Battle of the compressors

[MatrixClaw]

So, I recently made a trade where I had to give up the compressor on my board, my Jackson Audio Bloom v2, which I loved. Really dig that pedal but I wasn't using the boost side of it and the EQ, while useful, wasn't doing as much on my board as my parametric EQ. Since I no longer need MIDI, I figure I can replace it with something more specialized. I only used it in their Slide/Dual Compression mode, so the obvious replacement choice would be the Cali76 Stacked, but that price is crazy. I know people rave about them, though.

That said, there's a lot of interesting pedals out there now that have come out a bit more recently:

• Warm Audio Pedal76
• J-Rocket Airchild
• API TranZformer CMP
• Wampler Ego76

These all look super interesting, but there's not a ton out there on them, but they seem like they could do the super compressed and squishy clean sound I like.

But then, I keep hearing talk about the Boss CP1X and a multiband comp sounds super interesting, especially since I assume it might actually be great on downtuned distorted guitars. I just don't know if it can compress like an 1176 can. I'd love something that's useable as an always-on pedal, but I always ended up turning the comp off when heavy gain was on, as it compressed too much and lost the aggression I like for metal.

Compressor gurus, what say you?

 

[laxu]

What do you want out of a compressor?

Compressors are the pedal type I don't want to engage with too much. I don't want to think about dialing the perfect attack and release times, stacking compressors etc.

I own the Keeley Compressor Mini, a Dynacomp with nothing but a compression and level knob. It handles dry blend automatically and "just works". Small, simple, utilitarian. I wish it had a soft switch but that's about it.

My other compressor is the Strymon Compadre, which is almost as simple but with a "transparent" Studio compressor and a Dynacomp-ish Squeeze compressor to choose from. Other than that it's just blend, level and amount of compression.

 

[Orvillain]

How important is compression for you??

A compressor to me is one of those every-now-and-then effects, which I semi resent giving up board space for.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I've never really gotten on with any compressor. I've tried a bunch out and sometimes gotten pretty decent tones but they were almost always better when I turned the compressor off.

I've seen people use them really well who can't do without them but they just don't seem to work for me.

 

[metropolis_4]

Compressors are a staple for me, I’ve always been a big compressor fan.

For that really squishy “pedal compressor” thing my favorites are the plain old MXR DynaComp and the Boss CS-2.

For something a little more transparent with a blend knob the Barber Tone Press is great.

The Walrus Deep Six has this sort of chimey thing it does that I really love as well! It’s kind of in the 1176 camp

 

[MatrixClaw]

What do you want out of a compressor?

Compressors are the pedal type I don't want to engage with too much. I don't want to think about dialing the perfect attack and release times, stacking compressors etc.

I own the Keeley Compressor Mini, a Dynacomp with nothing but a compression and level knob. It handles dry blend automatically and "just works". Small, simple, utilitarian. I wish it had a soft switch but that's about it.

My other compressor is the Strymon Compadre, which is almost as simple but with a "transparent" Studio compressor and a Dynacomp-ish Squeeze compressor to choose from. Other than that it's just blend, level and amount of compression.

I've never really cared for a compressor pedal until the Bloom. I've had a DynaComp and a Keeley Comp and neither of them seemed to really do much. They were too transparent or they changed the tone in a way that I didn't find appealing (ie: rolling off too much high end). I've owned several other OTA compressors and I just don't think they're for me. Cool for a one time effect every once and a while, but the Bloom was a set-and-forget for cleans. No matter how good the cleans were on any amp, as soon as I turned on that comp, they were better.

I'm mostly familiar with studio compressors and the 1176 and Distressor are, by far, my favorite. When I used to own tons of outboard gear, they were on almost every track. I just love how they level out a signal and, especially in guitar, bring out the low-end in a way that feels wider, but doesn't chop off the top end. I'm not really looking for transparent, if it's going to take up space on my board, I want to be able to tell it's actually on and isn't so subtle that you only hear it on certain notes or types of playing.

On clean passages, I play a lot of arpeggios and big chords. I want something that evens out all the string volumes so you can hear everything. The only style of compressor I've achieved this with is a FET compressor, though a good CCA, like in an SSL channel strips can do it, too.

How important is compression for you??

A compressor to me is one of those every-now-and-then effects, which I semi resent giving up board space for.

I'd love for it to be MORE important. But, my compressor was an always-on pedal for cleans and low gain. I loved what it did to the attack and how it made the low end seem larger without overtaking all the other notes. I have a feeling that a multi-band comp like the C1PX could be an always-on pedal for cleans AND high gain, especially on downtuned guitars where the low-end gets out of hand... I'm just not sure it can do the high compression that a FET compressor can on cleans and the simple control setup makes me weary, but people rave about that pedal and it's the only one I consistently see being brought up against the Cali76 - and it's cheap!

I've never really gotten on with any compressor. I've tried a bunch out and sometimes gotten pretty decent tones but they were almost always better when I turned the compressor off.

I've seen people use them really well who can't do without them but they just don't seem to work for me.

