Compression Pedals

[Farrell Jackson]

Any thoughts on using compression pedals on electric guitars?

I've never used one in my pedal set up, live or in the studio. Well, I did try
gigging with one many moons ago, I think it was Dyna Comp, but didn't like the
dynamic results I got so it was history. I probably didn't know how to set it up
correctly, lol.

I use some compression every time I record an electric but not in my pedal board
chain. I do have a DBX mini comp that I've been playing around with lately but
it's not really a pedal. It works well and has all the standard compression
controls plus it's a fairly quiet unit. It seems to work best at the front of
the chain with the guitar plugged to it first.....but the jury is still out
whether I like the results or not.

Do you use a comp pedal, what kind, and where do you place it in the chain? Pros
and cons?

Farrell

[Geir]

I did have one that I used live for a while. Have to have it first in the chain or else it will enhance all the noice from the other pedals. I got tired of the compressed sound. Loose a lot of dynamic in your playing. I find it better to use an overdrive (or drive channel on amp) set to almost no drive, it gives more "life" to the sound.

[bruno]

I used to use a Boss compression - to try and give better sustain on solo's - however, really never understood how to use it. It can sound quite good on clean country guitar sounds - however all my amps are valve now, so have a natural compression on the amp anyway. The boss pedal in filed away in my 'for another day' cupboard, so never sees the light of day. I also have compression on my old ME8 and on the Nova system, but they don't get used either :-)

[Blooby]

I'll compress an acoustic guitar to balance the sound (although I am wrestling with making it sound more transparent).  The only time I use it on electric while playing is if I'm going for that super-clean chicken pickin' tone.

I have always liked Trey Anastasio's tone, which involves the old gray ROSS compressor.  He actually puts it after all his other pedals.

I've seen people use them to great effect, but like most things in my recording, I just feel my way around in the dark.

Blooby

[Farrell Jackson]

Thanks for the replies guys. It sounds like we all have similar experiences with using a compressor in the pedal chain. I've always used tube (valve) amps. Their natural compression might be the reason I've not really heard the benefit of using a compression pedal. I'll be playing around with the DBX compressor to see what I can get out of it. If anything pleasing surfaces I'll post it up.

Farrell

[Tony W]

As a pedal novice, I recently picked up a Zoom G3. In a nutshell, it's 94 pedals total in a 3 pedal configuration. In reality, it's a pretty decent way to figure out what can be accomplished with certain pedals, and what order to use them in.

I've been tinkering with compression on electric, trying to get a "Slash" type of lead tone. I've got an EQ first, Compression second and Chorus/Delay third. I had the tone pretty well dialed into my Blackstar head, then switched to Kerry's Marshall. Between the two amps, the tone was completely different, and I started from scratch.

Overall, I felt that the compression pedal cleaned up the tone enough to get away with a bit of sloppy playing. From what I hear, most of you guys don't have that problem..... jerks...

[steelguitar]

I'm not agree with a lot of comments here about the use of compression...

It can be very useful to have a compression / sustainer pedal to have a specific sound on a very clean clear sound.
To have a sound with a real sustain on a very clean sound, it's very difficult to have it on an amp without a compression pedal. I don't have a tube/ valve amp, and this kind of pedal can do some interesting sounds...

- To have more sustain on a clean guitar sound configuration
- To have more attack
but it's have an big default : the dynamic of the sound is less present

I used it to have this kind of sounds I like with an epiphone guitar and a Boss compression pedal.... have these Knopfler Dire Straits sounds is "orgasmic" for me...
You can here what I kike to do with a compression guitar here :

http://soundcloud.com/steelguitar/you-and-your-friend-dire

Musically

Jean-Sébastien

[henwrench]

I only have one pedal so I don't need to concern myself with where it would go in the chain.
  I use the Marshall ED-1 Compressor and I think it's superb, an absolutely fantastic pedal. Along with the usual Attack and Compression controls, there is also a Volume control and an Emphasis control, which works as a sweepable frequency limiter, enabling me to squash certain ranges, from Hi to Lo. If I set this in the middle, turn down the Attack and Compression and boost the Volume, it works as a great boost pedal too, especially with humbuckers. The pedal housing is proper old school rugged construction, that would withstand a bomb. And I picked it up for about £40, which I reckon is a real bargain considering how good it sounds, the range of different almost infinite settings and throw in the boost capabilities, I love it!!

                                                             henwrench

[peterp]

I've got a mxr dyan-comp, if set up right it works well.
If not it "enhances and sustains" all the non guitar noise .

I've got most of my info on many effects from sites like gilmourish
http://www.gilmourish.com/?page_id=813

My current chain is a
wah-> dyna-comp-> [distortion/boost section] -> [time base section] -> amp

[chip]

Ok folks. Instead of buying yet another guitar and due to our bands T Petty influence. I need a jangle without the £££££££££££££ of a Ric. I have looked at The Janglebox and The Behringer DC9, one around £200 the other £25. I would like to use it on the strat just to chime it out... So what do I do? I have my eye on

http://guitarbuyermagazine.com/gear/7-guitars/992-italia-rimini-6-a-12-.html   I would rather ..... love that, but will the above pedal/s do it without me spending £350 or so.  Using a 22 watt , real nice and clean Bugera V22 , re-valved and sounds a dream for loads less than a   Help.