Boss C3 - Any love For it? Mods?

[soundchaser59]

I have a Boss C3 (compressor) which I have not spent a lot of time with, mainly because I enjoy the EHX Black Finger so much.

But when I was reading reviews I came across a ton of reviews that really talk trash about the C3. How come? What's wrong/right with it? Why are some folks telling me to call the garbage man for an emergency pickup?

Are there any great worth-every-penny mods for the C3? Or can it be utilized just fine the way it is? Are the people trashing it just "compressor challenged"? Or is the C3 "tone challenged"? :shock: :?

 

[Anonymous]

Because it basically does nothing but achieve being a suck-tone box. :lol:

Check out the Monte Allums Opto mod. It turns a practically useless compressor into my favorite.

http://www.monteallums.com/pedal_mods.html

 

[secretsoundz]

Because it basically does nothing but achieve being a suck-tone box. :lol:

Isn't that what most Boss pedals do? :wink:

 

[Blackface tweed]

Because it basically does nothing but achieve being a suck-tone box. :lol:

Isn't that what most Boss pedals do? :wink:

Oh come on! :lol: Boss stock pedals are really decent soundin' things. :roll:
But changing some parts inside really makes a difference in sound

If you know how to solder, try some of the Monte mods, He's got new offer: you can get Chip adapter from him and replace stock crappy chips with really good ones like OPA 2134PA. And that makes the most audible differnce for me

 

[jab]

I agree to an extent that the cs3 is a tone suck. On clean, I always had to push the volume/tone knobs up to compensate, and my tone lost its cut in the mix. Was a bit high on the "popping" sound too. It wasn't quite so bad however with distortion on a tube amp. What the cs3 is though is like an effect. If you want your U2 to sound like U2, set the delays all you like but it won't come together without a compressor effect like a cs3 or mxr comp. It takes your delays and turns it into something rather out of the normal world of sound (a great thing).

I went Barber Tone Press because there is no tone suck, you get the sustain, and a it holds the integrity of your amp. I do miss the cs3 though for those special applications where you need a big landscape of sound. My U2 covers suffer, but the rest of my night sounds better for it. I could always keep the cs3 on my board but I really am trying to keep the pedal count down.

 

[Blackface tweed]

What the cs3 is though is like an effect. If you want your U2 to sound like U2, set the delays all you like but it won't come together without a compressor effect like a cs3 or mxr comp. It takes your delays and turns it into something rather out of the normal world of sound (a great thing).

Wow! never thought about using Cs-3 that way! :idea:

 

[secretsoundz]

Because it basically does nothing but achieve being a suck-tone box. :lol:

Isn't that what most Boss pedals do? :wink:

Oh come on! :lol: Boss stock pedals are really decent soundin' things. :roll:
But changing some parts inside really makes a difference in sound

If you know how to solder, try some of the Monte mods, He's got new offer: you can get Chip adapter from him and replace stock crappy chips with really good ones like OPA 2134PA. And that makes the most audible differnce for me

I agree with you, the mods do make them sound better but I don't wanna buy a pedal and then mod it. I want it to sound great without tweaking it. Pedal companies like Homebrew Electronics and Fulltone do it right to begin with, no mods needed.

 

[Blackface tweed]

Isn't that what most Boss pedals do? :wink:

Oh come on! :lol: Boss stock pedals are really decent soundin' things. :roll:
But changing some parts inside really makes a difference in sound

If you know how to solder, try some of the Monte mods, He's got new offer: you can get Chip adapter from him and replace stock crappy chips with really good ones like OPA 2134PA. And that makes the most audible differnce for me

I agree with you, the mods do make them sound better but I don't wanna buy a pedal and then mod it. I want it to sound great without tweaking it. Pedal companies like Homebrew Electronics and Fulltone do it right to begin with, no mods needed.

Yeah! see your point! and I think I would agree with you, if someone wants to mess with electronics, he would build his own thing, I would rather spend my time on guitar than on soldering skills

 

[MusicManJP6]

I bought a CS-3 w/ the Monte Allums Opto Plus Mod already installed on eBay. Great pedal. The Keeley compressor is a bit better but it costs more than twice as much! I tried the stock CS-3 and it was utter crap. Monte really makes the pedal one of the better ones available IMO. You can crank the input signal in your distortion channel and add tighter gain to the channel. The same settings will make your clean channel sound great too, but extremely loud! Anyway, get the Opto Plus mod kit or buy one already modded. You will flip out at the difference over the stock pedal...

 

[kmanick]

I have a humphreys mooded CS-3 and it's great.
night and day from the stock pedal.

 

[soundchaser59]

That Monte Allum mod looks tempting. He offers the CS3 Opto Plus Mod now, with the chip adapter already included. Not many parts there, looks like something I could do in an evening. For $26 bucks that is really tempting. You people really think that mod lives up to the script on his web page? :shock: :?: 8)

 

[MusicManJP6]

You people really think that mod lives up to the script on his web page? :shock: :?: 8)

Yes.

 

[Anonymous]

That Monte Allum mod looks tempting. He offers the CS3 Opto Plus Mod now, with the chip adapter already included. Not many parts there, looks like something I could do in an evening. For $26 bucks that is really tempting. You people really think that mod lives up to the script on his web page? :shock: :?: 8)

It took me about 2 hours to finish it. And I HATE soldering.

Look up the reviews, I bet you won't find a single bad one. It's THE single best compressor for the money. Actually, I even prefer it to a Ross. :shock:

 

[MusicManJP6]

(shameless plug)......... I'm selling my modded CS-3 for anyone interested. After much time and messing around with the pedal i just don't seem to have a use for it that warrants keeping it in my chain. I still think it is a phenomenal compressor but I guess i'm really not a compressor kind of guy in the end... PM me if interested!

 

[creekhed]

I too use a HUMPHREY modded CS-3...its AWESOME

 

[RoadKinger483]

id go for the Monte Allums mod also. The Opto Plus mod. You could also consider the Indyguitarist mod as well. The indyguitarist mod for the CS-3 retains the bass frequincies so well, its a beautiful thing. I have one of each and love them both for there own reasons.

 

[nosajwp]

Never tried a CS3, but the CS2 is really nice. My comp of choice though is the Barber Tone Press. I'd like to try the BYOC Ross clone and the new opto-comp too.

 

[soundchaser59]

It took me about 2 hours to finish it. And I HATE soldering.

Look up the reviews, I bet you won't find a single bad one. It's THE single best compressor for the money.

SOLD! I ordered the mod plus kit today. I tested the CS3 again and it really does need the noise removed from the sustain control. I'm ok with the tone control and the level/gain control, but the attack knob was a bit disappointing. However, I did achieve a tone/sound/feel that is much closer to what I've been chasing after.

I like the tone of the stock EHX Black Finger better for rhythm tracks, but the Boss (other than the noise level) has the EHX beat for sustain power.

The kit will be interesting. Fast response from Allum after I ordered. Seems it's already been shipped. A week from now I'll have the kit and my new alnico Weber Michigan. 8)

 

[estring]

FWIW, I sent my CS-3 to www.cmatmods.com for the monte mod. I hate soldering and this is who Monte recommends for his mods

 

[Newysurfer]

Because it basically does nothing but achieve being a suck-tone box. :lol:

Isn't that what most Boss pedals do? :wink:

+1 -
most of em are pretty bad. Plus they're noisy and have ordinary tone compared to their competitors.
They do make a few good pedals though like the DD-5, DD-6, DD-7 & the CE-2, CE-3.