Compression: Before or after OD ???

59paul · Apr 21, 2004

Hey Y'all, for those of you that use a compressor, do you like it before or after your Overdrive???? Just thought some nice info might come from this thread. I use a compressor , I like the way it smooths out and adds a little punch to my Sound. I like it before my overdrive, but I like it after, also. I use it very sparingly, tastefully. I find that by using it in this manner, it doesn't cause as much unwanted noise. ( we all know that a compressor will amplify noise from other sources ). OK, let's hear from Y'all.

Jonny R · Apr 21, 2004

Re: Compression: Before or after OD ???

When I'm playing heavy music I find I need to use it after my distortion, otherwise my guitar doesn't really drive hard enough into the distortion - I don't get the really low-end grunt.

Not so much of an issue otherwise, I just make sure it is before my wah. Doesn't work well after it - takes out a lot of the wah frequency change.

Vasshu the humanoid typhoon · Apr 21, 2004

Re: Compression: Before or after OD ???

I have discovered that I use less and less compression for overdriven sounds, but for rhythmparts I still like it alot.
But I hate most guitarcompressors, all that annoying squishy tone that is going on bugs me, Ilike them as neutral as possible, but then again I know that there are some classic sounds where you just need that damm red MXR thingy

midnite_man · Apr 21, 2004

Re: Compression: Before or after OD ???

I just bought a Guyatone compressor/sustainer and really like the transparency of it. I use it after any OD or dist. pedals, and it works fairly well after the wah.

59paul · Apr 21, 2004

Re: Compression: Before or after OD ???

Hey ya Rid, I hear ya on the " neutral " setting for a compressor. I use mine VERY SPARINGLY. I think most players have a tendency to overcompress when first using a compressor. The trick to it seems to be to use it as sparingly as possible.

Hey Bob.....I'm still waitin for UPS to deliver that Strat LOL

Hawkman · Apr 21, 2004

Re: Compression: Before or after OD ???

I agree with Rid too. I used to have a Barber tone press which was a nice compressor. But, I sold it because I didn't use it much. I placed it after my overdrive pedals. I guess I prefer the dynamics of the uncompressed tone. The compressor was a nice experiment for me, but it's history now.

Kent S. · Apr 21, 2004

Re: Compression: Before or after OD ???

I'm gonna be the odd ball here ... but ....
Generally, unless you are using a rack compressor for smaller amounts of compression then generally you would go before the OD (especially with pedals), however thru and effect loop lower levels of compression or limiting in certain situations can be put to good use ... if you play with say a slighly distorted tone that you can go clean with, and want to be able to ride the volume knob to get different tones,while keeping a pretty consistant level, then that's a case for the compressor aft OD. True a comp can eat up some attack into overdrive, the main thing that shines with a comp before OD is the ability to use it as a type of gain boost. Bear in mind the issues of feedback and noise, but that goes either way depending on your settings, most often I never ran the oD and comp at the same time unless doing that boost thing, in the aft placement, well it was there for dynamic reasons ... and it did it's job without anyone knowing it was there.

brisk · Apr 21, 2004

Re: Compression: Before or after OD ???

When I saw the topic, I thought "Why do you need turn on both compressor and OD?"

For me, compressor and OD are mutually exclusive ...

Mincer · Apr 21, 2004

Re: Compression: Before or after OD ???

Generally it goes before any OD...OD compresses the signal further as well, and your setup may work otherwise, but it is generally before. In rack multieffects, it is usually hardwired as the first thing in the signal chain.

Jonny R · Apr 21, 2004