muff and possibly a crybaby if i can talk long and mcquade down to a reasonable price... and if i still don't like the sounds, i'm buying a new amp!

 

[TelePaul]

well I play through a solid state so I'm unsatisfied with the clarity of the clean, and the punchiness of lighter overdrive/distortion through it. If it helps in these departments then I'll fiddle till i find interesting sounds that work. I generally play folk/rock-rock-blues-alt-rock etc. I'm also getting a double muff and possibly a crybaby if i can talk long and mcquade down to a reasonable price... and if i still don't like the sounds, i'm buying a new amp!

Cool cool. Well for folk rock and bluesy stuff, I think you'll get alot of mileage out of a compressor. In reality you'd probably get a more radical change in sound with a new amp but they're cool to have.

 

[MatchBookNotes]

sweet, that's what i wanted to hear, but do you have a compressor to suggest?
And i look at keeping this amp for awhile because if i can't make it sound good through this, well then I shouldn't be playing.

 

[Creamyapples1]

I use the Milkbox Comp, mostly out of preference for the sound that i want. I plan on trying out a Keeley comp soon as I've got a few pieces of his work on my board already but the milkbox does me good. I was surprised.

The biggest thing I use it for is for faster strumming type stuff it kinda tames the build so you can actually hear each strum rather than a cluster f**k after a few strums in. Decent sustain when in unison with the Keeley Mod AD-9 and some spring reverb. Mmmmmmmm

 

[DrewPeterson7]

sweet, that's what i wanted to hear, but do you have a compressor to suggest?
And i look at keeping this amp for awhile because if i can't make it sound good through this, well then I shouldn't be playing.

What IS the amp you're playing through? Honestly, solid state amps slay for a number of applications, but gritty low gain slightly broken up cleans and bluesy leads isn't really their forte, and buying a compressor is sort of akin to slapping a band-aid on top of an amputated leg, so to speak, if the fundamental tone isn't there...

 

[pohaku]

I have the Keeley three knob comp, a Maxon CP-101 comp, and an old Boss CS-2. The Keeley and the Maxon are excellent boxes - very quiet. The Boss is a bit noisier in comparison, but still very usable - not as smooth as the Keeley or the Maxon. The Keeley and the Maxon are pretty transparent for the most part. I'd probably go with the Keeley if I had to pick just one, but the Maxon is pretty close. YMMV.

 

[mikemorgan]

As a true corksniffer, I have used the MXR Dynacomp, a Ross clone, Keeley 4-knob and the Barber TonePress. The Barber unit has a blend knob which acts as a wet/dry type of effect, very nice. I've heard some great pickers using the Liquid Route 66 (I think it's called), but have yet to hook into one of those.

 

[MatchBookNotes]

What IS the amp you're playing through? Honestly, solid state amps slay for a number of applications, but gritty low gain slightly broken up cleans and bluesy leads isn't really their forte, and buying a compressor is sort of akin to slapping a band-aid on top of an amputated leg, so to speak, if the fundamental tone isn't there...

its a traynor DG30D i chose it over the FM65R.
I don't really want to afford over 399 for a new amp as I am not a gigging musician as of yet.

 

[MatchBookNotes]

I'll keep an eye for those pedals when i go later today.

 

[Gear_Junky]

+1 for getting a tube amp. all that investment into fancy pedals, overdrive boxes and you'll still be "searching". the amp is part of the instrument (tube amp, that is). find your instrument first, then use effects for effects, not for improving an instrument's tone.

btw, i am not a tube purist - i actually come from the same "camp" - i've messed around with effects and solid-state amps and sims for too long. you'll thank us later.

 

[jfrog]

I would recommend the MXR super comp, (it's what I have) which is basically a Dyna Comp (also highly rated) with an extra knob. I think a lot of pros use the Dyna Comp and the Boss C3.

 

[MatchBookNotes]

+1 for getting a tube amp. all that investment into fancy pedals, overdrive boxes and you'll still be "searching". the amp is part of the instrument (tube amp, that is). find your instrument first, then use effects for effects, not for improving an instrument's tone.

btw, i am not a tube purist - i actually come from the same "camp" - i've messed around with effects and solid-state amps and sims for too long. you'll thank us later.

There's so many tube amps to choose from. The Traynor YCS50 made me cream myself, and i was looking at the carvin site, they have what looks to be some killer tube amps. 5 tubes in most of those things! the peavy windsor is a nice little amp too.

I'll give the mxr super comp a try anyways, they have my amp @ long and mcquade so i can test it out through my set up with my guitar even.

 

[Riffmaster]

One of my all time favorite "live" setups was a Fender solid state amp and a Yamaha DG stomp pedal, man I could dial in any tone with that. Unfortunately I think Yamaha discontinued those. Back on topic, I like the Dyna-Comp.

 

[Gear_Junky]

Yes! These days there's actually decent tube amps out there for the buck-savvy and budget conscious (especially once you realize you don't need most of your pedals).

There's so many tube amps to choose from. The Traynor YCS50 made me cream myself, and i was looking at the carvin site, they have what looks to be some killer tube amps. 5 tubes in most of those things! the peavy windsor is a nice little amp too.

I'll give the mxr super comp a try anyways, they have my amp @ long and mcquade so i can test it out through my set up with my guitar even.

 

[DrewPeterson7]

What Gear_Junky said. Once you get an amp you really dig, you probably won't need the pedal you just spent $100 on.

 

[acidrock]

I use a tube amp AND a compressor.I love compressors but I think they are there to give you that last little bit,not to drastically alter your tone.

A compressor pedal can be used to add a little sustain,a little overdrive or a little of both.They also give you a little "cluck" for country style chicken picken'.



I have a super Dynacomp,Danelectro Surf and Turf and a Milkbox.

For the price the Surf and Turf aint bad,but it won't hold up to heavy duty use.