Which CS-3 mods?

[Rich_S]

I got a CS-3 recently, still not sure if I can ever get along with a compressor, but I'm determined to try. Every time I tried one ove rthe last 20 years it was for five minutes, then, "Nope.. not for me". But... some of my biggest influences were guys who used compressors. Think Andy Summers (Message..., Driven to TEars, Walking on Moon, Regatta de Blanc), James Honeyman-Scott (first two Prenteders albums) and Robbie McIntosh ("Time the Avenger" off the Pretenders 3rd album, Learning to Crawl is perhaps my fav compressor sound of all time.)

So, the CS-3 is "OK"... but not great. As many have said, it lacks low end oomph. On full chords, the lows make it overcompress and bury the highs. It seems to work pretty well on jangly high-strings-only stuff.

I want to mod it, hopefully with a kit, but I'm not sure which one. The Monte Allums and INdyGuitarist site have a few click, but its mostly overdriven, smooth sustain lead type stuff, rather than the Summers/Scott/Marr type jangle I'm looking for. So who's played around with various modded CS-3's? Suggestions?

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Which CS-3 mods?

Heres two:

http://www.monteallums.com/Product_links.html#CS3

http://www.monteallums.com/Product_links.html#CS3Opto

Don't know if they are any good though.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Which CS-3 mods?

I did the Indy Guitarist 'Ross mod' to my CS-3. There are some mods to increase bass, But I use mine for clean solo boost only. So I really can't comment on these mods usefulness in chording.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Which CS-3 mods?

Yeah, those Monte mods are two that I already knew about - I'm just wondering if anybody's tried them.

FWIW, Monte Allums himself says the Opto Mod is the way to go for my needs. I'd just like to hear it from an independent party.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Which CS-3 mods?

I was listening to those Monte Mod sound clips. They sound good,BUT! He's got some delay and other processing going on? It's tough for me to distinguish
when the comp. is on, And what it doing? Same with the Acoustic clip. If you go to Indy guitarist.com The clips don't sound as polished. But Brian tells you in the clip what he is playing though, And you hear him click the effect on so you get a A/B idea of whats going on. For me the jury is still out on the Monte mods. And whats he want you to do with all them tantrum caps.?

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Which CS-3 mods?

Yeah, on the Monte site, the only sound sample that was useful to me was the first 3 seconds of the Opto clip, before he turned on the overdrive and the MagicStomp Uni-vibe patch.

I lost track of which compressor Brian was using - he switched back and forth between his CS-3 and the Ross clone a lot I believe.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Which CS-3 mods?

Buddy just did the Monte Allums mod to his CS-3...

I think it's basically more... transparent (?) than it was before, doesn't affect tone as much.

It sounds more like "it ought to be that way" and less like a processed signal.

I know it's peculiar to think of making something less noticeable as a mod, but it is quite pleasing now, doesn't sound awkward like some compression I've heard.

.02

-Hunter

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Which CS-3 mods?

Buddy just did the Monte Allums mod to his CS-3...

What kind of rig is he using it with, and how dos he use it, as a gain booster or a gain reducer? I'm looking for comments from somebody who uses it to clean up the rhythm sound (like the guys I mentioned above) rather than as a lead boost/sustain (like Skunk Baxter's Steely Dan solos). Nothing against Skunk - I love his solos.

 

[Ascension]

Re: Which CS-3 mods?

Heres two:

http://www.monteallums.com/Product_links.html#CS3

http://www.monteallums.com/Product_links.html#CS3Opto

Don't know if they are any good though.

I have one with each mod. The standard T-Von Mod is really cool but I absolutely LOVE the Opto mod !! Super transparent smooth and buttery sustain. The Boss CS-3 is just a KILLER compressor with the Opto mod installed!!!!