Compressor advice

[The Mexican Pornstar]

Howday everyone.

Im considering purchasing a compressor next for my board.  Just looking for some general advice / recommendations about them in general.
I imagine ill be using it more with my strats rather than my esprit so anyone got any general blurb about compressor goodness?

[Plexi Ken]

Hi, I have a 'Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer' on my board (mainly because I've had it for donkeys years) it doesn't have the best of reputations but it does offer a subtle and transparent sound.

The 'MXR Dyna Comp' is hugely popular with Country session players and since Country guitarists use a lot of compression, they should know a good one where they here it. The pedal does have a reputation for colouring the sound.

If money was no object, I'd get a 'Keeley Compressor' because it's generally regarded as 'the best' compressor pedal.

[ailean]

The Barber Tone Press gets a lot of love. Got one, but not used it much so I'm not going to comment :)

[hamfist]

If money was no object, I'd get a 'Keeley Compressor' because it's generally regarded as 'the best' compressor pedal.

I have to disagree. For those who have tried most of the top end compressors, for me it seems the Barber Tone Press is more unanimously considered the best.  Although there are of course many fans of the Keeley too.

 My advice MP is to make ailean an offer for his Tone Press !   The great thing about the tone press is that you can have it subtle or squishy, or anywhere in between. It's the "Blend" knob, which allows you to mix your dry and processed signal to taste, which really makes all the difference.

[The Mexican Pornstar]

Well the thing is it will be a hand built pedal but im just looking for a decent place to start from for comparison.

[ailean]

My advice MP is to make ailean an offer for his Tone Press !

It's actually Sue's, and I think she likes it :)

[dheim]

i have a ehx black finger, dual tube compressor, and use it extensively... even too much!
it's not an overdrive, of course, but it gives my cleans a dirtier tone that i love (i set it on quite obtrusive compression levels)... dynamics are of course sacrificed, even if on high gain levels it becomes unapparent. if you use often cleans/slight overdrive for soloing you should better switch it off, but i find it essential for rhythm.
it's the first thing in the pre-chain, just after the guitar.

[hamfist]

My advice MP is to make ailean an offer for his Tone Press !

It's actually Sue's, and I think she likes it :)

Everything has a price Rich !!

[Johnny Mac]

I've got a Telenordia Kompressor. A boutique German made pedal. It's gives a great sound and really helps clean tones ring out more. Also has a wet/dry mix control.

http://www.telenordia.de/en/products_tk_23.php

The Home Brew model is supposed to be good too.

Don't get one of those Boss ones unless its been modded as it sounds like cr@p.