[DotNetTim]

Hi Guys.. I'm wanting to get a good noise gate and compressor? Anyone have any good ideas as to what brand to get? I really need delay and reverb too and now I'm thinking maybe I should buy some sorta multi effects, but I always liked pedals.. Any recommendations? I typically play the RG 550 or whatever I'm playing thru my Tech 21 into the PA.. direct which is what I'd like to keep doing, but it's a tad noisy with gain that I use and I'd like to get a compressor as my sound is fluttery for lack of a better word and I just think it would sound better from experience and I'd get a tad more sustain, etc.. but I DON'T want the noise.. So I'm stuck here guys.. HELP.. I thought about the Comptortion from Tech21 because I love their products and I emailed them and they said it was quiet because it has the gate built in.. I asked about it because I read a review that said this is true and that it's a very quiet gainy pedal.. etc..

Thanks
Tim

 

[bpd111]

I can recommend that you skip the Boss CS-3 compressor. I want to replace it with a Keeley. I also use a MXR Smartgate which works well. I use a Boss DD-3. No frills, but sounds great. Finally, I give a hardy recommendation to the Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail reverb. It's always on!

Can you tell I like pedals as opposted to multi-FX?

 

[ScottB]

I second the MXR Smart Gate.

 

[giannifive]

I also recommend skipping the Boss CS-3. It does the job but it's very sterile sounding. It doesn't add much warmth to your tone.

I think an overlooked compressor is the DOD FX80B. This is the one I use. It has a fixed attack which is right there in the middle. (You can't get that 80s "pop" sound from it.) But you can control the release and compression level. Even though it's a DOD, the pedal isn't very noisy at all. I really like the sound of it.

Some other compression pedals I researched were Marshall's Edward the Compressor, the Rocktron Big Crush, the DOD Milk Box,and the Boss CS-2 (much more warmth than the CS-3). All had good reviews from what I read online.

Good luck,
John

 

[sirocco]

Keeley Compressor and MXR Smartgate.. That's the way to go..

 

[giannifive]

Keeley Compressor and MXR Smartgate.. That's the way to go..

D'oh, of course I should have mentioned the Keeley compressor! From what I've read and listened to online it's the best. Just ask Dave Weiner. My recommendations were more for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot of money on a compressor.

 

[VanWyck]

Guitar Player magazine had a fairly recent shootout-type article that included quite a few compressors. Check their website.

 

[sirocco]

Either that or you could just mildly boost your signal with a Tube Screamer instead... Using a compressor tends to cause you to lose some playing dynamics.