guitarplayer100
New member
Hi I'm looking for a new compression pedal which works fine and it's cheap. I've found there is T-Rex Tonebug Sustainer 60% off in my guitar shop so its only like 40$ now. Is it worth?
Compression pedal < 50$
- Thread starter guitarplayer100
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Hecubus
New member
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
For around $50 you can do better. The tonebug is really subtle to the point that it is almost undetectable. There are lots of choices and it really depends on what you want to use it for. If you want to squish your sound, I suggest a used Dynacomp or used Chicago Stompworks Squeezy or build your own orange squeezer clone (very easy first build). If you are looking to increase clean sustain or make chords more chimey, I suggest looking into something with a blend knob which will increase your price to about $80. If you are looking for the latter, I suggest a used Xotic SP or Pigtronix philosopher's tone.
For around $50 you can do better. The tonebug is really subtle to the point that it is almost undetectable. There are lots of choices and it really depends on what you want to use it for. If you want to squish your sound, I suggest a used Dynacomp or used Chicago Stompworks Squeezy or build your own orange squeezer clone (very easy first build). If you are looking to increase clean sustain or make chords more chimey, I suggest looking into something with a blend knob which will increase your price to about $80. If you are looking for the latter, I suggest a used Xotic SP or Pigtronix philosopher's tone.
guitarplayer100
New member
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
All these pedals are a bit pricey, MXR coasts more than 2x as much as T-Rex, the same with Boss so I'm looking for a bit cheaper stuff.
All these pedals are a bit pricey, MXR coasts more than 2x as much as T-Rex, the same with Boss so I'm looking for a bit cheaper stuff.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
You can definitely find a used Boss CS-3. It's a good comp, I love mine. Sure, it's not a rackmount, studio quality comp but for $50 or under the Boss CS-3 has never failed me for either guitar or bass.
On a side-note: I like my comp to be my one non-true bypass in my chain. It can be beneficial to have one buffer in your chain if you are using low output pickups like I do: http://www.gilmourish.com/?p=1611
You can definitely find a used Boss CS-3. It's a good comp, I love mine. Sure, it's not a rackmount, studio quality comp but for $50 or under the Boss CS-3 has never failed me for either guitar or bass.
On a side-note: I like my comp to be my one non-true bypass in my chain. It can be beneficial to have one buffer in your chain if you are using low output pickups like I do: http://www.gilmourish.com/?p=1611
guitarplayer100
New member
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
So, I'm buying comp pedal "again" and I think I'll go with Dyna Comp. When I was in local store trying out compressors I was suprised how ****ty T-Rex Sustainer really was so I tryed Boss CS-3, didn't like it, I tried T-Rex Comp Nova which was too expensive and I got Boss BD-2 at the end. The only problem is that Dyna Comp isn't in stock in my local store so I can't try it out. I'm looking for more like The Police sounds (with flanger of course when needed).
So, I'm buying comp pedal "again" and I think I'll go with Dyna Comp. When I was in local store trying out compressors I was suprised how ****ty T-Rex Sustainer really was so I tryed Boss CS-3, didn't like it, I tried T-Rex Comp Nova which was too expensive and I got Boss BD-2 at the end. The only problem is that Dyna Comp isn't in stock in my local store so I can't try it out. I'm looking for more like The Police sounds (with flanger of course when needed).
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marcboomer
Bass Player @ Seymour Duncan
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
I always regret using "going for cheaper" as my priority when buying anything for my rig. It's worth waiting and saving a bit longer so not to forever be thinking "I shoulda"....
I always regret using "going for cheaper" as my priority when buying anything for my rig. It's worth waiting and saving a bit longer so not to forever be thinking "I shoulda"....
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
joyo, danelectro, second hand boss, biyang, moen, second hand mxr
there are heaps.
Go to ebay and type in compressor pedal, then sort it so its listed with price and postage as lowest first and take your pick.
joyo, danelectro, second hand boss, biyang, moen, second hand mxr
there are heaps.
Go to ebay and type in compressor pedal, then sort it so its listed with price and postage as lowest first and take your pick.
St_Genesius
New member
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
Grab any ten compressors at random and like eight of them will be variations on the Ross circuit. It's probably the sound most guitarists think of when they think of comps, so it's a pretty decent place to start for your first one. $50 isn't going to go an especially long way, but there are some options: Ibanez CP5 being perhaps the cheapest I know of. You can get those all day for about $30 shipped.
