Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Twinfan on November 28, 2007, 01:12:02 AM
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Right, I need a compressor. I know nothing about them.
Recommendations, features, etc. Educate me please!
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I just bought at Boss CS3, and a Monte Allums CS3 Opto mod kit.
The CS3 on it's own is great, although quite noisy with gain, and sort of dots your notes alot.
The Monte pack should be here this week, I'll solder it up and let you know - I've heard superb things about this modkit...
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i use mine primarily for cleans-my high gain is compressed enough as it is,but you can get a focused lead tone using one
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i heard the MXR one is good, and a decent price. Good because it doesnt colour your tone :)
other than that, my friend is obsessed with the octo-compulator which is an optical based compressor i think? All i know is it has a little light in there... its supposed to be amazing
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i heard the MXR one is good, and a decent price. Good because it doesnt colour your tone :)
other than that, my friend is obsessed with the octo-compulator which is an optical based compressor i think? All i know is it has a little light in there... its supposed to be amazing
The MXR colours your tone alot.
It's not a bad pedal, and sounds quite good - But it's not at all clear - I wouldn't get it personally.
The idea is, that a good compressor, should compress well, while not at all changing your tone.
The CS-2 is meant to be the very best, however, I think Boss stopped making them in the mid-eighties - Don't quote me on that, and it's now one of those pedals that sell on Ebay for over £100...
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The best, and only compressor you will ever need, is a Barber Tone Press.
It has a function none of the others have - in that you have a "blend" control which governs the blend of the wet (compressed) signal with the dry signal.
Therefore, you can still get the traditional compressed, squashed sound if you want (blend knob on full - 100% compressed signal - like every other compressor). Or you can have a much more subtle mixture of wet and dry signal, to retain your natural attack, but also get more sustain from notes.
They are expensive but well worth it. IMHO, YMMV of course !!
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His name, Robert Keeley.
His occupation, pedal god.
The Keeley Compressor = rated as one of the best you can buy.
http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=8
http://www.robertkeeley.co.uk/compress.htm
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i heard the MXR one is good, and a decent price. Good because it doesnt colour your tone :)
other than that, my friend is obsessed with the octo-compulator which is an optical based compressor i think? All i know is it has a little light in there... its supposed to be amazing
The MXR colours your tone alot.
It's not a bad pedal, and sounds quite good - But it's not at all clear - I wouldn't get it personally.
The idea is, that a good compressor, should compress well, while not at all changing your tone.
The CS-2 is meant to be the very best, however, I think Boss stopped making them in the mid-eighties - Don't quote me on that, and it's now one of those pedals that sell on Ebay for over £100...
I like my CS-2. It's very warm sounding and feels very natural to play. It's quite noisy under high gain though so I wouldn't use it to boost leads. Got the "battered shitety" pedal for £25 :D
Edit: where do you place a compressor in the chain btw? I just use mine on it's own when I felt like playing blues.
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I've got a keeley compressor.
I honestly can't say a bad thing about it, I love the fact it's only got 2 knobs, both of which stay at the 12 o'clock position. It doesn't colour your tone when it's off.
I mainly use it for my high gain sounds, I have found I can back off the gain and still get loads of sustain, it just seems to add that extra sparkle.
It's subtle, sometimes I wonder if it's on but I can really tell the difference if I switch it off.
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I have a CS-2, but i dont really use it for adding sustain but more to warm up a too sterile sound on for instance a Telecaster. Thats the main difference to other CSers, the very tastefull warming effect IMO.
The CS-2 has level, sustain and attack control. Level for boosting, sustain for sustain, but the attack controll lets you clear out any harshness in the sound. You can add sutain in the mix but the attack you cant smooth out that well afterwards.
This is probably what to focus on, a smoother attack on your solos presumambly. Im guessing here, but i think if you take your Matamp and a guitar with less attack on the highs youll probably have solved most on this issue, lay back a little on the mids if they sound harsh also.
The CS-2 does pop up at times for a decent price, they are MIJ so they would cost a bit more then the CS-3 used. The CS-3 has an added tone control which IMO only makes it noisier(allthough still really quiet for a CS IMO), its also more contemporary sounding so it doesnt warm up/smoothen out like the CS-2, still they seemed fairly comparable to me.
Then for the CS, i would say ask your local shop if you could borrow one for the night. Usually they wont mind especially when they have one used anyway, most are players themselves and understand your situation.
Another option would be to ask around, if you can get your hands on any noise free CS it would be fine, just in case your 'solo' selection for amp and guitar wont match the expectations.
Rereading i hope i dont come across too blunt again, it seems so hard to put things into the proper words, but i often just get frustrated and write everything down like it comes to my mind the easiest hoping people dont take offence too much.
Greetings, and im sure youll kick it tonight.....
