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Post by Lefty on Sept 10, 2005 15:00:18 GMT -7
I've never used one, I mean never. In theory they sound like a useful tool to round out your clean tones. But I'm not a full time clean player. How does it work in conjunction with OD's?
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Post by jzguitar on Sept 10, 2005 19:01:23 GMT -7
Hey Lefty
I've had good luck using a compressor with my OD's. I've got an Analogman Comprossor (Ross clone). I especially like it for slide stuff - I know guys like Sonny Landreth use compressors in their rigs. I also use it for some regular solos and fills, too. They do work very well for clean stuff, too. I really like working the guitar's volume control with the compressor on - you can vary the tone without your overall levels changing too much. BTW - I run mine before my OD's. Some people run them after, but I haven't tried this yet. I've heard some good things about the Barber pedal (I think it's called the Tone Press?) - it allows you to blend the compressed signal with the original signal. Of course, with a Z just about any pedal will sound great!
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Post by fireball on Sept 11, 2005 6:59:39 GMT -7
I've never used one, I mean never. In theory they sound like a useful tool to round out your clean tones. But I'm not a full time clean player. How does it work in conjunction with OD's? I predominantly play blues based rock and rarely use any pristine clean tones either. I use a Boss CS-3 compressor first in line and leave it on all the time. What I have found...and what works for me...is that if I set the pedal for minimal squish and effect...so that you barely even know it's there when you turn it off and on...the compressor enhances my tone just enough to keep things "in the sweet spot" for a longer period of time after the initial attack. That way, I can get by with setting any overdrives or boosters with far less gain and still get the notes to "sing". The key is to experiment and see if it works for you. I will say that I've tried a number of compressors.... including some of the highly rated boutique models that get all the praise on the various forums...and for me and what I'm trying to accomplish, the Boss CS-3 still works the best. I find a lot of compressors... including most of the Ross type clones, suck down the note too much on the initial attack and have this delayed blooming effect that I can't seem to dial out no matter how I adjust the pedal. For whatever reason, the Boss compressor doesn't do this as severely and to my ears sounds and feels more natural. But it's something you'll have to experiment with to see if it works for you.
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Post by bluzsteel on Sept 11, 2005 20:41:42 GMT -7
I think it kills your tone unless your playing slide ,then the sustain thang works,
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Post by billyguitar on Sept 12, 2005 2:35:49 GMT -7
I've always liked compressors, especially when you can't play loud enough for the guitar and amp to interact which is the most common situation. It makes you feel like you're playing a lot louder. I use a Guyatone right now and it has a switch that lets the attack come thru so it doesn't squish very much at all. Bonnie Raitt's old hits had too much compression on her guitar but it definitely helps slide. I feel everyone should have one and try it for a little boost and sustain on those quiet gigs. I think most Nashville guys use one. Virtually every recording is either compressed by the player or in the mix process. In the days of recording with tape a natural compression occurred by tape saturation so it's not like you hear a lot of recorded guitar that hasn't been compressed or leveled somehow.
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Post by johnnyl on Sept 12, 2005 8:24:30 GMT -7
I've been to tons of different shows latley and I always check out the guitarists board. I'm constantly seeing Keeley Comps on more and more boards. I love mine for what billy mentions above and also the way it interacts with some mild distortion pedals (ts9/808, bd-2, etc...). I turn it off when I hit the sunface though... FUZZ wasn't meant to squished.....
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Post by countryshawn on Sept 12, 2005 10:31:00 GMT -7
Maybe yes, maybe no.
I always use my compressor 100% of the time. It's quite literally never off. I've used my Boss CS-3 for years, and I've been really happy with it. It's probably not perfect - but good enough for me.
At the same time however, the "artifacts" that may be detractive for some styles of music are paradoxically the "attractive" qualities for other styles.
Many rock players do not like the CS-3 because of it's snappy and poppy sound it imparts. For country, it's exactly what I shoot for.
Having said that, sometimes with the right pickups and amp setup a compressor is redundant and even cacophonous. A good friend of mine never uses a compressor, as you'd swear the output from his pickups have a built in compressor. Hence, he runs without one.
IMHO, the key is knowing exactly the sound you are striving for. That dictates the means to the end.
My .02
Shawn
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Sept 12, 2005 18:18:31 GMT -7
If you get a chance try the DurhamSex Drive. It's perfect for country players. It's an RC booster with a built in compression to squeeze out that chicken picken. I was amazed. It' on my all time list of pedals to get. That and the Xotic AC Booster, and maybe an OCD. www.durhamelectronics.com/index.html
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Post by hdahs143 on Sept 13, 2005 6:53:13 GMT -7
I think it really depends on the type of music you play. I play in a house band gig that plays about 50% country, and 50% southern/classic rock.
For the country stuff i.e. "chicken pick-en", I haven't found a combination of guitar/amp and my hands that authentically create that sound without a compressor.
I used to leave the compressor on all the time, but I'm trying to get away from that because it greatly reduces the desired effects of rolling back the guitar's volume knob.
For any of the rock/blues material, or anytime the O/D is on, the compressor is off for rhythm parts, and sometimes kicked on for lead breaks. When used with distortion, the compressor to my ear tends to "sanitize" the distortion a bit. But for leads and single note runs, it really makes things sing, which I love because that is my style.
I've used both a Boss CS-3, and a Keeley. I still think the Boss was a little better for the country stuff because it has more attack than the Keeley. But for transparency, low noise, and smoothness, the Keeley is the winner.
I would suggest borrowing a couple of different units from friends, and trying them out. Your ears and hands will answer the question for you!
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