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Post subject: Recommend Me A Compressor!
Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2013 11:28 pm
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Hey guys, I've been playing around with my pedalboard as of late, and I added a Boss CS-3 to my rig on a whim. I haven't played with it for a couple of years, and back then I really didn't understand how to use it. Now I have a better idea about it, and I was surprised to find myself using it like crazy live over the weekend! I do a lot of hybrid/fingerpicking stuff. Not chords all the time, actually mostly for lead. I really like how the compressor boosted the softer notes that I'd have to struggle to make heard in some parts. It also did wonders for slide. I could totally see this compressor thing sticking as a part of my pedalboard.

Now, here's the thing. I like what it does most of the time, but I think it's just squishing my tone just a little too much. I messed with the tone knob until it was tolerable, but I'd like the advantages of a compressor in something a little more transparent. I've found a couple of compressors that I like so far, and even though they're much more expensive than my CS-3 (which was free from a friend!), I wouldn't mind saving up for a good one that I'll use for years to come.

The Bearfoot Pale Green Compressor is aimed at people who want a compressor but who typically don't like compressors. I guess that would be me, and I really like the tone it has on this video, but maybe it's a little too simple or too much of a one trick pony?


The other one I was looking at was a Walrus Audio Deep Six. It definitely looks really cool, and what I like about it is that it has a blend knob that allows you to blend in your dry signal with the compressed one. This one may be more versatile than the Pale Green, but would it be annoying to try to tweak live?


Anyway, I'd love to hear any compressor suggestions you'd have!

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Post subject: Re: Recommend Me A Compressor!
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:29 am
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Give the Monte Allums CS-3 Opto Plus mod kit a try - really transforms the CS-3, makes it much more transparent and less squishy - I don't really use transparent compression these days, but if I did, that's what I'd use pretty much regardless of budget as the one I had with the mods done was amazing. :mrgreen:

http://www.monteallums.com/pedal_mods.html


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Post subject: Re: Recommend Me A Compressor!
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 1:56 am
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I believe Keeley does a mod for that CS-3 also, but if looking for new go with an optical compressor. Very quiet compared to non optical compressors. I have a Pigtronix Philosophers tone, and compared to my old Dynacomp it's very quiet and transparent. I have also heard very good things about Keeley comps too.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend Me A Compressor!
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 4:52 am
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This is what I use ... been out of production for years but if you can get your hands on one then these are top notch.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend Me A Compressor!
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 6:47 am
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I play bass. Most compressors in pedal format are VCA type and these tend to kill bass. Most built-in compressors on consoles, amps, microphone preamp channels, etc are VCA type as these are the cheapest and simplest compressor circuits to make. VCA compressors use an IC or OPAMP to do the compression and they are all pretty much the same in design, however in actual use the quality of the components used matters a lot in fidelity passed and noise generated. Cheap compressors are the noisiest and seem to kill more bass.

I'm in the optical compressor camp as these seem to work best with electric bass, having a transparency that doesn't mess with the fidelity and the ones I've used are dead quiet. I now shun the VCA compressors entirely and will not bother with one again. There are dern few optical compressors around in pedal form though.

Many of the more successful studio compressors are optical compressors such as the award winning Teletronix LA-2A found in top studios since 1965 and emulated in the effects section of countless recording software packages. I was using a 2-knob Keely (a VCA based pedal) which seemed to work OK with bass but still hurt the deepest tones before switching to an Aphex Punch Factory (the old legacy 2-knob model which was orange colored.) The Aphex was actually based on the LA-2A rack unit. I found the Aphex pedal actually was the best sounding bass compressor pedal I ever used after going through many compressor pedals and trying out many more. The Aphex also was the simplest to use.

I switched to the MarkBass Compressore pedal about 2 years ago due build quality concerns with the Aphex but I never liked the sound of the more expensive MarkBass one with a tube in it any better than the Aphex. I continued to use the MarkBass pedal at gigs saving the Aphex pedal for special things. While the Aphex sounded best and was easiest to use I was worried about the cheap jacks on it failing. Yet after 5 years they haven't yet.

Aphex apparently listened to concerns in several user reviews and recently released a redesigned Punch Factory (silver colored) that addresses every single criticism I ever wrote or read about the original orange Punch Factory, including the cheap jacks which have been upgraded. They also added a third knob to the redesign making it slightly more difficult to use, yet more versatile I guess. I wish it still had only 2 knobs, but with 3 knobs it still has 3 LESS knobs than the 6-knob MarkBass Compressore. I prefer the sound of the old Aphex over the newer MarkBass.

I will be getting one of the new Aphex Punch Factory pedals eventually and I'm waiting to catch one on sale. There are still new units of the legacy design (orange) in stores. The new silver 3-knob ones are more of a pro-level build with the same optical compressor inside and those would be the ones to buy, not the old orange ones with the plastic jacks.

For bass optical is for sure the way to go and I'd rank the Aphex Punch Factory #1 and the Mark Bass Compressore #2 in performance and sound quality.


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Post subject: Re: Recommend Me A Compressor!
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 7:11 am
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I've never tried an optical, and Brother Dave may have the hot ticket there. I do have a CS3 that has the Keeley mod done by a guy on Ebay called Mikes Mods. I'm very happy with it. I think it cost an extra $40 over the price of a new stock unit. I'm pretty sure he will modify a unit that is sent to him.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend Me A Compressor!
Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:11 am
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Hi TexasGuitarSlinger.
There is a recent thread on here about compressors.
Maybe one or two pages back.
It was a good discussion.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend Me A Compressor!
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:00 pm
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I don't have any compressor suggestions Texas but it would be cool to know which one you decide on.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend Me A Compressor!
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:54 pm
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Solid Body Love Songs wrote:
I don't have any compressor suggestions Texas but it would be cool to know which one you decide on.


I definitely will! I've been checking out some of the suggestions made here, and I'm also considering modding my CS-3. I played with it again at a gig earlier tonight and while I still really wish it had a blend knob, it's not bad. I can live with it the way it is for a while.

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Post subject: Re: Recommend Me A Compressor!
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 7:50 am
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texasguitarslinger wrote:
Solid Body Love Songs wrote:
I don't have any compressor suggestions Texas but it would be cool to know which one you decide on.


I definitely will! I've been checking out some of the suggestions made here, and I'm also considering modding my CS-3. I played with it again at a gig earlier tonight and while I still really wish it had a blend knob, it's not bad. I can live with it the way it is for a while.


I'm on a break from playing with a band right now. If you want to try the CS3 with the Keeley mods, I'll mail you mine. You can try it for a month then send it back. That way it will only cost you shipping to see if it works for you. Let me know if that sounds like a plan.

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