|
Post by pintail78 on Aug 31, 2014 21:33:01 GMT -7
Looking for a compressor pedal, whats a good value that sounds good? I was looking at the keeley 2 knob......any suggestions?
|
|
|
Post by Easyrom on Aug 31, 2014 22:15:42 GMT -7
For something simple, useful and good sounding, I'll go with the Rothwell Love Squeeze.
|
|
|
Post by zed on Sept 1, 2014 0:13:35 GMT -7
Xotic SP, nice unit. I used one briefly, when I put a board together for someone else. So, I picked one up for another board I'll be putting together.
Right now though, I'm using a used Mooer Yellow comp. Their take on the Diamond comp., I'm happy with it so far. We'll see on the reliability side, how it pans out.
|
|
|
Post by j4gitr (John) on Sept 1, 2014 3:22:15 GMT -7
Barber Tone Press has been on my board for many years. He now has downsized and upgraded it.
|
|
|
Post by southmusic70 on Sept 1, 2014 7:20:52 GMT -7
I have a board that's mounted on a PedalTrain Mini and the xotic compressor is the first in line.
My larger board has a Barber TonePress on it.
Both of these are excellent.
The Wampler Ego is also good, but pricier.
|
|
|
Post by pintail78 on Sept 1, 2014 7:49:12 GMT -7
what about the keeley?
|
|
|
Post by rcrecelius on Sept 1, 2014 8:40:23 GMT -7
Ive never owned a Keeley comp but I think its become like the Shure SM58, it has become the standard by which all others are measured...ok, that might be pushing it a little but seriously, look at most touring pro pedalboards and you'll likely see a Keeley on there.
I picked up a Analogman 2 knob compressor in the BST a few years ago and have to say its the best I've personally used. That list includes the old Boss CS2, CS3, Wampler, Barber, and likely some others I've forgotten about. I don't use a compressor for a noticeable "squish", I use it for a subtle amount of compression.
|
|
|
Post by Papa Juan (lanier816) on Sept 1, 2014 9:35:21 GMT -7
A buddy of mine has the Keeley Two Knob, it sounds great, another has the Diamond Compressor, it sounds better to me than the Keeley and I had, for a time, a JHS Pulp n' Peel, very cool. There are quite a few options out there, I'd be more than happy with either of the three listed. Hope that helps. Also, Humbucker Music always has 10% off coupons for these makers as well as plenty of other quality brands, I buy most of my new pedals from them.
|
|
|
Post by Matt on Sept 1, 2014 9:44:46 GMT -7
Owned a Keeley 4 knob but it cut out a lot of low end. Owned a Diamond, it was great but lacked a blend knob. I currently own a Rothwell Love Squeeze, it's the most transparent comp made. I own an Ovni Labs compressor which has the tone and blend of a Wampler Ego and the functionality of the Diamond (this one is great too but it's for sale if anyone is interested). My main comp is an Empress. Amazing comp with every feature imaginable and works as a great tone sweetener as well.
|
|
|
Post by southmusic70 on Sept 1, 2014 10:35:40 GMT -7
I think a blend control makes for a much more usable compressor
|
|
|
Post by JeffG on Sept 1, 2014 17:11:55 GMT -7
I love my JHS modded CS3. Without the mod, I hated it.
|
|
|
Post by Brimstone on Sept 1, 2014 17:53:51 GMT -7
My Boss has always been dependable when I need to add a little something.
|
|
|
Post by zpilot on Sept 1, 2014 18:10:13 GMT -7
I have an older 2-knob Keeley and it works really well. I moved on to a Wampler Ego Comp which is a little more tweakable but basically sounds the same. Having a blend control is nice. I have a friend who is a monster chicken picker and he uses a newer Boss. It works fine for him.
|
|
|
Post by jbrad on Sept 1, 2014 19:25:51 GMT -7
I have a Keeley 2 knob. Rarely use it. I've had it loaned out to the other guitar player in my band for over a year. Haven't missed it. I use a cheap DOD Milk Box at church and it is amazingly transparent. I know most people think less is more with a compressor but I've always wondered why the knobs would go to 10 if you are not "supposed" to turn it up that much. I use a compressor mostly for sustain. My go to for years has been a Marshall ED-1. I very seldom turn it off.
|
|
|
Post by pintail78 on Sept 1, 2014 19:29:22 GMT -7
I'm looking to use it to smooth things out live, and make the chord/single note transitions more bedda......
|
|
|
Post by Stephen on Sept 1, 2014 19:42:56 GMT -7
I use the Strymon OB.1 compressor and clean boost. It can run on a 9 v battery or power supply. It also saves pedalboard space because it is two pedals in one.
|
|
|
Post by rcrecelius on Sept 2, 2014 8:52:30 GMT -7
I know most people think less is more with a compressor but I've always wondered why the knobs would go to 10 if you are not "supposed" to turn it up that much. The same logic could be applied to the VOLUME knob on your amp as well...of course, you might not get asked BACK on very many gigs unless youre using a very small amp!
