Best spot for always on compressor.

S

SJ318

New member
I use a standard board of tuner>overdrive>boost.reverb>delay>amp. I would like to use n always on MXR Compressor but not sure where to put it
so I don't lose any volume or tone suck. My place is too small for a try out (neighbors/condo) so any thoughts?
The compressor's output would be 7/8 and the sensitivity rather low on about 2/3 (scale of 1-10)
Thanks,
Steve
 
Re: Best spot for always on compressor.

SJ318 said:
I use a standard board of tuner>overdrive>boost.reverb>delay>amp. I would like to use n always on MXR Compressor but not sure where to put it
so I don't lose any volume or tone suck. My place is too small for a try out (neighbors/condo) so any thoughts?
The compressor's output would be 7/8 and the sensitivity rather low on about 2/3 (scale of 1-10)
Thanks,
Steve
Click to expand...

If you are using the compressor as a limiter/AGC for your overall gain structure before your preamp circuit, then after all you pedals -except delay and reverb.

If you are using the Compressor for the "sound" of a compressor as an effect - then at the very begining of your chain right after the guitar (except MAYBE tuner)

If you are looking to smooth out your playing with a compressor then at the very begining of your chain


*****One note, there is a lot of merit to putting your stage tuner AFTER the compressor -because compressor (especially cheap ones and using one with very fast attacks) can actually slightly affect pitch -especially in the lowest frequencies -so to ascertain the true pitch that will reach your amp placement post tuner would be necessary -however this masks guitar problems by fixing issues downstream, purest would tell you making the guitar right first is important, but if so you would need to put 2 in line tuners in your chain in order to monitor the compressor -which literally no one does.*****

*****EDIT Addition****
ADDING THIS POINT
One more thing, Some compressors are good with an OD/Boost in front of them... If you have a great sounding boost like an Xotic, Archer etc thats fun to experiment with -OR use the gain compensation on the compressor to push the output above unity (Kick the output volume up on the compressor) thus using the compressor as a boost/OD -but probably only if you have a great compressor -otherwise it will be a noisy mess..

Also -this is what a great F**king great compressor looks like

LAMPLIGHTER.png
 
Last edited:
Re: Best spot for always on compressor.

NegativeEase, thanks for responding.
I want the effect, to a lesser degree, but I also want the volume boost most of all along with that small amount of effect. I am not concerned with the tuning issue, but that is good information I didn't know before. Thanks.
Steve
 
Re: Best spot for always on compressor.

Thanks guys,
I'll try both, at the end before rev/delay, and after the overdrive.
SB
 
Re: Best spot for always on compressor.

OK,
I put it after there the overdrive, before the boost and rev/delay and it really worked well, so thanks to NegativeEase and beaubrummels!!
SB
 
Re: Best spot for always on compressor.

NegativeEase -
Thanks again. I use a new MXR Compressor. To your added point, I am using it between a Zen Drive (MXR ABOVE unity) and my Archer Boost (volume around 4/5, gain low). I have a "Philosopher's Stone" - but I like the simplicity of the MXR. Although I REALLY like the "Release" function (M-F-S) on the Greer Lamplighter. With all systems "go" the noise level seems acceptable, at least as far as I can tell in my condo. Using a Blues Jr. with master on 10 and volume set low (around 2). On Stage I use a Hot Rod Deluxe, master on 10, volume on 5. No dirt channel ever. Extension cab (homemade) with a V-30. Yes, I made the cab, it is very ugly, but it sounds great. Black semi-gloss spray paint covers many sins. Thanks, again!
SB
 
Re: Best spot for always on compressor.

I've been playing around with this a bit lately, and prefer the compressor near the front of my board if it's going to be always on.


Guitar -> Phaser -> Compressor -> Fuzz -> Wah -> OD/Boost -> Preamp


Effects Loop Send -> Chorus -> Delay -> Tremolo -> Effects Loop Return


Compression makes your gain pedals feel a little smoother and more controlled when put before them. Afterwards it's too easy to get a neutered/squashed sound, and if you use gain pedals to boos your signal a bit this obviously won't work with the compressor afterwards.

I like compression after a phaser for clean playing. The phaser naturally boosts/reduces your frequencies as it sweeps, and compressing after helps keep this very even sounding. A wah does something similar, but I find that putting the compressor after the wah fundamentally changes the sound of the effect . . . the volume drop is part of what my ears expect wah to do I guess.

If you set the compressor just right, you can just barely bring up the volume of single note lines and bring down the volume of strummed chords . . . the net effect being that you can hear more of what the guitar is playing. Dick around with the attack/release settings and you should be able to keep a lot of the difference in sound that hitting the strings hard vs soft will do. I like the always on setting for a compressor when using single coils, and with very subtle compression settings.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top