compressor for you rock guys?

[nevusofota]

I am looking to replace my 90's Boss Compressor (never really 100% happy with it) and am looking to hear from my fellow forumites what they use for rock ( ) and high gain applications. The main reason I use a compressor is for sustain (I'm not into the overly squishy/country type of compression), pick attack and clarity of notes. I have been looking at the Diamond model but wanted to get "expert" advise. Also, is there a type of compressor that is more common among "shredders'? Thanks in advance.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

I run the Keeley 4-knob on my board when using a head.

In my big rig (triaxis/2:90 rack) I run the Rocktron 300G.

Also take a look at BYOC.

 

[blackba]

I am using a Barber Tone Press, but I mostly use it with clean or low gain for just a bit more sustain. I also have a Diamond Bass comp that I have tried for guitar. The Diamond is a little less transparent and adds something cool, like a sheen to the sound. It works great for bass to, which is where I use it most. The only 2 compressors I am really curious to check out are the Keeley 4knob and the Janglebox.

Check this site out. Its written with a bass perspective, but lets you know what is out there.

http://www.ovnilab.com/index.shtml

 

[StratoKing]

I've had Keeley 2 knob version. It worked for me but it does add a little noise.

 

[ACShreds]

just picked up one of these. I found it adds plenty of attack and sustain when dialed in right while still keeping the tone nice and raw.

 

[nevusofota]

I am using a Barber Tone Press, but I mostly use it with clean or low gain for just a bit more sustain. I also have a Diamond Bass comp that I have tried for guitar. The Diamond is a little less transparent and adds something cool, like a sheen to the sound. It works great for bass to, which is where I use it most. The only 2 compressors I am really curious to check out are the Keeley 4knob and the Janglebox.

Check this site out. Its written with a bass perspective, but lets you know what is out there.

http://www.ovnilab.com/index.shtml

Thanks. It's disheartening to hear the Diamond adds something to the tone. I would like something as transparent as possible. I was thinking about the MXR Custom Comp also. Mainly because Guitar Center sells them and I can take it home and try it out w/out risk if I don't like it. I heard it can get noisy though with high gain.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Any compressor can get noisy as the gain goes up. This is because the noise floor gets louder between notes as the compressor tries to maintain the set compression/output level.

If you are running high gain and using the compressor a lot, put a Decimator after it.

 

[symbolic253]

compressor's with high gain sucks ive tried my boss compression sustainer with so many different amps and the outcome is always the same....SHITTY. i have a newer boss cs-3 ill sell for 50 bucks i hate it

 

[ACShreds]

I am using a Barber Tone Press, but I mostly use it with clean or low gain for just a bit more sustain. I also have a Diamond Bass comp that I have tried for guitar. The Diamond is a little less transparent and adds something cool, like a sheen to the sound. It works great for bass to, which is where I use it most. The only 2 compressors I am really curious to check out are the Keeley 4knob and the Janglebox.

Check this site out. Its written with a bass perspective, but lets you know what is out there.

http://www.ovnilab.com/index.shtml

Thanks. It's disheartening to hear the Diamond adds something to the tone. I would like something as transparent as possible. I was thinking about the MXR Custom Comp also. Mainly because Guitar Center sells them and I can take it home and try it out w/out risk if I don't like it. I heard it can get noisy though with high gain.

My head is still in the shop so i wasnt really able to test it out as much as id like but when i was testing it at GC i didnt think it any more noisy than any other compressor. When i get my head back ill demo it a bit more and let you know.

 

[nevusofota]

compressor's with high gain sucks ive tried my boss compression sustainer with so many different amps and the outcome is always the same....SHITTY. i have a newer boss cs-3 ill sell for 50 bucks i hate it

I'm not fond of it either

 

[Death by Uberschall]

compressor's with high gain sucks ive tried my boss compression sustainer with so many different amps and the outcome is always the same....SHITTY. i have a newer boss cs-3 ill sell for 50 bucks i hate it

I'm not fond of it either

If you think any type of compressor is going to be quiet without something like a Decimator between it and the front of a high gain amp, you're just kidding yourself. My Keeley gets a little noisy on high gain setting but the Decimator makes it perfectly quiet.

 

[ACShreds]

compressor's with high gain sucks ive tried my boss compression sustainer with so many different amps and the outcome is always the same....SHITTY. i have a newer boss cs-3 ill sell for 50 bucks i hate it

I'm not fond of it either

If you think any type of compressor is going to be quiet without something like a Decimator between it and the front of a high gain amp, you're just kidding yourself. My Keeley gets a little noisy on high gain setting but the Decimator makes it perfectly quiet.

this. a compressor is gonna ad noise no matter what. i used to have a boss cs-3 and thought it was alright for high gain not thing special but alright. if you dont have a noise gate in front of your amp forget about it.

 

[nevusofota]

compressor's with high gain sucks ive tried my boss compression sustainer with so many different amps and the outcome is always the same....SHITTY. i have a newer boss cs-3 ill sell for 50 bucks i hate it

I'm not fond of it either

If you think any type of compressor is going to be quiet without something like a Decimator between it and the front of a high gain amp, you're just kidding yourself. My Keeley gets a little noisy on high gain setting but the Decimator makes it perfectly quiet.

this. a compressor is gonna ad noise no matter what. i used to have a boss cs-3 and thought it was alright for high gain not thing special but alright. if you dont have a noise gate in front of your amp forget about it.

