Compressor Pedals?

[Anthony_J]

I'm building up my pedal board so I can start playing some shows. My style is a mix of garage rock, blues, and blues rock. For an example, listen to anything by the Black Keys' Magic Potion album. Now, to my knowledge, Dan Auerbach doesn 't use a compressor. He uses fuzz, a delay, and a bunch of reverb. Yet, his tone is soooo tight. When I play it seems like the fuzz is just way too gritty and not defined enough.

 

I've got the reverb from my '72 Fender Twin Reverb, a Big Muff Pi, a Digitech Bad Monkey, and a Vox Wah.

 

Would a compressor help tighten up my sound? And which would you recommend? MXR Dyna Comp? Or Boss Compression/Sustainer 3?

[DoubleWide Revival]

This is one of those questions of personal preference I believe. I use a compressor, a T-rex Compnova and keep it on most of the time. When I got back into playing a few years back I used a Boss ME-50 that was really great, but the compression was too much of a limiter for my taste. It seemed like all it did was clip off some of the more dynamic picking and not much else.

 

I am a little inconsistent when I play, and It seems to my ear that the Compnova has a set range and that my playing is filtered through that rang without sounding squashed or clipped.

 

I hope this make sense. To me talking about sound is like discribing the rainbow to someone who can't see.

[tweed2]

I agree. Tone is an illusive thing and we all have a different goal. If I could only have one pedal, it would be a compressor. Because I also play a Ric 12, I've found that a JangleBox works best for me and mine goes on and off when my amp does. But it's also indispensible for the tone I like when I use my Casino and my Strat. I got hooked on compressors when I played bass for a short time. It seems to tighten things up a little. The pedal (or rack mount) that you decide on will depend on what you play, what you want accomplish and what you play with. I've owned close to a dozen compressors. some of them were considered the mutts nuts, but they didn't work for me. The only way you'll know which works for you is to start trying as many as you can. Don't limit yourself to one or two units because of what you've read.

[Anthony_J]

I'm not talking about tone in terms of trying to find a certain sound. I guess what I meant to say was that there seems to be a lot of noise, not buzzing or humming but it seems like the notes ring out at different volumes and it sounds messy. Even when my playing is at it's best. I was wondering if a compressor would help in tightening up my distortion.

[tweed2]

Sorry, bad habit of mine to call efforts to find a sound (or lack of) a quest for tone. The right compressor should tighten things up and level out some of the peaks. Some do a better job than others in sqaushing the signal so that you don't end up with outbursts. I'm not sure about the distortion part of the question. But a compressor before the distortion pedal (the sequence most, but not all players) should accomplish the same thing.

[charlie brown]

At first, I only used the compressor, for my Ric 12-string.

To "Try" and simulate that old (recorded) "Byrds," tone. But,

nowadays, I use one, for other things, as well. For me, it

seems to vary, depending on amp, and/or guitar, used. I've

found, that I don't need it, for some, and it's almost essential,

for other's. So...??? ;>b

 

CB

[AlanH]

I also have a bad monkey overdrive and an EHX disortion pedal (the metal muff nano). Do you use both together as that can get a little noisy? Best to use one or the other for different types of gain, IMO.

 

Alan

[Anthony_J]

I use both. I have the Big Muff in front of the Bad Monkey. The Bad Monkey is set with the level all the way up and the gain about a little less than a quarter.

 

It's a little noisy with the Fuzz engaged.

[BryanFoFyan]

ive got a big muff nyc the really big metal one and an ibanez ts9 behind it. when i have the muff on and then turn on the ts9 it gives me a really thick warm sound without all the grit of the big muff alone but still has a level of grit to it. really different sound

[AlanH]

I use both. I have the Big Muff in front of the Bad Monkey. The Bad Monkey is set with the level all the way up and the gain about a little less than a quarter.

 

It's a little noisy with the Fuzz engaged.

 

Your Fender Twin Reverb strikes me as very much an amp for lots of clean headroom. Are you using multiple pedals to get your gain rather than tube break up? I'm sure the latter would sound tighter, with your OD pedal to push it further. How about running two amps with an A/B switch box - the Fender Twin for cleans and a EL84 power tube equipped amp of your choice for punchy break up?

