Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

[kjrocks]

Lately I have been finding myself using less and less gain and really liking the full strong tones you can get at a nice voulme. I do find that many notes seem to come across very loud and sharp sometimes. I realize that good hand and picking control will have a big impact on this, but isnt that what a comp is for? To help squash some of the sharper ,stronger notes or shave off some of the high peaks? I find that as I'm just strumming some rythms that if I get a little loose it gets a little wild sounding.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

Yes. Don't fear the compressor. If overused it's terrible. But imagine what's happening if you're playing through a loud, clean tube amp. Even though there's no overdrive to compress the signal, loud tubes are still acting as a compressor. The power section is compressing, and even guitar 12" speakers are compressing. There's natural compression all over the place. The human ear is a compressor when it comes to perception. Generally when the human thinks something is "twice as loud" as the original tone, it's actually around 9x as loud. So as volume goes up, the ear compensates. All of this means that if you're playing at normal volumes a little compression can act more like a "crankin' it up" simulator than a compressor.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

One of my favorite tones is my Strat into an old Boss CS-2, then into a Super Reverb. I put the amp's volume on 6 or 7, and set the guitar's volume to 5 or 6. That CS-2 makes all the difference in the world. I own an Analog Man Bi-CompROSSor, but I find myself using that old Boss pedal way more often.

- Keith

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

I really like the dynamics of a lound puchy clean channel, Mesa amps tend to compress a bit more naturally in the power section than, say a Fender. It comes out really nice, but some mild compression can have a really nice effect on tone by filling it out a bit for a fatter feel.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

I likes me some compression. Clean and dirty. Great for sustain and for screaming harmonics.

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

I had a CS3 for a short while and didnt give it an honest chance. I just plugged and turned it on and didnt think it did much. That was with distortion and didnt even consider trying it on cleaner stuff. I really should have kept it around and played with it a little more.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

My understanding is that the CS-2 is very different from the CS-3. As for application, I use compression for clean playing almost exclusively. It's a totally different experience.

- Keith

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

And probably different in a bad way for the cs-3 Dang , why didnt I even give it a thought to try taming the cleans?

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

I've been trying to make peace with a CS-3 for several weeks now. A few of the players I really dig (James Honeyman-Scott, Andy Summers, Johnny Marr) use compressors for their clean sound, and I've always wanted a sound like that. But it's an effect, not my only clean sound - I also like the clean I get just by rolling the guitar volume down.

I've found however, that in practice the compressor is tough to manage, at least live. I lose the ability to move in and out of the mix just by playing harder or softer, or by adjusting my guitar volume. With the compressor, it has a set output level and it better be right when you step on the box.

So, I'm having a hard time warming up to the CS-3, no matter what Mssrs. Scott, Summers, and Marr say. I bought a Monte Allums Opto Mod kit to try - if that doesn't get me what I want, the compressor's going in the closet.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

the only time i really use a compressor is for hybrid picked chicken pickin type stuff

 

[kjrocks]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

Rich , rolling off the vol is the way I've always done it too and its always worked ok for me. I guess I'm just wondering if I'm missing much or not

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

Rolling off the volume works for me as well, provided I'm playing clean, not overdriven.

- Keith

 

[J Moose]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

It's funny...

In the audio production world I use LOTS of compression all over the place for dynamic control, tone & effect...

In my guitar rig, not so much. I just don't think the "invisable" stompbox compressor exists and I've tried a bunch. They all leave a pretty big mark on the tone and seem to add a whole lotta noise...

On the flip side, clean country-ish tones & travis picking just don't sound "right" without a Dynacomp...about the only use I've found for a stomp compressor.

 

[lex666]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

I use my CS3 with a lot of gain. I don't use the cleans that much. The CS3 is on almost all the time. I like the way it tightens up my rhythm playing along with solos.

 

[bungalowbill]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

Lately I have been finding myself using less and less gain and really liking the full strong tones you can get at a nice voulme.

I sense a disturbance in the force......A young padawan is becoming a Jedi.

Garrett, I'm glad you are turning down the gain, you will get a much better sound with a lot more dynamics. As far as a compressor, I don't use one, but my little Blues Jr already compresses some on its own...with that big Super a little bit of compression would sound good.

You might also want to try the clean boost on that plexitone, it really opens up the cleans when it is used.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

i hate my Boss and MXR Comps..... never could really figure them out.. mostly i hate what they do to the low notes... But i should experiment a bit more with them...

I did try a Diamond Compressor and man was it a trip!!! it offers some usable comp and low noise!

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

I really dislike compressors designed for guitars. Studio compressors are a totally different story, though.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

I've heard some reaaaally good things about the Keeley 4-knob compressor that make me want to pick one up, just for the hell of it.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

I leave mine on all the time!!!
Love it....and it is a compressor....not an effect!

 

[baritone]

Re: Do you use compression the cleaner you play?

I have a DigiTech compressor, which I think works really well. I just make sure to set it as subtle as possible. Sometimes I use my compressor as a clean boost with added dynamics control, which is really cool. I feel that as soon as you can hear a compressor at work, it sounds terrible. But sometimes I also set it for exaggerated sustain and run it into my Metal Zone. This makes every note fade into static; it's a cool industrial effect.