Recommend a guitar compressor pedal

Flamed Diving · 03-04-2009 11:25AM #1

I like the variety of sound a compressor can provide, whether it is fattening up a sound or thinning it out, but I have only ever used one with Reason. I have a Fender Stratocaster and I find the sound can be a bit thin sometimes. Am I correct in thinking that a compressor could fatten this up, when needed?

If so, are there any pedals you would recommend?

Seziertisch · 03-04-2009 01:29PM

Stay clear of the standard Boss ones. The T-Rex Compnova is nice, as is the Keeley (though quite expensive). The Homebrew Electronics is good too, a bit more vibey than the other, and the Janglebox is also nice, though not as quiet as some other it offers some extra features. There are any number of boutique manufacturers out there offering good quailty wares. Go to proguitarshop.com and check out their video demos to get an overview.

That said, a new set of pickups or a new amp or speaker might be a better investment towards fattening your tone. I know for example that Kinman pickups, owing to their design, do not need a compressor pedal to sound nice and full. Depending on what pups you have already I would recommend investing in a set of those as they would probably bring an overall improvement in sound above and beyond what any pedal might be capable of.

PaulBrewer · 03-04-2009 08:36PM

Seziertisch wrote: »

Stay clear of the standard Boss ones. The T-Rex Compnova is nice, as is the Keeley (though quite expensive). The Homebrew Electronics is good too, a bit more vibey than the other, and the Janglebox is also nice, though not as quiet as some other it offers some extra features. There are any number of boutique manufacturers out there offering good quailty wares. Go to proguitarshop.com and check out their video demos to get an overview.

That said, a new set of pickups or a new amp or speaker might be a better investment towards fattening your tone. I know for example that Kinman pickups, owing to their design, do not need a compressor pedal to sound nice and full. Depending on what pups you have already I would recommend investing in a set of those as they would probably bring an overall improvement in sound above and beyond what any pedal might be capable of.

Good points - I was trying a re-issue MXR Dynacomp and whilst it worked fine as a comp, but it raped the tone a bit ...

TelePaul · 04-04-2009 12:58PM

The Boss CS 3 is actually fine if you know how to tweak it. If you had the cash I'd go for the Aphex Punch Factory though. But you should only buy a compressor if you like the sound of compression; not everyone does. If your guitar sounds 'thin' (a subjective term) you might be better off with an OD or booster pedal.

TelePaul · 04-04-2009 01:04PM

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Good points - I was trying a re-issue MXR Dynacomp and whilst it worked fine as a comp, but it raped the tone a bit ...

There was a funny article in Guitar Buyer last month, one of the regular contributors joked that he could make a killing by designing the 'most transparent compressor' by attaching a 1/4" jack to an empty box and taking a line out to an amp - hey presto!

04-04-2009 05:08PM

Yeah, the speaker in any amp acts as a compressor on the way out..

PaulBrewer · 04-04-2009 05:10PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah, the speaker in any amp acts as a compressor on the way out..

That's as maybe, but it's different sound than input compression especially with FX like chorus or echo.

ogy · 04-04-2009 05:26PM

i use the dynacomp but its not an allrounder, its a very particular compression sound. great for motowny funk clean guitar solos, that clicky effect due to the fixed attack is great but its pretty one dimensional, the only controls are ratio and makeup gain

Seziertisch · 04-04-2009 09:10PM

Truth be told the best guitar compression I have experienced is a SSL 9k dynamics module interfaced with a Little Labs Multi Z PIP (to get the impedances sorted). The fanciest pedal comp pales compared to that kind of power.

Any of you studio guys who own a decent outboard comp owe it to yourselves to find some sort of way to interface it with unbalanced signals.

I should be charging you people for lessons in greatness ...

Flamed Diving · 04-04-2009 09:53PM

I have a Vox AC-30, but I still find the Strat on the jangly side. Am I right in thinking a compressor would help me to fatten the sound up?

TelePaul · 05-04-2009 01:23PM

Flamed Diving wrote: »

I have a Vox AC-30, but I still find the Strat on the jangly side. Am I right in thinking a compressor would help me to fatten the sound up?

What do you mean by 'fatten' it up? A compressor will make the bass strings seem quieter and the treble strings seem louder. It'll make your sound more consistent and limits the player's dynamics somewhat.

Here's a clip of how one will sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tytuOtfkmWA&feature=related

It'll probably seem fatter, but 'punchier' is probably a better term.

Recommend a guitar compressor pedal

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