High gain and compressor pedals

[Meanjoegreene]

Quick question…I’ve never liked compressor pedals for a few different reasons. I’m seeing the Cali 76 on a lot of boards lately. I usually play single channel amps (or stay on the gain channel) and use my guitar knobs for cleans. I’ll use different boost pedals and such for leads when needed.

So would a pedal like the Cali 76 help with much other than my “clean” tones when I work the guitar volume? Or would y’all use it on a pretty gained up Marshall type amp, too?

 

[Hamer95USA]

I wouldn't use a compressor for a gained up Marshall type of amp. I would use an overdrive pedal of some kind for leads. I use a compressor on a clean guitar amp or a clean channel of a multi-channel amp for clean tones.

Guitar George

 

[TheToneDig]

The reason why you are seeing Cali 76 is that is the compressor used by a lot of Line6 Helix modeling software profiles and it helps tidy up the sound. It can be used with humbuckers. Medium and high gain amps are usually compressed enough and single-coil tends to be the most reactive with compressors if you use one. If you saw it in Helix and are using a real tube amp, then you probably don't need it.

 

[stephen sawall]

Your amp is already pretty compressed if you are using high gain.
I usually use compression to smooth out the sound or get sustain. Clean to medium gain crunch for single note stuff is how I use one.

 

[Meanjoegreene]

Makes sense. I’ve never liked compressors even for clean stuff. Just can’t get over how they change the feel and reactivity. I was just surprised to see a few of these on boards of players with a similar setup to mine. Most of these guys are gained up almost 100% of the time.

I could see maybe using one to help with cleans since my cleans are usually guitar volume turned down. I could see a nice compressor adding some volume and evening things out if I had a few songs that were almost always cleanish.

But yeah, I’d rather use a boost or OD for 99% of what I play. Don’t play clean enough to justify the cost or hassle of a high end pedal like the Cali 76 for a few parts in a few songs.

 

[Shask]

I once read a comment that said "Compressors are just OD pedals for clean sounds" ... and it made sense, lol. I think that is how I tend to use them.

The Helix comments above are interesting. I have not played a Helix, but I know with the old Pod HD and XT stuff, I always liked a compressor in front of them, because their modeling was almost too dynamic. You had to kill the guitar with picking for it to sound right. The compressor in front made it feel correct for a high gain sound.