This was me before. I think most traditional guitar compressor pedals are very transparent and don't actually compress all that much. With the compressors I've had in the pass, I sold them all fairly quickly because I felt like it was maybe a 1-5% change in my tone, which wasn't worth the board space.

Compressors are a staple for me, I’ve always been a big compressor fan.

For that really squishy “pedal compressor” thing my favorites are the plain old MXR DynaComp and the Boss CS-2.

For something a little more transparent with a blend knob the Barber Tone Press is great.

The Walrus Deep Six has this sort of chimey thing it does that I really love as well! It’s kind of in the 1176 camp

The Deep Six is another one I'd looked at. It looks interesting but not a lot about that one either. I owned the DynaComp and Ross years ago and I could never understand the hype. I think maybe they're just too simplistic for me. I'd actually prefer lots of controls so I can fine tune it, that's the one thing I didn't like about the Bloom - it just had Volume / Blend / Compression, which I felt was very limiting. If it weren't for the Slide setting, I probably would've gotten rid of the pedal because the rest were too transparent.

 

[la szum]

I mostly hate Comps on Electric Guitar..... except for certain 80s tones.... and them honky
Country licks.

Generally speaking, it just neuters the dynamics.... and for me even squashing the dynamics
and squeezing down 1 or 2dB is going to alter the feel and response. I get enough compression from
most tubes amps (and speakers) anyways---especially as the gain staging and saturation go up. .

For the special effect I love it. I've had big box/large transformer Cali 76s years ago and
they are amazing. Next level. Still have a few others here, including that Warm Audio 1176
in pedal format. It is fun. Kind of ridiculous how much it'll squeeze your guitar and massage it
into something new. I really like it. Comp is never an always on thing for me, though, for the reasons
described above. Now if I played Bass guitar or strummed Acoustic I'd want me some steady external
Compression to even out all the attack you get with those kinds of instruments. Electric guitar not
as much.

 

[MatrixClaw]

I mostly hate Comps on Electric Guitar..... except for certain 80s tones.... and them honky
Country licks.

Generally speaking, it just neuters the dynamics.... and for me even squashing the dynamics
and squeezing down 1 or 2dB is going to alter the feel and response. I get enough compression from
most tubes amps (and speakers) anyways---especially as the gain staging and saturation go up. .

For the special effect I love it. I've had big box/large transformer Cali 76s years ago and
they are amazing. Next level. Still have a few others here, including that Warm Audio 1176
in pedal format. It is fun. Kind of ridiculous how much it'll squeeze your guitar and massage it
into something new. I really like it. Comp is never an always on thing for me, though, for the reasons
described above. Now if I played Bass guitar or strummed Acoustic I'd want me some steady external
Compression to even out all the attack you get with those kinds of instruments. Electric guitar not
as much.

I never really liked playing clean until I found a compressor I liked. Now I play clean probably 50% of the time A good compressor lets me achieve more of a cranked clean tone without the volume, since it allows me to replicate the more natural compression of an amp. Even at high compression, I never felt like the Bloom was killing my ability to play dynamically. It evened out dynamics, but I could still play with a light touch and it sounded like it.

How do you like the Warm Audio compared to the Cali76?

 

[joebloggs]

Has anyone tried the Effectrode PC-2A?

 

[ragingplatypi]

Line 6 HX One.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I've never really cared for a compressor pedal until the Bloom. I've had a DynaComp and a Keeley Comp and neither of them seemed to really do much. They were too transparent or they changed the tone in a way that I didn't find appealing (ie: rolling off too much high end). I've owned several other OTA compressors and I just don't think they're for me. Cool for a one time effect every once and a while, but the Bloom was a set-and-forget for cleans. No matter how good the cleans were on any amp, as soon as I turned on that comp, they were better.

I'm mostly familiar with studio compressors and the 1176 and Distressor are, by far, my favorite. When I used to own tons of outboard gear, they were on almost every track. I just love how they level out a signal and, especially in guitar, bring out the low-end in a way that feels wider, but doesn't chop off the top end. I'm not really looking for transparent, if it's going to take up space on my board, I want to be able to tell it's actually on and isn't so subtle that you only hear it on certain notes or types of playing.

On clean passages, I play a lot of arpeggios and big chords. I want something that evens out all the string volumes so you can hear everything. The only style of compressor I've achieved this with is a FET compressor, though a good CCA, like in an SSL channel strips can do it, too.

I'd love for it to be MORE important. But, my compressor was an always-on pedal for cleans and low gain. I loved what it did to the attack and how it made the low end seem larger without overtaking all the other notes. I have a feeling that a multi-band comp like the C1PX could be an always-on pedal for cleans AND high gain, especially on downtuned guitars where the low-end gets out of hand... I'm just not sure it can do the high compression that a FET compressor can on cleans and the simple control setup makes me weary, but people rave about that pedal and it's the only one I consistently see being brought up against the Cali76 - and it's cheap!