Henk
EDIT: PS. It often happened to me that band members start messing with my tone, this seems especially appealing when recording, JUST DONT LET THEM! :wink:
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Thanks guys - it's for a country-style tune we do. I recorded it last night with a Boss Multi Effects unit that had a compressor but I'll need aone for my pedal board for live use. It's for a Tele lead so I need that warmth and a volume boost.
By the way I hate Boss pedals so the CS is out. I'll check out the Barber Tone Press and see what Electro-Harmonix do.....
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And if you get a chance check out the HBE CPR - unlike many others its a totally transparent compressor - but it does the country squishy thing very well.
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I have only used the compressor on my Zoon G2.1u, but I have to say it really helps with the tone. People are always bashing multi-effects units, but I'm of the opinion that, with careful and moderate settings, they can be a really good asset! Those clips I put up in the speaker thread didn't have any effects on. With the clean effects I use (slight compression, slight EQ adjustment), the sound is really nice. Glassy, but still a bit thick and rich. Coloured glass, if you will :)
Roo
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And if you get a chance check out the HBE CPR - unlike many others its a totally transparent compressor - but it does the country squishy thing very well.
I have 1 of these too and really like it with single coil pickups :)
I use it with volume a little above unity (to slightly boost SC pickups to same level as HB pickups) with 'Sustain' at about 9/10 o' clock.
I don't like it with humbuckers, but I don't think that's what it's made for imo.
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The best, and only compressor you will ever need, is a Barber Tone Press.
It has a function none of the others have - in that you have a "blend" control which governs the blend of the wet (compressed) signal with the dry signal.
Therefore, you can still get the traditional compressed, squashed sound if you want (blend knob on full - 100% compressed signal - like every other compressor). Or you can have a much more subtle mixture of wet and dry signal, to retain your natural attack, but also get more sustain from notes.
They are expensive but well worth it. IMHO, YMMV of course !!
I heartily agree !
As you probably know, the basic idea is to squash any extra loud notes and stop quieter notes from fading away as fast. The end result is a longer smoother note without any harshness. Because of this basic concept, they are not only good on their own, but excellent at working alongside a traditional overdrive or distortion pedal. In this situation they add focus and 'staying power'. I put mine before the distortion, but experimentation is advised as different pairs may benefit from altered positioning.
I have not only a Barber T.P. - but also a Indyguitarist modded Boss CS3 pedal - which does the squishy job on single coil guitars in a very 'country' style, but the flexibility of the ' Tone Press' takes you wherever you want to be, from clean boost to a more 'elegant' squish. Think Dave Gilmour playing the into to 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond -part I' .
If you are using a single coil P/U, there is a setting given on the instruction sheet called " magic dust for single coils" . It really is ! The setting is a splash of boost added to where the compression just begins to kick in, giving a clean but full and sustaining quality. An Internal trim pot helps you voice it overall towards a modern ' working but transparent' setting, or the darker, more traditional MXR / Boss pedal sounds.
I like compressors, for me they fill that large sweet tonal gap between raw signal input and overdrive pedals. When buying, much research and caution is advised, for like any other seemingly 'simple' pedal, the character of each brand does vary. As an owner of both 'fixed' and 'blendable + re-voicable' types, I recomend the later, so if you find you're not a full on compressor fan, you still have lots of scope / uses to get out of it.
Regards,
F.F.
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Superb reply as always Derek - many thanks!
So I'm looking at the Barber Tone Press as the "top spec" job. What about the Electro-Harmonix Nano Soul Preacher? Has anyone used one? Looks OK for £59.......
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HBE CPR is the best pedal-based compressor you can get for guitar.
Most rackmount compressors are made for their transparency and are not guitar-specific, so I've yet to come across one that I think works well for guitar.
A vintage EQ will also add a fair amount of compression to the signal, but I don't know if you want to shell out that kinda scratch for a Pultec for one song.
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I would also suggest having a look at the analogue man compressors.
I always liked what the Dan Armstrong "Orange Squeezer" and Analogue Mike does a nice version.
Other people prefer the Ross (the MXR Dynacomp is basically the same thing). Happily Analogue Mike does a 2 in 1 pedal. Give it a check here http://www.analogman.com/rossmod.htm
Personally I don't like the Boss Compressors at all
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oo now i fancy a bit of that barber tone press
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His name, Robert Keeley.
His occupation, pedal god.
The Keeley Compressor = rated as one of the best you can buy.
http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=8
http://www.robertkeeley.co.uk/compress.htm
+1
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Would a compressor like the Tone Press or CPR help to beef up a strats bridge pickup at all? I have a Trilogy but its just too twangy and not, well, compressed or smooth enough when compared to a humbucker.
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Would a compressor like the Tone Press or CPR help to beef up a strats bridge pickup at all? I have a Trilogy but its just too twangy and not, well, compressed or smooth enough when compared to a humbucker.