 

Alan

[Anthony_J]

It's not financially feasible for me to buy another amp right now, I'm unemployed.

 

And yes, I'm getting my dirty sound from the Big Muff (the same big NYC as you, Bryan). Maybe if I swapped the Muff and the Bad Monkey. I'll try that out.

 

On another note, that Fender TR has TONS of head room. It gets unreasonably loud before the tubes start breaking up.

[AlanH]

It's not financially feasible for me to buy another amp right now, I'm unemployed.

 

And yes, I'm getting my dirty sound from the Big Muff (the same big NYC as you, Bryan). Maybe if I swapped the Muff and the Bad Monkey. I'll try that out.

 

On another note, that Fender TR has TONS of head room. It gets unreasonably loud before the tubes start breaking up.

 

You can certainly use a distortion pedal with a clean amp to get a good tone but maybe it's the combination with the OD that's causing the problem. I'm beginning to think my EHX nano muff could be better replaced with a Boss DS1 or a proco Rat. Maybe you could find a store with a Fender twin (or similar) that stocks a range of distortion pedals and compressors so you can try a few combinations. You could even take your current board in to try switching.

 

Alan

[Blackflag]

Compressors are nonsense.

[RaSTuS]

Compressors are nonsense.

Can you expand on that pls ?

[Anthony_J]

Can you expand on that pls ?

 

Yes please. I'd really like to know everyone's opinion on a Compressor. I need to know for sure if this is something that I should have on my pedal board. Need to see the whole picture here.

[bigneil]

A compressor evens out your volume and adds sustain. a particularly useful tool for some one who plays clean a lot. whether you strum soft or hard your volume output will remain consistent, a very subtle effect because it doesn't change the voice or tone of the guitar.

 

Here are a couple of many you tube videos demonstrating its effect.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeGq5umdgaM

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDNVIaaDXww

[disaster]

Pedals vary....... Unfortunately........

 

I have a solid state modeling amp with DSP. The DPS has settings for several compressor types. I find the effect very undesireable regardless of which compressor setting I try. I haven't tried separate pedals, they may give better results. The amp also impacts the overall sound.

 

In short, the only way to determine if you want or need one is to head over to your local guitar store & pick out a few things & give 'em a whirl. Only you can tell if you like it or not.

 

Good Luck.

[AlanH]

Maybe a noise suppressor pedal would do the job?

 

Alan

[Adib]

this is just my opinion but...

I used to like my compressor a lot when I started to play.. it compressed the dynamics and masked my sloops, making everything sounds right. I used it at all time with clean sound, but I've never liked it for overdrive sounds. (I didn't have a good tube amp at that time.. neither a good sounding/well balanced guitar).

Then I've started to have problems with this.. I used it for about 3 years.. Every time I've picked a guitar, without the compressor, my play sounded like ****, and infact, it was ****.

The compressor masks too much of the tone.. You can't extract everything that a good amp can deliver with a compressor..

When I started to play with a good tube amp, and with better guitars, I started to dislike the compressor.. Mainly when I played loud. I tried to abandon my compressor addiction, it was not easy.. I've had to re-learn to play with clean sound, everything! But it was very necessary, and now I consider myself a much better player, even my acoustic guitar playing improved a lot! and my compressor (a boss cs-3) is in total disuse..

I think that the compressor improve your clean sound in a good way to play quietly, making the sound have all the body, and don't sound to weak. But it isn't necessary playing loud, infact, it takes out all the dynamics.. and, I would recommend anyone to not deppend to much on it, it could be a future problem.

 

(sorry for the engrish )

[Anthony_J]

Adib, thank you for your insight! I went to my local guitar center today and I tried out the CS-3 and a Blues Driver together with a Strat, which was similar to my setup. Turns out the compressor is not what I needed. It took away from the dynamics from my distorted sound. I was HOWEVER, able to get some really nice "Jangly-Beatlely" sounds with the compressor and a clean guitar. The compressor excels in that but is definitely not suited to my style and needs.

 

I have decided. No compressor for me. Thanks for all the help guys! I'll save my money and get a good tuner.

 

Again, you guys are the best! Thanks!