Compressors for extra sustain?

[ToneSeeker1969]

cornish, diamond or origin effects cali 76...I hate compressors when playing amps that have pre-amp compression. I think they work better with boards and clean amps.

That's exactly what I do. I run a Suhr Hedgehog, and a Bogner Shiva pristine clean, and use a KOT pedal for light grit tones, and a JHS Andy Timmins for my heavier sounds. I have a JHS Morning Glory that I use if I ever feel like just adding a little top end to my sound. So, no High Gain metal for me these days. The Cali76 is painfully pricey to me, but I think it's probably the best for me.

 

[Viper]

Nope, delay and chorus and a clean boost.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

If you want endless sustain, install a Fernandes Sustainer, got one in my Charvel, sustains till the battery runs out haha

that's not really what I'm after. It's more of a feel thing, and added sustain with cleaner tones.

Yes it will do this BUT if you dont currently use one you may be in for more of a tonal change then you bargain for. Even transparent compressors are noticeable. The best one ive used for transparency is the keeley limiting amplifier. You can limit the range to a volume rather than squash the tone all of the time.

Clean blends on compressor pedals sort of defeat the purpose of a compressor though when looking for sustain and transparency rather than dynamic range limiting paralell compression is very useful. If there is an optical with clean blend available id try that first. If its too much try the keeley.

 

[HellraiserJohnny]

I have always duplicated the gear I use in the recording studio in my guitar rack. Yes it's a bit expensive but looking at what some of these foot pedals mentioned cost. . . . it's really not all that much different. I don't think any foot pedal can hold a candle to a 19" rack mount studio grade stereo compressor.

When using compression I always use a stereo unit and set one side up as a limiter and the other as a compressor (just like in the studio) so I can get as much compression as I want without driving the signal into distortion. Good units like Ashley CL52e and the DBX 266x are prime examples of units that have given me tons of attack off the strings and endless sustain, not withstanding, they are both tone monsters. If your getting a great tone, they will not change a thing. Naturally, if your tone sucks, it will make it more apparent.

Other advantages of a good compressor is the use of FX. Using compression I can Taylor FX that would otherwise be too wet or saturated into wicked afterburner type FX (runaway echo, regenerating reverbs etc.).

 

[ToneSeeker1969]

Xotic SP, love it!

Monster player and monster tone!