Compressor recommendation?

Poboy

Can any of you lovely people please recommend a pedal compressor?

benmurray85

Giving people an idea of your budget and what sort of sounds you’re going for will stop this becoming a “my favourite compressor is…..” thread. 

However, my favourite compressors have been the Origin Cali 76 and the Fairfield Accountant, both have their own (different) sounds. If you’re on a budget I believe a lot of people rave about the yellow Mooer one. 

Poboy

Thanks Ben.
Don't really have a set budget. I was hoping some recommendations would dictate what should or could be spent with regards to quality versus vfm.

smudge_lad

ThorpyFX Fat General. End discussion

Wazmeister

Thorpy Fat General 

AntonHunter

My favourite compressor is the Rothwell Love Squeeze.

Context: I've never liked playing with compression before. I've tried the Boss thingy and a barber tonepress amongst others, I've liked the way they sound with other people playing them, but never liked the way it felt to play. Andrew Rothwell pitched the Love Squeeze as a compressor for people who don't like compressors, and that was true for me! If you're wanting subtle, it's worth checking out.

chromatuna

I really like my Mad Professor Forest Green, doesn’t mess with attack and does something lovely to the tone. The different ‘sustain’ and ‘compress’ modes are very handy as is the tone control which is subtle but effective.

Tried various Boss, Xotic, Maxon, Rothwell etc before this but now am happy.

Brad

The Drybell Unit67 ending my compressor search after trying a lot of them. It’s just idiot proof and so hard to make sound bad haha. Plus there is a great treble boost to boot!

have the Fairfield Accountant on another board which is a different, but cool compressor too. 

RaymondLin

I have tried

Pigtronix philosopher's tone - too noisy, didn't liked the original's side way design.
Barber Tone Press Compact - It's good, not amazing but good.
Xotic SP - like the Tone Press but much smaller package
Origin Effects Compact Deluxe - Probably the best one out of the lot but more than twice the price of the other 3.

jellybelly

Smooth, studio style or squishy vintage style??

Can vouch for the Diamond, Strymon OB1 and Rothwell Love Squeeze in the former category. Everyone raves about the Thorpy here too. 

My Strymon Compadre does both superbly but expensive and has a boost you might not care about. 

Loads of good Ross and Dynacomp clones on the vintage side. Edit: other than the compadre, the Visual Sound Route 66/Comp 66 is great for this, the only vintage style comp I've enjoyed using - think it has a blend control too from memory which is a great feature in a compressor. 

Or there's the Orange Squeezer and it's clones. Gooey and a bit dirty. Unique. 

shady

Marshall Ed the compressor if you need much cheapness. I've had mine since new, must be 15 years old now and still going strong. It's on all the time. 

MrSwanson

Diamond comp, Suhr comps. They just make everything sound better

TINMAN82

Great to have a consensus 

Interested in this too. David Gilmour-ish would be the aim.

UnclePsychosis

The Rothwell Love Squeeze is excellent if you want some subtle, can't really tell its on compression. It was the first compressor I actually liked.

I recently picked up a Keeley Compressor Plus and it's excellent - the blend control is super helpful, particularly if you like your compression on the subtle side.

The Diamond Compressor is excellent too. I'm not good enough with compressors to describe it but I liked what it did to my sound.

In my experience the Boss compressors are great if you want "compression as an effect" - proper squishy fun.

I would really love to try a Fairfield Accountant but they're too expensive now.

Sassafras

How long's a piece of string?
Really depends what you expect from a comp.
I like a subtle volume levelling, some people like maximum squish and sustain.
Orange Squeezer clone with almost minimal compression is my favourite.

monquixote

I think having a clean blend makes a huge difference.

Two good examples would be the Xotic SP comp and the Suhr Koji.

I'm sure there are lots of others, but you won't go wrong with either of those.

WiresDreamDisasters

MXR Dyna Comp - tasty!

hollywoodrox

No love for the CS3 have mine on a lot 

Cirrus

I really like the Ross circuit. You know when it's on.

daveyh

What do you want to use it for? 

I have a Keeley 4 knob Compressor to get that classic country sound.

fretmeister

I've had dozens at all price points. My favourites:

Empress
Thorpy
Marshall ED-1 (so good for the money, have to spend 3 times to get anything better)
Boss BC-1X (The X series compressors are really really good)