Strictly speaking, yes.
The compressor, especially if it is of the 'vintage' style, will do just what it says on the tin -- take those high-energy treble frequencies and smoosh em so that they are the same amplitude as those low-energy, lazy ass bass frequencies. :) That's why there's a tone control on a compressor pedal, so you can re-adjust that balance if it sounds too muddy for your liking once you've compressed the living bejeezus out of it.
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By the way I hate Boss pedals so the CS is out. I'll check out the Barber Tone Press and see what Electro-Harmonix do.....
If you hate boss pedals - You haven't tried enough of them.
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T.C. electronics.....nice
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E.H do one that plugs in to the mains which uses valves called a Black Finger. It sounds good from their description but I've not actually tried one.
For the money though the HBE CPR is a bargain from a quality manufacturer and is really good.
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By the way I hate Boss pedals so the CS is out. I'll check out the Barber Tone Press and see what Electro-Harmonix do.....
If you hate boss pedals - You haven't tried enough of them.
I heard someone demoing a boss compressor in Electro Hill a while back and it was just disgusting!
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I'm not trying to defend any particular boss pedal - But you cannot deny there are some BRILLIANT boss pedals.
THe current Compressor being made is the CS-3, which on it's own, isn't amazing - Prolly what you heard being demo'd.
But once it's modded it's meant to be great - I'll get back to you once my kit's arrived.
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It's for a Tele lead so I need that warmth and a volume boost.
That's what the MXR Dynacomp does perfect - smooths out the top end slightly and gives you a volume boost. I used one for years, great pedal.
:twisted:
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I'm not trying to defend any particular boss pedal - But you cannot deny there are some BRILLIANT boss pedals.
THe current Compressor being made is the CS-3, which on it's own, isn't amazing - Prolly what you heard being demo'd.
But once it's modded it's meant to be great - I'll get back to you once my kit's arrived.
Yes there are some great Boss pedals I agree. The thing I heard was noisy and just made the guitar sound like cr@p! Yes keep us posted on the modded version!
I love the funky cleans you can get with compressors, players like Curtis Mayfield or Nile Rogers and who ever it was who played on the theme from shaft (some dude from NYC, Ben??)
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The HBE is a great choice- a very "musical" piece of equipment. I also like a visual sound compressor too but they are the only types I can comment upon from my own experience.
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By the way I hate Boss pedals so the CS is out. I'll check out the Barber Tone Press and see what Electro-Harmonix do.....
If you hate boss pedals - You haven't tried enough of them.
Nope fraid not
I have heard more than enough Boss pedals and have to say that I like very few of them (even then theyre early ones 90% of the time)
Thats why I build my own
Their multi FX are OK though
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So I have a Cs-3, had it for yoinks, but never really used it. So can someone explain, in simple language (maybe with a diagram) what the attack knob does? Seems to make no difference where it is set.
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The attack varies the time it takes for the compression effect to kick in.
Fast attack times will squash the signal straight away. Longer attack times will allow the initial sound of the pick hitting the note to sound before the compression kicks in.
Set the compression on full, the release around halfway and then vary the attack - sure as shite you will hear a difference.
:twisted:
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The attack on mine makes a huge difference.
On low it's a jazzy sort of dotted notes, very compressed, and on high it's a more plucky chicken plucking sound.
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If you hate boss pedals - You haven't tried enough of them.
I've played quite a few. They all seem to have that digital, overly treble-y, processed sound going on. There's just something about them I can't gel with. I'll stick to the many other pedal brands thanks.
Tone Press is sounding like the winner at the moment then, as it's now two songs I need it for so I'd better get a good 'un ;)
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lots of people saying pedal 'x' is the right one to go for... so i won't go there.
but the monte allums cs-3 mod kit makes such a big difference you could be playing a different pedal.
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Just finished modding my CS-3
Sounds superb.
When tone's at 12 it doesn't seem to colour at all, and the sustain effect is perfect.
The mod has quietened it down alot, and overall, there's very little hum.
I say to all those out there with CS3s, buy this mod - it's improved the pedal in every way.
I'd say this easily competes with the best compressors I've played and it's significantly cheaper than some - Paid £30 for the pedal 2 weeks ago, and paid about £20 for the kit with international express delivey, and spent a couple of hours doing the mod itself - Much better than spending double to get a Keeley imo.
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Not to threadjack or anything, but I have a digitech main squeeze: its serves me fairly well, but I have no point of comparison, its the only conpressor I've used: is there much better I could do?
I'm a total pedal ignoramus, btw. I use an EQ, said comp, and a Decimator. I may get a delay pedal at some point, but other than those types (yes, the ISP is a 'type#! its hte only noise gate out there as far as I'm concerned!) I have no interest.