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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
 Posted - 12/31/2007 : 08:38:06
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I'd like a compressor. I had an MXR DynaComp but after testing the sustain etc. I was naive to its subtle effect. Even after running through the Keely Compressor demos, I'm just now starting to hear what one can do.. like chicken-pickin' country stuff.
I know what a compressor is & what its used for. They all just seem so damned subtle to me. So, I'd like to hear what you guys think about them all. I'd like to have a high-quality one like Keely but I'd like to "be able" to dial it in like over-the-top where it pumps too. I want one that isn't so subtle to a certain extent if you know what I mean.
TIA :) |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 09:26:00
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| if its chickin pickin youre into definately read up on the CS-1 or CS-2. even a TW-1 set lightly can get you that country picking snap. |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 09:52:09
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Hey DeFrag
I have about 8 maybe 9 compressors, pop over for a bit sometime & you can trey them all out.
Just let me know you're coming over, so I can have a few coldies in the chiller.
I have been on a compressor/compression-sustainer binge, since about the middle of this almost now past year.
I even built the Pisotones MXR Clone with his 2 great mods.
I even have a dBx117 studio HiFi compressor-expander from around the 80's.
A lot of them use the same method or IC's do do the compression, and therefore subjectively sound similar.
Some of the cheapest ones, so far, seem the best.
I had a long battle with the CS-3 so I spent 10 months chasing a CS-2 with all the hype, that's associated with it.
Only to find, it sucked the life & top end out of all of my guitars.
I convinced myself that I scored a partially faulty one, & have still been chasing another one for comparison.
I will be modding the CS-3,
and have currently settled for the the Ibanes CP5 SoundTank, it makes me smile the most.
I have also been chasing the Dod Milkbox compressor, they use the famous THAT compressor-expander IC's, that are used in some top end studio equipment, it's just that DOD used sh!tty IC's in the Audio path, & some get a bit hissy.
The milkbox seems to be easier to locate in the USA than over here.
The Yamaha effector range of pedals from the 70's pre-Boss also have has a highly sought after compressor pedal in it's range.
But I have only ever seem 2 on evilbay, & it was a real loosing battle trying to out bid other bidders. It's something like the CO-1. Killer kaz has had some.
So after all that, All I can really tell you is that, I'm using the CP5 ... and it really sustains my Blackie Strat.
Regards Dr. Bob |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 12:06:53
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I never really like compression on guitar, I use it on bass all the time, just a little to get a bit of that tube amp feel to it.
And to prevent loud notes to send spikes to my speakers and eventually destroying them in the process.
My favourite is the RCL-10 halfrack thingy, just hook it through the FX loop and it's like almost studio quality.
It's great cause there's a lot of parameters I'd like to adjust myself such as attack and release times and ratio.
I've found an old Ibanez CP-10 to sound very similar to a CS-3.
I've also been using the CS-3 for ages, when I'm not taking my own amp rack I just use that old pedal in front of whatever amp they happen to have there and it works fine.
It did notice that it eats some low end, if anyone knows a good mod for that I'd be very happy.
Just my thought on compression. |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 15:09:08
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I've never been into compression for guitars either, just figured more distorion and bigger strings would get me more sustain... |
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4evrnewB
Silver Member
Canada
322 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 15:40:18
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Dirk, I am interested in what you said about compression on bass, and smoothing out spikes. As a new bass player (newB everything!) I sometimes play a bit unevenly - a little too much pluck here and there - and would love to smooth it out. Compression always seems to add a little gain, though - it won't be bad for my speaker? At the moment I have a little 15W Fender going through an 8" speaker...
ps. Dr. Bob - I still have the Milk Box if you are interested... |
Edited by - 4evrnewB on 12/31/2007 16:34:12 |
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ChristoMephisto
Platinum Member
Canada
1288 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 15:50:33
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Compression is good if you don't want a overdrive/dist for a boost.
I know what you mean Dr. Bob about the high end loss on the CS1 pedal, and the Trebel switch saves the day. The CS2 is a softer compressor compared to the CS1. Starting to think you may have a defective CS2 pedal there Dr.Bob.
Another good compressor is the LM-2 Limiter (another Dr.Bob of recommendations). I know its a limiter, but set for compression, it kinda gives you half way of the CS1 and CS2. Smooth but not so pernounced pick sound. Has a tone control too, like the CS3.
You can also emulate a overdriven valve amp by lowering the Level, all the top end gets squished together. |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 16:52:10
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Hi 4evrnewB, Christo & Guys
Thanks for the reminder about the LM-2 limiter Christo, I kind of forgot about that one, as I was thinking more along the lines of Compressor-Sustainer's.
The LM-2 is great as a mild compressor, & almost transparent.