This was me before. I think most traditional guitar compressor pedals are very transparent and don't actually compress all that much. With the compressors I've had in the pass, I sold them all fairly quickly because I felt like it was maybe a 1-5% change in my tone, which wasn't worth the board space.

The Deep Six is another one I'd looked at. It looks interesting but not a lot about that one either. I owned the DynaComp and Ross years ago and I could never understand the hype. I think maybe they're just too simplistic for me. I'd actually prefer lots of controls so I can fine tune it, that's the one thing I didn't like about the Bloom - it just had Volume / Blend / Compression, which I felt was very limiting. If it weren't for the Slide setting, I probably would've gotten rid of the pedal because the rest were too transparent.

You loved the Bloom...why not just get another one? If you were using it in stacked mode none of the other options you list are going to give the stacked thing unless you buy 2 of them, which then has you at same price as a Bloom.

 

[la szum]

I never really liked playing clean until I found a compressor I liked. Now I play clean probably 50% of the time A good compressor lets me achieve more of a cranked clean tone without the volume, since it allows me to replicate the more natural compression of an amp. Even at high compression, I never felt like the Bloom was killing my ability to play dynamically. It evened out dynamics, but I could still play with a light touch and it sounded like it.

How do you like the Warm Audio compared to the Cali76?

Well, the Warm Audio 1176 is not fetching upwards of a $1000 on the used market, so there is
that.

To me it sounds killer---especially with some Chorus.

I have also used it on Bass Guitar with some great results. Insane amount of makeup gain on hand.
It looks really great, too.


I have not tried any of the newer small box Cali Comps, though.

The WA76 is also bigger than a traditional pedal enclosure size. And doesn't have a Clean Blend which
can be very useful for the always on Comp thing.

 

[QQQ]

My two favorites are the Origin Effects Cali76 Compact, and the Strymon OB.1.

 

[maguchi]

What do you want out of a compressor?

Compressors are the pedal type I don't want to engage with too much. I don't want to think about dialing the perfect attack and release times, stacking compressors etc.

I own the Keeley Compressor Mini, a Dynacomp with nothing but a compression and level knob. It handles dry blend automatically and "just works". Small, simple, utilitarian.

I like simple plug and play too. So I use a Keeley 2 knob compressor (sustain and level). I don't need all the knobs and parameters for tweaking. Maybe I got a tin ear, or am too easy to please, because most stuff I buy sounds great right out of the box with little or no adjustment. Less time tweaking = more time playing.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

whats smarter…buying a 150,- pedal you are certain you like…or a 100,- pedal you are not sure of?
Sounds to me buying a Bloom is a good option!

Else

The Hamstead Zenith is a very nice sounding unit. Less versatile then the bloom…but very musical, does the “mix thingy”..but als an eq section you don’t use

 

[MatrixClaw]

You loved the Bloom...why not just get another one? If you were using it in stacked mode none of the other options you list are going to give the stacked thing unless you buy 2 of them, which then has you at same price as a Bloom.

Very true. I guess I'm just wondering if I actually need the stacked mode. I can get that sound out of my actual 1176 on a recorded clean guitar, so I don't really see why I'd need two. I just think the other compression settings on the Bloom weren't really setup to do that higher level of compression. If I can find another one cheap enough I'll definitely consider it because I didn't dislike the pedal in anyway, just feel like I could get more out of a dedicated comp, rather than one with a boost and EQ built in.

Well, the Warm Audio 1176 is not fetching upwards of a $1000 on the used market, so there is
that.

To me it sounds killer---especially with some Chorus.

I have also used it on Bass Guitar with some great results. Insane amount of makeup gain on hand.
It looks really great, too.


I have not tried any of the newer small box Cali Comps, though.

The WA76 is also bigger than a traditional pedal enclosure size. And doesn't have a Clean Blend which
can be very useful for the always on Comp thing.

Cool! Thanks for the review. This is the one I'm leaning towards right now, though the CP1X is definitely another strong contender. I mean, I could buy both for less than a used Cali76, so maybe it's worth trying both of them.

My two favorites are the Origin Effects Cali76 Compact, and the Strymon OB.1.

The Compadre is one I had looked at before. I love Strymon pedals. How does the OB1 compare to the Origin?

 

[MatrixClaw]

whats smarter…buying a 150,- pedal you are certain you like…or a 100,- pedal you are not sure of?
Sounds to me buying a Bloom is a good option!

Mostly just want to try different options and see if something works better. I already know I like the Bloom, so if I can't make something else work, I can always go back to that.

 

[QQQ]

The Compadre is one I had looked at before. I love Strymon pedals. How does the OB1 compare to the Origin?

Both are very transparent studio style compressors. Obviously the Cali76 has more control, but I could be very happy with just the Strymon.

 

[ejecta]

I’m not huge into compression but the compression pedals I have liked are the PRS Mary Cries and The Suhr Woodshed.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Mostly just want to try different options and see if something works better. I already know I like the Bloom, so if I can't make something else work, I can always go back to that.

Fair enough!