It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
The technical answer is probably that a valve rectifier has an odd characteristic, which is that over most of its current draw range it becomes *less* compressed the harder you play - the resistance *falls* with increasing current. It's only at the upper end that it rises sharply and goes into full-on almost 'limiting' compression.
This is actually a bit like the response of an acoustic guitar - when you're playing quietly, the notes seem to jump out if you play harder, but if you really thrash it hard there's a point where it doesn't get any louder at all. I think this is probably why I like it.
Another really odd thing I've noticed is that I often prefer the digitally-controlled compression in a multi-FX unit to an analogue pedal. I have no real idea why about this one .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
A lot of folks who hate compressors play with saturated sounds so it’s a little academic! But a lot of those who say that could have their sound improved by gentle compression. I think folks who try it tend to set up the pedal so they can ‘hear’ it working- and that’s often where they’ve gone wrong, as it can sound overdone and flattens everything.
Fwiw, I detest the MXR Dyna comp style pedals - I Use a Marshall Ed the Compressor and it’s set very subtle to just add a little sparkle and push for clean stuff. And depending on the amp/room/volume it’s overkill. I just let my ears decide!
The good
1. Single note lines really stood out while playing chords.
2. The sustain was welcome on clean and OD without the need for loads of gain.
The not so good
1. Lack of dynamic range felt a bit strange.
2. I don't think it added anything nice to my clean tone. Perhaps it would transform a bland amp though...
I'll give it a bit more time but I'm not sure a compressor gives me anything that use of a clean boost can't. Or perhaps I should look at being selective with where I use a compressor.
https://youtu.be/I9qmYXreo7w
I’ve never got on with them until I was able to try parallel compression. Now I either have a drive pedal on or a compressor and sometimes both.
Big box Cali76 with blend (Tx-P)
set to always on is the magic tone box for my home use.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
On a song like I Wanna Hold Your Hand - where you have a big double stops riff, followed by chippy chords, followed by a single note line followed by an arpeggiated bridge - it's a bloody godsend.
A compressor can also be useful for:
- Adding a bit of punch to clean rhythm and picking, especially for funk
- Adding sustain when using a volume pedal (post compressor) and delay (post volume pedal) for swelled chord/orchestral type effects
- Adding a bit of extra sustain (pre overdrive/distortion) for lead, especially for legato.
- Helping to get controlled feedback at lower volume levels
I upgraded to a cali76 and now it does all the cleans. It fills a weak univibe or tremolo.
Basically it gives a balanced output to all the strings, something good pickups or a good amp should do anyway. I thought my pickups and amps were the best I've ever heard. The cali76 makes their performance even better.