Please help with compressor suggestions

[kurt1981]

Hey all, I'm looking for a new comp pedal, and am not sure which way to go. I've had the carl martin as of late, but it's just not doing it for me, can't put my finger on it. I like the subtleness of it, so the keeley and ross clones are out for me. I've had the analogman juicer, and it's nice, but I want a leave on all the time comp. I didn't dig the barber, it felt like it took just the tiniest something away from my rig. So, I'm thinking of the emma, the demeter, or the diamond, and any others anyone has in mind.
Any help would be most appreciated, and thanks in advance,
Kurt

[Rhys]

you might see what you can find out the diamond comp. i haven't owned one, but i've heard it's a nice, transparent comp.

[pipedwho]

If you don't mind going rack mount, that'll significantly open up your options for a transparent compressor.

But, in a stomp box sized enclosure, I was most impressed with the Barber. Since you didn't really gel with that one, you may prefer the Diamond - it was very transparent for that 'always on' compression.

[mbrown3]

I have yet to hear a compressor that sounds as good to me as the Barber does, so if you don't like that one, I'm out of suggestions!

So, I guess this is a totally useless post...sorry! :o

[kiko]

i love the keeley compressor.

[ckofahl]

The compressors that you've stated that you don't like are some of the best, but my suggestion would be to try going without one for a while and see how that effects your preception. Sometimes doing without a paticular pedal and then going back to it can re-new an appreciation for it in a way that was overlooked. I've done that with guitars that I've not played in while, gone back to them and re-discover them in a new fresh way. I own the carl martin and love it, also now use the keeley and have replaced the carl martin for a smaller footprint (the keeley).

[kurt1981]

I just feel that most of the ones I owned robbed me of high end, including the keeley. I don't like the really squashy comps, I more use it as in a studio environment, I like to smooth out peaks, but not overly squish. I'm thinking either the demeter or diamond, but can't try either one. Thanks for all the help guys, please keep it coming!!
Kurt

[guitarzan]

a couple of options-
try the 4-knob keeley which lets you adjust attack and decay and might make it more subtle
OR
try the modded BOSS CS-3 which has a tone knob and might allow you to add the sparkle back in.

[dannopelli]

I just feel that most of the ones I owned robbed me of high end, including the keeley. I don't like the really squashy comps, I more use it as in a studio environment, I like to smooth out peaks, but not overly squish. I'm thinking either the demeter or diamond, but can't try either one. Thanks for all the help guys, please keep it coming!!
Kurt

The Barber will do this. It has a blend control. You can dial in any amount of compressed and uncompressed signal you want.

Mine is always on. About 35%-40% compressed, (10:00). Takes the edge off power chords but leaves all the attack in solos.

[LonestarGtr]

I've been through most compressors, but I haven't tried the Diamond. Lots of good things to say about those, though. I've tried opto-comps in the past and haven't been wowed by them. My favorites are still the original Boss CS-2's from Japan and the script Dyna-Comps. I'm currently using the CS-2 as my script is getting repaired. I actually found that the baby blue Boss Limiter (LM2) is a great pedal for subtle comp left on all the time. It doesn't rob tone or suck high end. I will probably use it more in the future as well.

To me, the Keeley's rob highs while the Emma loses some lows, although it has a very sweet top end. The Emma is more studio quality and has a hi-fi sheen to it. The Maxon 101 is nice for a more pronounced squish, like a really good dyna-comp.

I think if you have to use one and want to leave it on, for $65 try out the Boss Limiter or find a beat up CS-2 on ebay. The CS-2 sounds a little middy sometimes, but in a mix, it's really not an awful thing. Most all of Brent Mason's work in the 90's was predominantly CS-2 as well as a bunch of the newer guys like Troy Lancaster. The Keeley is nice for warming up really bright Tele's. I use my CS-2 on all the time with the sustain around 9:00 and it's working for now.

Hope this helps.

[Rhys]

I just feel that most of the ones I owned robbed me of high end, including the keeley.

Mark Hammer has an easy mod to get some highs back in on a Ross clone. You just put a small cap (.0015 uF) in parallel with the 10k output resistor. I haven't owned a Keeley so I don't know if he does this mod or not. If you're into fooling around with your stuff it's an easy mod though.

[kurt1981]

Sounds great guys, I'll check into the mods. I did own a boss cs2 years ago, and wasn't floored by it, but you know how our tastes change!!! I like the ability to control the attack and release of something, but if it sounds good enough, maybe I can live without that. I seriously must be the only guy on the planet that didn't like the barber, even with the blend option, I felt like something was taken away. I tried messing with the internal trimmer too, but couldn't get a sound I liked. I love that top end sparkle that you can sometimes get with a non-ross comp.
Any other suggestions are always welcome, and again, thanks all of you for your help, I really appreciate it!!
God bless,
Kurt

[Janine Doubly]

I like squishy comps on my electric (an old Ibanez Cp-835) but I use a Demeter on my acoustic rig (running in the effects loop on my Baggs Para DI) and it is VERY nice and clean. More a limiter than a compressor on the lower settings and at higher settings, it can give up nice old school "Beatles" type compression. I bet it would be a worthy choice for electric guitar. It does not rob my acoustic of any tone and it stays on all the time.

[kurt1981]

Hey all, I took the plunge, and ordered a diamond comp, let's hope it's what I'm after. Thanks for all the help, I have an old ross clone lying around here somewhere, I may check into that mod mentioned earlier. This forum is so great, I really appreciate all the help, God bless,

Kurt

[Cotton]

And I've owned a Keeley for years. And I really like the Carl Martin Comp... So, I may not be the one with the answer...

But... If the Diamond doesn't pan out, you might consider the Janglebox at www.janglebox.com .

Its gettin' a lot of talk in the upper midwest... good luck!

Cotton