But as I said before, I have been using the Ibanez Soundtank CP5.
I must drag out the LM-2 again.
Now 4evrnewB
What was the story with your DOD Milkbox, what did you/me decide?
PM me with what you're thinking.
I sort of lost track of things, as it's been a hectic time the last few months.
I hope you didn't think I was avoiding you, I just plain forgot.
Regards Dr, Bob |
Edited by - Dr. Bob on 12/31/2007 16:54:09 |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 19:07:32
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I still use the CS-3 in my rig...i use it more as a booster than a compressor so my settings are..level 3/4....tone,slightly over 1/2 way...attack ..up full... and compression...1/3...i use it mostly for clean boosts but i also like the way it pushes the crunch channel on the twin tube overdrive....i know the poor ol' CS-3 has got a lot of bad press but imho it's not the worst out there...the only thing i thik i might replace it with is the analogman bi compressor the zestystrat recommended(mike told me he put me on the list but i could be waiting over a year.. ) or the new blackstar ht boost looks great but it's more of a treble booster with a valve in it...... |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 12/31/2007 : 20:26:48
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quote:
Originally posted by 4evrnewB
Dirk, I am interested in what you said about compression on bass, and smoothing out spikes. As a new bass player (newB everything!) I sometimes play a bit unevenly - a little too much pluck here and there - and would love to smooth it out. Compression always seems to add a little gain, though - it won't be bad for my speaker? At the moment I have a little 15W Fender going through an 8" speaker...
Now compression shouldn't be helping out with sloppy playing, my friend 
I'm using compression in 2 ways: to prevent spikes from loud notes destroying the speakers.
But I also use it to kind of emulate what a tube amp does, tubes tend to compress the sound as well giving a smoother, more pleasant sound.
And a little compression can go a long way in doing that without squeezing out all dynamics offcourse.
Basically distortion is also a form of compression, or in other words compression is a form of clean distortion, that's why it may sound like your compressor adds a little gain.
And that's why most bass amps have compression built in as opposed to guitar amps having distortion built in (so to speak).
If you get the chance, check out Billy Sheehans "Advanced Bass" instructional DVD, he really explains it even better there, as well
as giving insight to most of his oddball techniques.
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2008 : 12:44:04
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| I think dirk explained it really well in his post,i agree that tubes do compress when pushed thats why i don't need to add too much from the compressor... i was talking to pedals4pv in another post about my little 60's selmer 15 watt amp,this amp is so old it has a tube rectifer in it and you get the classic 'sag' when pushing the volume levels,basically the rectifer tube starts to compress and gives that classic 'sweet spot' sound ..... |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2008 : 21:34:06
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I chose the 4-knob Keeley Compressor. It fits the bill nicely. Tks guys.
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Edited by - DeFrag on 01/16/2008 06:27:17 |
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Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2008 : 09:20:04
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I like compressors for clean playing, but they have to be subtly set.
LM-2 is very good at this. I don�t like CS-1 that much, too much pumping. CS-2 is also a great compressor, better than CS-3 in my opinion.
The best compressor I have is the one in Visualsounds Route 66 pedal, very transparent and with lots of gain/volume. I think this is a combination of MXR Dynacomp and the Ross compressor.
A compressor should be set so that you hardly hear it, it�s tempting to set it too high � You have paid $$$ for it and then you want to hear it, right? 
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2008 : 10:32:57
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quote:
Originally posted by pedals 4 pv
I use two different compressors Boss CS-3 and DeVilbiss 5 HP,the Boss CS-3 really fills up the inner qualities of my tube amp. The DeVilbiss 5 HP really fills up my inner tubes.
Hi pedals 4 pv[
Can I ask, what settings you use on your CS-3?
In o'clock analogy please.
I just won another CS-2, & want to do another comparison with both the CS-2's & the CS-3.
Regards Dr. Bob |
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pedals 4 pv
Platinum Member
Canada
1351 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2008 : 11:30:19
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I just set the tone to about 1 o'clock, the attack to noon and the sustain to about 10:30. I find that it adds definition to the amp when it is overdriven on the lead channel. This setting also adds clarity to chorus and tremolo effects (CE-2 and TR-2). I have only tried the CE-3, it is the only one I have had so I can't really compare it to anything. If you keep it set low it is a good pedal.
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2008 : 14:24:19
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quote:
Originally posted by DeFrag
I chose the 4-knob Keeley Compressor. It fits the bill nicely. Tks guys.
Hi Defrag
Nice, please fill us in on how it performs,
I believe it's basically a Dyna Comp-Ross Compressor, with some Keeley additions.
If you remember, I built a tricked up Dyna Comp, with selection for, hard-soft compression knee & bright-normal switch.
Regards Dr. Bob |
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Topic |
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Compressors
