top five compressors

bluesfloyd

bluesfloyd

New member
hi guys,
i play blues and classic rock using a strat with three single coils pickups, what compressors would you guys recommend me buy? price for me no problem,
thanks for your time,
bluesfloyd.
 
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Re: top five compressors

I use compression lightly and as a set-and-forget effect, usually after drive pedals to catch spikes, but also to bring my single coil guitars to consistent levels.

For my purposes, I really like the Xotic SP - and have one on both my full and mini boards. I also use a TRex Comp-nova fairly regularly (particularly for recording), though it has quite a large footprint for my gig boards.

Both of these compressors maintain original signal tone (SP even has a dip switch to control the treble boost that happens with compression).


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Re: top five compressors

Depends what you want out of it. But if you are unfamiliar with compression (it's one that takes a bit to wrap your head around) I would start with some of the classics: dynacomp (or super comp for the added attack control), Boss etc. Of course the keeley is considered one of the best, but twice the price.
 
Re: top five compressors

I root for the home team, but hey, the Vise Grip Compressor is one of the best I've ever tried. It can be as squishy or transparent as you want, and I love the blend control.

 
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I run a Keeley 4-knob on my main board and have for years. And I've got a Boss CS-3 at home, but hey, I'd love to try out a Vise Grip!
 
Re: top five compressors

Depends on how you want to use it on what may work for you. I keep coming back to the Boss CS3 myself. I Use a Compressor as an effect for 2 things clean sustain and infinite sustain/ebow type effects running high gain. For this the CS3 has worked better than any I have tried as I love the way it colors the sound and gives me that infinite sustain. That for many is exactly what they DON"T want though as many want a transparent compression that will smooth the sound and soften it.
Example of how I will use a compressor live with crunch for infinite sustain from an old mid 1990's recording. Here I was running an old 1/2 space Rockman into my JCM 900 Dual Reverb.
https://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=5539540
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Now that I am used to a compressor with a blend knob, it is hard to go back. Besides the Vise Grip, I use a BYOC compressor I built.
 
Re: top five compressors

I agree on the Blend function. I used a Keeley 4-Knob for a decade. I got a Wampler Ego and it’s even better. I’d love to try the new Keeley with Blend.

For the naysayers, I don’t care. It gets sounds I like easily.
 
Re: top five compressors

My first recommendation is None.

Tell me why you want a compressor for Blues and Classic Rock? As asked, what are you trying to get out of it. I'm going to be so bold as to ask if you really know how one works. I'd ask for a lot of reasons, but a style of music isn't one of them. Kind of like asking what tires you want for a sedan. What tires for off-road, or what tires for snow/Ice...sure.

I'm gonna say go with a tried and true Boss CS-3It does everything you might want or need to start, and they can be found used easily. Get a good feel for it. Then, if you decide you need more, come on back and let's talk.

I'm guessing that you want more sustain. To that end, there are fans of the blend knob school and those who are not. My personal belief is that they are people who want a SUSTAINOR, not a Compressor. Sustainor raises the volume of the quiet notes. You know, those really long bent notes that crap out on those single coils? The guys who played those back in the day made those notes happen because of excessive volume, not the use of compressors.
 
Re: top five compressors

I sometimes use a compressor to help compensate for sloppy dynamics when I’m playing clean. I currently have a Seymour Duncan Double Back, which I like a lot better than the Boss CS-3 I used to have.

View attachment 89186
 
Re: top five compressors

I always use a compressor for my Acoustic. Blues/Classic I'd never think of using one. Unless I needed some epic Pink Floyd sustain or something...
 
Re: top five compressors

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My favorite! Great with cleans and even better as a boost into any dirt pedal!
 
Re: top five compressors

I like the philosopher's tone that the other guitar player in my band uses.
 
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Re: top five compressors

Aceman said:
My first recommendation is None.

Tell me why you want a compressor for Blues and Classic Rock? As asked, what are you trying to get out of it. I'm going to be so bold as to ask if you really know how one works. I'd ask for a lot of reasons, but a style of music isn't one of them. Kind of like asking what tires you want for a sedan. What tires for off-road, or what tires for snow/Ice...sure.

I'm gonna say go with a tried and true Boss CS-3It does everything you might want or need to start, and they can be found used easily. Get a good feel for it. Then, if you decide you need more, come on back and let's talk.

I'm guessing that you want more sustain. To that end, there are fans of the blend knob school and those who are not. My personal belief is that they are people who want a SUSTAINOR, not a Compressor. Sustainor raises the volume of the quiet notes. You know, those really long bent notes that crap out on those single coils? The guys who played those back in the day made those notes happen because of excessive volume, not the use of compressors.
Click to expand...

hi Aceman,
i follow a guy called bjorn riis, he run a site about all things about pink floyd ( http://www.gilmourish.com ) his own site show/talks about his pedal board,amps, guitars etc,
(http://www.bjornriis.com/my-gear/pedalboard )

his new december 2017 pedal board below is now using a Effectrode PC-2A tube compressor in the chain,

CotaLab Buffer, Dunlop Rotovibe, Dunlop Cry Baby, Effectrode PC-2A tube compressor, Xotic Effects EP Booster, Buffalo TD-X, JHS Charlie Brown, Fulltone OCD, Strymon Deco, Mooer ElecLady, Ernie Ball Jr volume pedal, FX Amplification Heartbeat delay,TC Electronic Flashback, Hall of Fame.

he using a strat with three single coils into a custom built (70's hiwatt DR504 AMP ) he said he leaves the Effectrode PC-2A tube compressor on all the time, when using single coils, my guitar and amp are the same as bjorn, but my board is a scale down version of bjorn board,

all i need to know is if i was going to use a compressor pedal like bjorn is , would you guys use the Effectrode PC-2A tube compressor yes/no? are there better pedal on the the market to do this job? again price no problem,
from bjorn i am only getting is view, from you guys on this and other forum sites, i get lots of views, just trying to learn with help from you guys,

thank again for your time guys,
bluesfloyd.
 
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