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Author
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Topic: Compressor?
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Mitch Druckman
Member From: Arizona, USA
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posted 09 September 2005 10:23 AM
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Do any of you non-peddlers use compressors to enhance your tone? A compressor can add sustain and level out the dynamics on instruments, giving more of a "recorded" kind of sound. What brand compressor are you using? |
chas smith
Member From: Encino, CA, USA
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posted 09 September 2005 10:25 AM
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I use a Sho-Bud volume pedal, it's much more intuitive than an electronic box. |
Mitch Druckman
Member From: Arizona, USA
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posted 09 September 2005 10:30 AM
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I remember when pedal steel players used a compressor AND volume pedal. I don't know if they still do. |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
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posted 09 September 2005 12:30 PM
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Mitch, check out the Keely Compressor for sale on the Buy and Sell thread. It's the #1 guitar compressor today. They're great. I recommend using it after the volume pedal. May sound strange, but that really seems to give the most natural sound. Brad |
Bobby Lee
Sysop From: Cloverdale, North California, USA
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posted 09 September 2005 02:40 PM
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I think they sound unnatural. |
Les Anderson
Member From: Rossland, British Columbia, Canada
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posted 09 September 2005 03:53 PM
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I go through a volume pedal and straight into a Fender, Princeton Reverb amp; nothing more. The purer the tone the more beautiful the tone. (mind you my steel has knobs and switches for volume control, bass and treble control and a tone control. I can also switch between pickups and enhance the lower or higher strings as desired) Can this be considered cheating on my steel's natural tone as well? ------------------
(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!) [This message was edited by Les Anderson on 09 September 2005 at 03:54 PM.]
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Keith Cordell
Member From: Atlanta
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posted 09 September 2005 04:28 PM
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They do sound kinda unnatural, but when it comes to getting a real "twang" they are lovely. Takes some time to dial them in. |
Mitch Druckman
Member From: Arizona, USA
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posted 09 September 2005 05:28 PM
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Bobby, are you saying that the Keeley is unnatural or compression in general? I expected that most non-steelers on this forum did not go for compression, but consider that when we listen to any of our favorite players on record, we are hearing sound that has been limited and compressed. |
Steinar Gregertsen
Member From: Arendal, Norway
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posted 09 September 2005 05:31 PM
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I have a love/hate relationship with compressors.. Currently I don't use one, but I have been thinking about testdriving a Keeley since I have heard so much good about them.
If I don't like it for the lap steel it could always be handy for my Tele.The problem I have with compressors in general is that you can get addicted to them and feel completely naked when/if you have to play without one. I don't like effects that does that to me....... Steinar ------------------
www.gregertsen.com
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Mitch Druckman
Member From: Arizona, USA
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posted 09 September 2005 05:54 PM
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The Keeley seems to be very popular, but has anyone ever tried the Analogman Comprossor? Analogman also makes a compressor with 2 different compressors in one box. More expensive than the Keeley, but has gotten very good reviews. |
Kay Das
Member From: Singapore and Irvine CA
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posted 10 September 2005 12:53 AM
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On some recordings I use a " Punch Factory" optical compressor, which also acts as a DI due to the optical isolation. It is colourless, as far as I can tell. It is good from the recording point of view because I can then be confident of using a wider dynamic range while picking without fear of overloading the mixing board.------------------
kay |
George Manno
Member From: chicago
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posted 10 September 2005 03:40 AM
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I also use a Aphex "Punch Factory" optical compressor. I run mine between the volume pedal and my amp. I have also connected it in my amps FX loop. It took some time to learn how to dial it in, but now, I wouldn't leave home without it. George |
Kay Das
Member From: Singapore and Irvine CA
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posted 10 September 2005 06:39 AM
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Yes, George, I too use the Aphex Punch Factory last thing before.. the board, in my case, as it would clean up everything before it. Yes, it does take some setting up to get it right...------------------
kay |
Jim Sliff
Member From: Hermosa Beach California, USA
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posted 10 September 2005 08:56 AM
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There's a huge difference between studio compression and stompboxes. The stompboxes, without exception, will suck the life out of your tone.The best way to get that "singing" sound is to use the smallest tube amp you can for the situation - at home, really anything over the power/size of a Champ is going to be too loud, as the smooth, sustained tones are gained by being able to drive the amp - hard. If your amp is turned up to "3" and you're trying to use a compressor to get sustain, you WILL sound like junk. I use a 1/2 watt ZVex Nano tube amp with a 12" Greenback or a tweed Champ at home, or my Fender GDec, which is a neat little practice amp with a built-in backup band (does NOT have the tone of a tube amp but it's really handy being ablee to jam any time I want to). In small clubs a Deluxe Reverb is about all you'd need - bigger places a 40-watt amp like a Bassman, Bandmaster, Vibroverb or a 35 watt Vibrolux Reverb all work well if you can crank 'em. Old Magnatones and vintage Gibsons work well; Ampegs are usually too clean sounding. But stay away from compressors. They just compromise your tone far too much. I have a couple, but they are leftovers from when I could play electric 12-string, where a compressor is absolutely necessary to keep the thing from sounding like a sitar falling down a flight of stairs... |
Paul Honeycutt
Member From: Colorado, USA
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posted 11 September 2005 07:19 AM
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I think the Barber Tone Press is one of the best stomp box comps out there. It has a blend control to mix the compressed and uncompressed signal. I'm not using compresion on my lap steel, but I do use one with the Ricky 12-string. And theres a Presonus AC-22 in my PA rig.For the record, I used to own one of the coveted Ross compressors. It was OK, but nothing special. If you're handy with a soldering iron, the Craig Anderton Compressor from his book "Electronic Projects for Musicians" is the best stomp box compressor I ever tried. |
Randy Reeves
Member From: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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posted 12 September 2005 06:18 AM
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I dont use a compressor for my lap steel or pedal steel. I feel I have enough natural compression and all the sustain I need with those instruments.
however, my strat and tele really like my modded MXR compressor. Analogman (Mike) did the Ross mod. it's better, doesnt suck anything, and realy adds dimenesion and variety to my electric guitars. |
Twayn Williams
Member From: Portland, OR
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posted 12 September 2005 09:04 AM
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One of the tricks to successfully using a DynaComp style compressor (Keely, AnalogMan, Barber, Teese, etc.) is to keep the amount of compression quite low, and the volume at unity gain or slightly above, and leave it on all the time. Set this way a compressor can help you to sit in the mix better. It lets you be "louder" without being louder! I actually prefer using a comp this way on steel rather than electric guitar. On electric, I use it as an effect and go for maximum squish. |
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