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Post subject: Sustain with clean sound
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:46 pm
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Hi. I've bought a Mustang III recently and I can't find a way to adjust the compressor to get good sustain with a clean sound.

The sound of the 65' Deluxe model at low gain is beautiful, but every setting I've tried with the compressor before or after the amp has little or no effect on sustain.

Has anybody been able to get good sustain with a clean sound?
Is the compressor effect in the Mustang III broken?

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Sustain with clean sound
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 3:22 am
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I've never had a problem with the compressor - but then I don't use it much (I prefer a punchier attack-and-decay sound to the notes!).

First, make sure you upgrade FUSE and the amp firmware to the current version. This topic:

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=72279

talks about it, and you can download FUSE (which should then automatically update the firmware when you connect your amp) from here:

https://fuse.fender.com/

Note that if you search the Fender website for downloads, etc, you may get some older pages that have links to previous versions (at least I did the last time I tried it - unless Fender have cleaned it up since then), so be careful to check. The above link is the latest version.

Second, if you want to keep the sound clean, put the Compressor before the amp.

Third, make sure your guitar volume is turned up - the compressor can only help sustain a sound if the sound has sufficient volume in the first place.

Finally, adjust the compressor controls: I don't have the amp in front of me so can't remember their names, but what I do is adjust the overall compressor level until the 'tails' of notes have enough sustain. Then change the amount of compression to attenuate the attack (ie the early part of each note) to the level you want.

Well, that's what I do; hope it's also helpful to you.

One other thought is: do the guitar strings sustain in the first place? For how long do the notes 'ring' if you play the guitar unplugged? Old or dirty strings will have less natural sustain; a worn nut or bridge will also dampen a note, as may worn frets etc. (Not suggesting you have an old or dirty guitar, just thinking of possibilities!)


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Post subject: Re: Sustain with clean sound
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 9:30 am
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scott-uk wrote:
Second, if you want to keep the sound clean, put the Compressor before the amp.


I agree with all your suggestions except for this one, scott-uk. The compressor's output can tend to boost the incoming signal via "Make Up Gain" and can overdrive the Deluxe's "preamp" making it dirtier sounding. Keeping the amp model's gain setting low keeps the sound clean - especially on the Deluxes. Putting the Compressor in the Post Gain position works better as it not only helps the sustain but also helps boost the Deluxes' output as it becomes impractically low at low gain settings. I too love the clean sounds coming from the Deluxe models... more so than the Twin clean sound. I like the "sheen" from the Deluxes.

O.


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Post subject: Re: Sustain with clean sound
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:22 am
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Quote:
The compressor's output can tend to boost the incoming signal via "Make Up Gain"

Orcatraz, I see your point. I was thinking of the compressor more as an attenuator of the loud 'attack' part of each note - in which case putting it before the amp would help with keeping the signal going into the amp (model) 'clean' and below distortion levels.

Yes, obviously the compressor also boosts the quieter part of the signal and I hadn't really considered that boost taking the signal over the amp input's distortion threshold. Maybe I just play too quietly for that to be a problem :) - note to self, play louder!

As with all these things, both options (pre or post amp) are valid and will give different sounds - each of us picks whichever sound works best for us. Actually, I'm going to try Orcatraz's suggestion as I don't think I've ever put the compressor post-amp before on the Mustang, I'm curious now what it will sound like!


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Post subject: Re: Sustain with clean sound
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:28 pm
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scott-uk wrote:
Quote:
As with all these things, both options (pre or post amp) are valid and will give different sounds - each of us picks whichever sound works best for us. Actually, I'm going to try Orcatraz's suggestion as I don't think I've ever put the compressor post-amp before on the Mustang, I'm curious now what it will sound like!


It will sound differently, scott-uk, and you'll have to use it even more sparingly if you don't like that squished attack sound. I try to split the difference myself as I do use that softer attack sound sometimes and higher compression ratios tend to squish strummed chords too much. Boy, it's really been a while since I've tweaked my MII 'cause I can't remember if the main compressor effect has an attack parameter - I tend to think it does.
Anyway, this is the crucial control if you like higher compression settings for increased sustain but want to keep most of the attack intact. Slower attack settings will allow more of the pick attack's sound to come through unaffected as the compressor will react more slowly to the incoming signal. This helps increase sustain without adversely affecting the pick attack too much. You'll have to play with it a bit to find what works for you.

O.


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Post subject: Re: Sustain with clean sound
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:42 pm
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Thank you very much for your advice, Scott-uk and Orcatraz. I set the amp gain to the minimum, the guitar volume pretty low, the compressor after the amp (with Threshold at min and Level close to max) and then turned the amp volume high. It works great.
I appreciate your help!


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