I realize comps are going to be noisy w/ gain. I'm not too worried about noise, I just want one that isn't overly squishy, does strange things to my attack, fattens up tone, has control over sustain, and is transparent. I guess I just want compression utopia

 

[Death by Uberschall]

compressor's with high gain sucks ive tried my boss compression sustainer with so many different amps and the outcome is always the same....SHITTY. i have a newer boss cs-3 ill sell for 50 bucks i hate it

I'm not fond of it either

If you think any type of compressor is going to be quiet without something like a Decimator between it and the front of a high gain amp, you're just kidding yourself. My Keeley gets a little noisy on high gain setting but the Decimator makes it perfectly quiet.

this. a compressor is gonna ad noise no matter what. i used to have a boss cs-3 and thought it was alright for high gain not thing special but alright. if you dont have a noise gate in front of your amp forget about it.

I realize comps are going to be noisy w/ gain. I'm not too worried about noise, I just want one that isn't overly squishy, does strange things to my attack, fattens up tone, has control over sustain, and is transparent. I guess I just want compression utopia

You want a Keeley 4-knob or a BYOC kit.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I hunted down a store that had all the pedals I wanted and tried Diamond, Keeley 4 & 2 knob, and Barber in one shopping trip using the same guitar and amp. Focus on classic rock/90s metal/Nu-Metal. Keeley seemed to give it the very identifiable country effect. Diamond was pretty subtle, but the Barber was the one it was easiest to get right on the edge of being able to tell it was working hard or just slighty smoothing things. Demimator is a compressors good friend. Geting the guitar smoothed slightly and then the line noise gone makes it sound like someone that knows how to play, or how to buy the right gear....

I will eventually get a Keeley since it has that trademark Brad Paisley sound in there. Not that I can play any where near as good as him. For metal, rock, blues, Dire Straits, try a Barber. Opinions vary. Got to just find and drive 'em.

 

[nevusofota]

I hunted down a store that had all the pedals I wanted and tried Diamond, Keeley 4 & 2 knob, and Barber in one shopping trip using the same guitar and amp. Focus on classic rock/90s metal/Nu-Metal. Keeley seemed to give it the very identifiable country effect. Diamond was pretty subtle, but the Barber was the one it was easiest to get right on the edge of being able to tell it was working hard or just slighty smoothing things. Demimator is a compressors good friend. Geting the guitar smoothed slightly and then the line noise gone makes it sound like someone that knows how to play, or how to buy the right gear....

I will eventually get a Keeley since it has that trademark Brad Paisley sound in there. Not that I can play any where near as good as him. For metal, rock, blues, Dire Straits, try a Barber. Opinions vary. Got to just find and drive 'em.

Thanks for that assessment. Sounds like we are (were) on the on the same quest. The problem is, I haven't any Barbers in my area to try out. Still want to try out the Keeley since it seems like it is almost the industry standard.

 

[blackba]

I am using a Barber Tone Press, but I mostly use it with clean or low gain for just a bit more sustain. I also have a Diamond Bass comp that I have tried for guitar. The Diamond is a little less transparent and adds something cool, like a sheen to the sound. It works great for bass to, which is where I use it most. The only 2 compressors I am really curious to check out are the Keeley 4knob and the Janglebox.

Check this site out. Its written with a bass perspective, but lets you know what is out there.

http://www.ovnilab.com/index.shtml

Thanks. It's disheartening to hear the Diamond adds something to the tone. I would like something as transparent as possible. I was thinking about the MXR Custom Comp also. Mainly because Guitar Center sells them and I can take it home and try it out w/out risk if I don't like it. I heard it can get noisy though with high gain.

The Diamond is pretty transparent, but it does change the tone a bit, I actually like what it does. The diamond is also incredibly quiet. The Barber Tone press is noisy, that is my biggest complaint about it.

I also used to have a Guyatone ST2, great compressor for the money. It is similar to the Barber, but has a switch instead of a blend knob. BTW the Barber does have a color trim pot inside, which you can dial in more or less color. So you can make it sound more like a typical compressor if you want....

 

[Robotechnology]

I bought a Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone at the NY Amp Show based on the demo that I heard. This pedal may be the compressor you're looking for

http://pigtronix.com/products08/philosopherstone.html

 

[moltenmetalburn]

If you want transparent and not squish avoid the ross , dynacomp, and keeley types.

what you are looking for is an optical compressor for the "cant hear it when its on but miss it when its gone" compression.

The diamond would be a good first choice but here are some others to fuel your GAS:
BBE opto stomp

Aphex punch factory

Joemeek floorQ

BYOC opticomp which is the DOD 280a

Maxon cp101

Demeter comp 1

Strymon ob.1

Effectrode PC-2A optical tube compressor

FEA labs dual band smx optical compressor

 

[GuitarGoat]

I use the MXR Super Comp and it's pretty cool. It has an attack knob so you can dial out that really "clicky" sound if that's not what you're looking for. I'd highly recommend it.