But, as others have mentioned, shopping by price first isn't the best way to go about this. Even within the Ross-derived pedals, there's a very wide range of features, and only you can know which ones are important to you.
Looking at this list: https://reverb.com/marketplace/effects-pedals?condition=used&query=compressor&sort=price|asc the cheapest one that I have personal experience with is the Boss CS3 at $65. Boss isn't a brand with a lot of internet forum cache, but that's a fine pedal. I notice that the SD Double Back is available for $85 shipped there too. That's a TON of pedal for the money. Second best pedal Duncan has ever made, imo.
Grab any ten compressors at random and like eight of them will be variations on the Ross circuit. It's probably the sound most guitarists think of when they think of comps, so it's a pretty decent place to start for your first one. $50 isn't going to go an especially long way, but there are some options: Ibanez CP5 being perhaps the cheapest I know of. You can get those all day for about $30 shipped.
But, as others have mentioned, shopping by price first isn't the best way to go about this. Even within the Ross-derived pedals, there's a very wide range of features, and only you can know which ones are important to you.
Looking at this list: https://reverb.com/marketplace/effects-pedals?condition=used&query=compressor&sort=price|asc the cheapest one that I have personal experience with is the Boss CS3 at $65. Boss isn't a brand with a lot of internet forum cache, but that's a fine pedal. I notice that the SD Double Back is available for $85 shipped there too. That's a TON of pedal for the money. Second best pedal Duncan has ever made, imo.
St_Genesius
New member
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
Oh, uhhh, woops. I *may* have tossed a lowball offer on that Double Back...and it *may* have just been accepted. So...huh. Sorry about that. It was still more than $50, if that helps.
Oh, uhhh, woops. I *may* have tossed a lowball offer on that Double Back...and it *may* have just been accepted. So...huh. Sorry about that. It was still more than $50, if that helps.
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St_Genesius
New member
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
Well, not EXACTLY: it was over his budget and not something he'd expressed interest in. But...a little, yeah. I feel a little dickish.
Well, not EXACTLY: it was over his budget and not something he'd expressed interest in. But...a little, yeah. I feel a little dickish.
ehdwuld
A Ficus
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
I have the Joyo Compressor
I like it
it adds some sustain
its a mild effect unless you are listening for it
at about $30 from Amazon
its in the range
I think it falls closer to the CS3 than the Dynacomp
my buddy has a DynaComp and he doesn't think its as good
I have the Joyo Compressor
I like it
it adds some sustain
its a mild effect unless you are listening for it
at about $30 from Amazon
its in the range
I think it falls closer to the CS3 than the Dynacomp
my buddy has a DynaComp and he doesn't think its as good
Matt42
New member
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
I've owned three Dyna Comps over the years. I had a new about 10-12 years ago. I sold it when I bought an older one with no LED. I sold that one a few years later in a fit of madness when I sold all my pedals. I now own another new one. I'm not crazy about the new ones, but I loved the no LED one. I sold a few other things while I was in that mode that I regret.
I can't wait to ditch the one I'm using now for an Ego or SP Comp.
I've owned three Dyna Comps over the years. I had a new about 10-12 years ago. I sold it when I bought an older one with no LED. I sold that one a few years later in a fit of madness when I sold all my pedals. I now own another new one. I'm not crazy about the new ones, but I loved the no LED one. I sold a few other things while I was in that mode that I regret.
I can't wait to ditch the one I'm using now for an Ego or SP Comp.
Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: Compression pedal < 50$
There are many mod kits available or places you can mail your pedal to that will mod it for you. The price range of mod kits vary but even the places you can send the pedal to get the mods only charge around $60 to $80 plus return shipping. I ordered a mod kit recently that was put together by a forum bro here and I can't wait for it to arrive!
In the end you can get a very usable CS-3 used for under $50 usually and when you save up a bit more $ you can mod it or get it modded for under $100 to end up with a pedal that is awesome!
There are many mod kits available or places you can mail your pedal to that will mod it for you. The price range of mod kits vary but even the places you can send the pedal to get the mods only charge around $60 to $80 plus return shipping. I ordered a mod kit recently that was put together by a forum bro here and I can't wait for it to arrive!
In the end you can get a very usable CS-3 used for under $50 usually and when you save up a bit more $ you can mod it or get it modded for under $100 to end up with a pedal that is awesome!
