Do I need a compression pedal?

[Diego]

I can see myself switching between my guitars live, for certain gigs in the future.

But I'll have an issue with the volume drop-off with clean sounds, when going from humbuckers to single coils.
I could deal that with my GE7, but it would require constant switching if dealing with clean/dirty sound changes and I don't want that.
I'd rather have a more 'intelligent' component for leveling my volume.

Would a compression pedal solve this?
I'd like to keep all the clean sounds at the same volume without squishing my attack.
I don't want to limit the volume output, I just wanna raise the quieter level of single coils, would it do that?

Thanks!

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

By definition a compressor squishes the attack.

If you don't need too much of a change when going between singles and HB's you might not notice the loss of attack much and you could have a good compromise. But if the difference is significant you will notice a difference and might not like it. So it all comes down to how much squish you can live with.

 

[Diego]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

Ahh, I thought they could behave just by picking up the lower volume sounds, leaving the higher volume sounds unaffected, like an active effect instead of just a passive envelope.

That makes sense, narrow everything and then expanding it with gain.
I could live with that, unless it's extremely unnatural.

Thanks man!

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

I think you need an SD pick up booster.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

Nopes a compressor does just that, eradicates the differences between humbuckers and singles....
But then again......I would still save up for a better amp!

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

No, I have a MXR Dyna COmp, didn't like it, actually dropped my volume.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

And all compressors are like that one?

 

[Diego]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

Nopes a compressor does just that, eradicates the differences between humbuckers and singles....
But then again......I would still save up for a better amp!

With a better amp, I'll still need that balance. :naughty:

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

Yeah......but it will sound better!!!

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

Perless Whun on the SD Pickup Booster recommendation.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

Hehe and if you get a comp, I cannot take anymore yap about them being undynamic, they smish splish plish my tååååne, and make noise....maaaaah
Have used that stuff for more than two decades, and never had any troubles....
Get a relativly fast working one, or go optical...the latter are almost always good!

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

I love compression.

I'm not sure it solves his problem, though.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

Oh it will......but guitar players are so friggin' untech'ish and unsavy with such things....they always mannage to turn knobs in stange directions

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

Oh it will......but guitar players are so friggin' untech'ish and unsavy with such things....they always mannage to turn knobs in stange directions

If we could 'like' posts in threads on this user group...I would 'like' this one so hard the forum would bleed.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

Haha I was not trying to insult people....
But man sometimes I just wonder, in this strange line of work you trip over some pretty "going huh? " stories.
Where it is all to clear, that the user is pretty clueless about the specifics on how certain effects works.
Well not that it is ever boring though......

 

[James Rock]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

Ahh, I thought they could behave just by picking up the lower volume sounds, leaving the higher volume sounds unaffected, like an active effect instead of just a passive envelope.

That makes sense, narrow everything and then expanding it with gain.
I could live with that, unless it's extremely unnatural.

You can get a good parallel comp that adds compressed signal to your clean signal bring up the softer stuff but keeps dynamics by not squishing all the signal (mix of squished and clean) but also more comps with a few controls allow you to set the attack time so you can get pick attack before the compressor starts

 

[Aceman]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

You need a good compressor.

A parallel signal will not do that. Un-compressed signal + compressed signal = uncompressed signal! If it's too quiet without it, it won't be heard!!!

 

[Khriss Bliss]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

a compressor i cd see if you three or more levels to bring up ( cuz i used to use five guitars, none w the same pickups : piezo here, acoustic, singlecoil double, etc so i sed a compressor, boss, with alot of functions to get attack and decay i needed)
, but if its only two differnt ones like humbkr to single or clean to dirty, i wd stick to using to ge7 as a boost- ive done this and seen it done often... but of course hotter single coils on par w yr humbkr tone makes lots of sense as well

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

See it did not take long....
Hehe
Ace got it though!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Do I need a compression pedal?

If you want to deal with volume differences between guitars you don't need a compressor. You need two pieces of masking tape.

During sound check, mark your amp at the volume knob position that is loud enough with your HB guitar with one piece of tape. Then mark the amp at the position that is loud enough with your SC guitar. When you switch guitars, change the volume knob position to the marked position. If you're lucky enough to have roadies, make them do it. Volume problem solved.

A compressor will change the way that your guitar sounds and feels. That's OK (can work great for some stuff), but from your posts it doesn't sound like something you want.