|
|
|
Post by jbrad on Sept 2, 2014 10:45:57 GMT -7
I sat in with that guy one night. Peavey amp on 10 with a crappy humbucker strat. And to top it off he would swap out the strat with a cheap keyboard running into the same amp. Dogs 3 towns away were howling. What I meant about the knobs going to 10 on a compressor is that I've jammed with some guys that tried so hard to have their compressor pedal set so you couldn't tell they were using one. Kind of defeats the purpose of an "effect" pedal if it has no discernible effect on your signal. I use mine as an effect and adjust it to whatever rig I'm using. I will turn it up sometimes if it is a small venue and can't turn up the amp enough to get a little ooommphh out of the speaker.
|
|
|
Post by scottc on Sept 3, 2014 8:57:52 GMT -7
I own a Keeley 4 knob and an old Boss CS.
I like them both although, I don't usually have either on my board. In fact, most recently I have been using the Keeley to add sustain and level out the peaks with my acoustic live. Works great for this.
|
|
|
Post by Mark (Basement Enthusiast) on Sept 3, 2014 9:42:01 GMT -7
I have & use & love the Barber Tone Press. The "blend" knob makes all the difference, and the pedal doesn't feel like it's really "squeezing" you like my previous Keeley 2-knob did. With some simple knob-turning, you'll find a point where the casual (or even discerning) listener won't really hear the "compression" so to speak. However--if you're like me--your otherwise slightly uneven and/or high-and-low volume picking will become much more even and pleasing.
That's what compression is all about to me--not an audible level manipulation, but simply smoothing out the attack volumes a bit. (I suppose if I had perfect right-hand technique, then this might not be needed, perhaps.)
|
|
|
Post by southmusic70 on Sept 3, 2014 9:56:24 GMT -7
Mark, I agree completely; in fact, when using an effects board, I leave my compressor on all of the time at a very subtle setting, so it's really not an "effect" but a permanent part of the signal chain (kind of like some people keep just a tad of reverb on all of the time).
Suffice to say that the overuse of any effect can become tiring for the listener. I do most of my playing with an arch top direct into an amp, and it remains satisfying and challenging.
|
|
|
Post by zpilot on Sept 4, 2014 12:05:37 GMT -7
I tried several comps over the years because a lot of the players I listen to use them. However I could find no love for any of them. I was using them at the beginning of my chain which was the conventional placement. About the same time I got the Keeley I read a tip on this forum about placing it immediately AFTER the OD pedals. What a difference that made. The Keeley and the Wampler both sound good there. I suspect I would have liked most of the other comps I'd owned if I had tried them there. Lesson learned? When auditioning comps, move them around in your signal chain.
|
|
|
Post by dixiechicken on Sept 29, 2014 5:49:03 GMT -7
DC here!
There is a lot of options of course. Personally I have the T-Rex Comp Nova that works really well and is simple to use too.
Cheers: Dixiechicken!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2014 8:14:46 GMT -7
Bearfoot Pale Green Compressor
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2014 8:43:57 GMT -7
I like my Retro Sonic compressor quite a bit. Its a Ross clone.
|
|
|
Post by LT on Sept 29, 2014 10:22:25 GMT -7
I've owned several of the ones mentioned.....and most sounded real good. The only one I have kept though is the Carl Martin Comp/Limiter. I find it to be very transparent if you want it to be....kinda like a studio comp.
When it's on my board (it's not now) I keep it on all the time with the slight smoothing effect the guys are talking about here.
|
|
|
Post by smolder on Sept 29, 2014 17:37:49 GMT -7
I have a keeley two knob and the xotic SP. The keeley is great. The xotic is a bit clearer, but the knobs are really touchy. With either I kind of fell like I'm cheating.
|
|
|
Post by scottc on Sept 30, 2014 5:59:24 GMT -7
I've owned several of the ones mentioned.....and most sounded real good. The only one I have kept though is the Carl Martin Comp/Limiter. I find it to be very transparent if you want it to be....kinda like a studio comp. When it's on my board (it's not now) I keep it on all the time with the slight smoothing effect the guys are talking about here. I used to own the Carl Martin Quattro - The Compressor was awesome in that unit. I would imagine that the stand alone unit must be great too!
|
|
|
Post by mpa93 on Sept 30, 2014 6:16:45 GMT -7
+1 on the Diamond Compressor....the Strymon looks interesting...might be worth a try
|
|
|
Post by scottc on Sept 30, 2014 6:31:26 GMT -7
+1 on the Diamond Compressor....the Strymon looks interesting...might be worth a try I tried the Strymon at a local dealer. I thought it was nice and up to par with their other pedals. The boost function was useful as well and the best part was it is not as power hungry as the other Strymons...
|
|