Anyways, what makes a good compressor?
Its a hard box to shop for. Sound/video demos really don't do jack squat when it comes to demoing a compressor online. It's not really an effect as much as its a tool, and I think thats where a lot of people get confused with this unit. Which is why I've had a hard time finding one.
I bought three.
I only plan on keeping one.I think this is the best way for me to figure out how to use/buy a comp. As I've owned them before but never really understood them. My need for them is the fact I'm trying to learn more two handed tapping. Not shreader style, but clean and melodic style. Not unlike Dave Knudson and Stanley Jordon.
For this kinda tapping style the problem is that the notes needed to be smoother and the volume needs to be more balanced. When I tap (and i don't know if its like this for most people) the initial hit is accented and the pull of is quite a bit quieter. This difference in timbre makes it sound sloppy and uncontrolled.
So what makes a good compressor?
Out of the three boxes (yet to be named on purpose) I found the following things:
The compressor effect has to keep volume balanced across the whole sonic spectrum. Bass notes shouldn't be louder/quieter than treble notes; and vice versa.
A compressor should keep volume balanced, but not make it noticeable the effects in use. You shouldn't be able to hear the unit "squeeze" the note or release it. It should just sound "tighter"
In this circumstance. A compressor should not kill sustain, but allow notes to ring out longer.
A compressor should not alter the fundamental tone significantly. (like an EQ pedal would for example)
This leads us to the three boxes.
Diamond Compressor (analog optical)
EBS Multi Comp (multi-band analog)
MXR Super Comp (Analog Ross Style)
I have no idea what Ross style means
Anyways........Each one of these pedals really showed me that the difference between comps is much larger than that of similar overdrives. While two tubescreamer based boxes will sound similar. Two/three different comps function WAY differently. So I picked up my Tele (which has little sustain to start with) and plugged into my AC30 with each compressor.
EBS was the first one I plugged in as I've never used an EBS product and all I heard was good about them. At first I really really liked it. It smoothed out playing open chords (took the clang out of the top end) and tightened up the lows. Notes were more defined and you couldn't hear what I call "catch and release'
Then it was onto playing leads and tapping....which caused me to do a double take at the box top. Bass notes come through clear and punchy. Trebles notes still come through balanced, but sustain is killed off almost sooner than with the box off. I even used the different comp modes. Multi-band was the most useful. If I played a lot of ska or reggae or clean open chords I wouldn't have even plugged into the other two. But I'm not looking for a comp to do only that.
The MXR was interesting. It was a lil harder to dial in than the EBS. In fact the "attack" knob gave me some problems as I honestly don't know how to use a comp.
So what did I find? The MXR SOUNDED like an effect. Notes were noticeably squished. You could really hear the catch and release. It was fine for chord work or punchy leads. But sustained notes fell away to the side. Almost the opposite of the EBS. I was able to get a setting that helped for chords. But overall I don't think I would use this unless I was playing rock hard leads or metal leads. The Diamond. Lets save the best for last.
I pulled it out, set everything for 12:00 and left it there. In fact I haven't really moved anything since.... The EQ knob is nice as this pedal darkens the tone when set for 12:00, so having the EQ knob on there really helps for balancing out the tone. A welcome addition.
Chord work is less jangly and piercing using the bridge pickup on the Tele. Something the AC30 Tele combo creates a lot of.
Notes were well defined and volume was balanced.
Even when digging in and then playing more relaxed the chords stayed tight and the volume stayed the same... without the "catch and release" sound that drives me bonkers with compressors.
The best part? tapped notes in both registers were clean, balanced, and sustained.
The Diamond is the best of all worlds.
Until you get it to clip. Then it catches and releases.. but no where near as noticeable as the MXR or EBS.
