Compressor to use.

[RocketRick]

?Stinkin abt using one before the amp to get cleaner sustain.

Any ideas or recs per a compressor?

RR

 

[paul461]

I use a Keeley 2 Knob Compressor and love it...a Boss CS3 or MXR Dynacomp are good starting places with this effect....the MXR is a great pedal for the money.



quote="RocketRick"]?Stinkin abt using one before the amp to get cleaner sustain.

Any ideas or recs per a compressor?

RR[/quote]

 

[knotts]

Mad Professor Forest Green Compressor. They have 2 versions; Hand wired and Circuit board. I have the circuit board version and it sounds great. I literally don't turn it off. Everything sounds better with it on. It's a great pedal.

http://proguitarshop.com/mad-professor-forest-green-compressor-cb.html

 

[Trey Blue]

I was using the MXR Dyna Comp when I got my MkIII, but soon replaced it with the Keeley Two Knob. The Keeley is much better IMO. I almost never turn it off.

 

[RocketRick]

Thanks for the ideas on the compressor. I'll check 'em out.

I have a "Tube Driver"....wonder if that is a compressor. I used to use it prior to the input to the amp. Maybe try it at the "return"..

I can get sustain just with the amp but more articulate and louder has too much hum.

I'll try the P-90s.

Maybe try active pickups.

RR

 

[sduck]

I used an original MXR Dyna Comp that I bought in 1974 or so for a long long time (30 years or so), until you couldn't read the label on it anymore. For some stupid reason I sold it. Tried a zillion other things, none of them worked for me at all. Now I have a MXR Custom Comp, and it's pretty close. I only use it for clean sounds.

 

[RocketRick]

I tried the Tube Driver thru the return. It seemed to give more crunch then sustain tho. Does good at loud volumes.

I have an old grey thin stop box deal I got way back when. I think it may be a compressor but I cldn't find it last night. I'll keep lookin before I buy something.

RR

 

[gts]

gonzo (a member here on the BB) uses a Barber Tone Press and swears by them (as do a lot of people).

 

[gonzo]

GTS is correct....


here's a demo test i did a while back, cut and paste:

i had a dynacomp for 10 years.

then i tried a barber tone press, and was absolutely sold.

i a/b'd it against a Keeley compressor.

here's my review:



got to a-b a Keeley compressor against a Barber tone press


both of these, are guitar player magazine editor's choice award winners.

my luthier, bought a keeley comp.

i bought a Barber tone press.

we got together last night and a/b'd the two-- same rig, same guitar, same settings, etc.

gotta say, they're both amazingly good sounding compressers.

both are pretty transparent.

both are dirt simple to operate.

both have true bypass. you don't hear them in line at all, when the effect is off.
all other compressors, i've ever tried, sucked tone when off.

both have led's to show when the effect is engaged.

both are made very well.

the barber is bigger, and a bit heftier, than the keeley. i like heavy, myself, but if it was an issue of fitting a smaller pedal on a pedalboard, the keeley has the upper hand.

$219

the keeley, is based somewhat on the mxr dynacomp.
i had a dyncomp, til about a month ago, so i'm well versed in the feel of that classic comp.
the keeley, is more transparent, and not quite as noisy, as the original mxr dynacomp.
the keeley has more aggressive settings on the sensitivity, and gets pretty noisy when dimed (completely understandable with high settings of ANY compressor).

-but the middle settings sounds really nice, and even at really low settings, you can get very transparent compressor settings. Still, you can hear a certain amount of 'pop' at the harder pick attacks, and this is very much in line with the classic dynacomp sound....and it still sounds 'squished' to my ears...... it's more obvious that this effect is on, even on mild settings, than what is achievable with the tone press.

it has an 'attack' control, inside the box, that can be tweaked to a degree, but is somewhat a nuisance to get to and mess with...
we left this set on the factory setting for this test.

the barber Tone Press, can do this same sound, but has a completely other side as well....

it can do "Parallel compression".
and it works.

website defines it best:
Barber developed a one-of-a-kind and quite proprietary continuous “blend control” circuit and combined it with a discrete “Class A” FET mixer circuit to allow you to continuously blend the natural signal of your carefully selected guitar with a “phase-corrected” classic compression circuit.

basically, i can dial in the amount of compression (sustain) i want, then take the blend knob and dial in the straight, dry unaffected guitar signal along with the compressed signal.
this allows me to set the compressor so i get exactly the amount of 'attack' i want, and it comes through without being squished.

when i first plugged it in, it almost seemed like the compressor was not doing anything...
because you hear all of your original attack, and with typical compressors, you hear the compressor working on the signal right away. i had to leave that session, come back later with a different mindset, before i really became aware of how this thing really works.

--with the tone press, it's very subtle how it's working, and doesn't mess with the basic tone and dynamics as much, based on how you set the blend control. but you still get all the compression you want, it's just way more dynamic.

it seems to enhance the tone as well, meaning, it doesn't 'take away' any of the treble or bass response. you can turn the blend all the way to the right, and get the 'dynacomp' sound if you want it.

but i'm finding, the unique sound of this compressor has allowed me to dial in a much more natural sounding effect.

it sounds perfect for strats.

i back it down a bit for humbuckers....... which is as easy as just dialing the 'blend' knob back a notch or two.....

a side benefit of this pedal...
you can use it as a class A 'clean boost'.......... with 8 db of boost, and the blend all the way to the left.

there is a 'color' trim pot inside the box. you can tweak this to give a more round vintage sound. i like it in the factory 'full on' setting.

$139.95

for the price, i think it's a no brainer.

YMMV

 

[gonzo]

and here is a clip, featuring the Barber Tone Press on every guitar track (think there are 4 total)

also used it on the bass guitar track.


https://soundcloud.com/bats-brew/bb01-the-time-is-magic

 

[RocketRick]

and here is a clip, featuring the Barber Tone Press on every guitar track (think there are 4 total)

also used it on the bass guitar track.


https://soundcloud.com/bats-brew/bb01-the-time-is-magic

Hey I liked that Gonzo. Great to wake up with cup of Joe listening it. Ha!. Great licks. I might cop some Ha!.

Thanks for taking the time and sending me the post.

I stink your right..for the price it is a no-brainer.

Take care & I'll listen to some more of your playin' later.

Best,

RR

Oh here's some of the gear I'm workin with if the image works.

 

[pokerrules47]

I use an Xotic SP Comp in a loop of my GCX, before my amp. Makes it sing!