Could someone recommend a good Compressor please?

richardhomer

Hartman is great. Two knobs, MXR size and based on the Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer.

Can be bought new for around £100.

steamabacus

I use a Rothwell Love Squeeze 'always on', set quite subtly. It really is a superb, transparent and very quiet (in terms of background noise) compressor. Rothwell are a Bolton based company with a background in high-end hi-fi components so they know what they're doing with low noise circuits - check out their website.

frankus

nickb_boy said:

Cali76TX 

A shameless plug right there, but seriously there is no better compressor in a pedal format. I'm only selling on mine as I've now got the all singing and dancing limited edition version with boost. The actual compressor circuit is the same though.  They may be expensive but you will never need to go on another hunt for a compressor again, so it will save you in the long run.

frankus said:

I'd love to try a Cali

Here's your chance!

I've noticed it... it'd mean selling one of my chorus or something to get it

tbm

I've used a few compressors down the years:

Demeter Compulator
EHX BlackFinger
Boss CS3
MXR Super Comp
Pigtronix Philosophers Tone
Rothwell Love Squeeze

It kinda depends what you want the compressor to do, but I like it to even the notes out and also drive the front of the amp if I need it. Of the ones I've used the Black Finger probably sounded the best, but it's huge, noisey and needed its own special power supply. The CS3 kinda strangles your low end, but I think it sounds very musical and defo has a thing that it does. I like the tone control on it too. The MXR Super Comp just wasn't very good. On guitar or bass. The Pigtronix sounds really great, has tons of compresion and sustain on tap and you can add grit, but it's a bit noisey. The Demeter is an excellent all-rounder, though you could hear it working at very high settings. Sounded lovely though, and I only sold it becuase I had to. The Rothwell Love Squeeze is a total winner. It's quiet and very tranparent. Not that expensive either. Also sounds great on bass.

I'm always meaning to pick up an ED-1. They pop up for nothing all the time.

57Deluxe

Barber Tone Press - it tingles with delight!

http://www.in2guitar.com/press/pressfront.jpg

RaymondLin

I have the compact version

 

I went through the same thing as OP, settled on the Barber. 

 

hotpickups

Dinasaural OTC-201. Fantastic

Beexter

I think I want another compressor too but am confused as to which way to go. I want it to do 3 things:

1) Work well for compressing funk-style chords

2) Give me sweet, long sustain - think David Gilmour style clean leads

3) Be fairly transparent tonally.

I don't want to spend a fortune and am quite happy going used. I've already got a Block logo Dyna Comp and a Biyang Compress X (which I prefer to the MXR as it is less noisy) but I have to set the compression/ sustain level low to avoid them being too squishy which means the sustain isn't as good as I'd like. I'm thinking I should be looking at either an optical comp, like the Demeter Compulator (used) or perhaps something with a blend control. I like the size of the Xotic SP but not sure how controllable it is. Mooer Yellow Comp might be worth a look too.

What say you?

hotpickups

You are describing the Dinasaural OTC. Call them and check it out. It's a great compressor

Check it out here. It appears about 12mins in :-

Beexter;288079" said:

I think I want another compressor too but am confused as to which way to go. I want it to do 3 things: 1) Work well for compressing funk-style chords2) Give me sweet, long sustain - think David Gilmour style clean leads3) Be fairly transparent tonally.I don't want to spend a fortune and am quite happy going used. I've already got a Block logo Dyna Comp and a Biyang Compress X (which I prefer to the MXR as it is less noisy) but I have to set the compression/ sustain level low to avoid them being too squishy which means the sustain isn't as good as I'd like. I'm thinking I should be looking at either an optical comp, like the Demeter Compulator (used) or perhaps something with a blend control. I like the size of the Xotic SP but not sure how controllable it is. Mooer Yellow Comp might be worth a look too.What say you?

Grunfeld

Mooer Yellow + Jazzmaster =  wonderful.

And the Mooer Yellow is superb way beyond what one might think it "should" be at that price point and in that small a space. 

ChrisMusic

Another compressor question for y'all.

What else does what the Boss CS3 does ?

My only extensive experience with compressors is from my "past life" with a Boss CS2 and high end studio compressors, which are a whole different animal.  Using it as an effect, I love that you can hear the Boss winding the gain up as the signal tails off. You can let interesting chord voicings hang there for days with one, which I rather like.

Maybe there a loads that do that, but I don't know the current market.  What I have tried, or heard demos of, all seem rather "polite".  Having said that I do want "polite" too.  So I was kind of assuming that I would end up with two compressors.

I had the privilege of trying @monquixote 's  Xotic SP a while back, that is definitely a very nice sounding and surprisingly flexible compressor, and tiny too  

ThePrettyDamned

Sounds like you want an exotic - completely different to the dyna comp.

My go to recommendation is the visual sound, but that's based on a dyna comp and Ross comp I think? Anyway, it's probably a bit too similar - the exotic will give you a completely different type and is known for being transparent enough to be always on. For funky squish, you could use the biyang

steamabacus

Maybe the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone will float your boat? (certainly does mine!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boHgwq5AIHQ

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

ChrisMusic said:

Another compressor question for y'all.

What else does what the Boss CS3 does ?

My only extensive experience with compressors is from my "past life" with a Boss CS2 and high end studio compressors, which are a whole different animal.  Using it as an effect, I love that you can hear the Boss winding the gain up as the signal tails off. You can let interesting chord voicings hang there for days with one, which I rather like.

Maybe there a loads that do that, but I don't know the current market.  What I have tried, or heard demos of, all seem rather "polite".  Having said that I do want "polite" too.  So I was kind of assuming that I would end up with two compressors.

I had the privilege of trying @monquixote 's  Xotic SP a while back, that is definitely a very nice sounding and surprisingly flexible compressor, and tiny too  

ChrisMusic

Very interesting, thanks for the videos @steamabacus.

Great demo by Pete Thorn (as always), but what's with the flat cap, how can I take him seriously wearing that !

Definitely worth checking out, cheers   

digitalkettle

The Suhr Koji Comp is worthy!

basslooser

I used to have Dyna Comp and I loved it, although I feel it drops volume.

Also I would highly recommend BBE Sonic Stomp, which is not comp, but does great trick