Guitar Compressor Pedals
Man I love a good compressor. Some years ago I discovered that with a good sounding amp a guitar compressor pedal is a much better option than an overdrive or distortion pedal (although I love them too) The trouble is for recording purposes the overdrives and distortion pedals can actually make the guitar harder to place in the mix – they actually make the sound weaker strange as that may seem.
There are two types of compression really: The type that you use for a single source at instrument level – a pedal, and the type that you strap across channels in a mixing desk for use in recording and mixing.
The Two Types Of Compressor
The pedal version in simple terms squeezes the sound coming from the guitar pickups so that the amp is driven harder. This results in longer sustain, higher volume and an overall smoothness of sound – great for lead guitar playing.
The other type is used to cut the dynamic range of a signal so that the quieter bits are louder. This makes it easier to make vocals sound bigger an fuller without distorting (digital distortion unlike valve or analogue distortion is hideous) This is probably the most used effect in digital recording, mixing and mastering. Technically its not an effect but a signal processor.
A Couple of Great Guitar Compressor Pedals
Anyway back to the one we are interested in here – the guitar compressor pedal. If you ever wonder how guys like Zak Wylde or Steve Vai get those crazy sounds – you know, the endless sustain and the little palm noises, squeals and controlled feedback stuff – it’s partly down to massive compression. Some from the tuned up amps they use and the rest from outboard compressors.
Basically all this compression makes the guitar and amp hyper sensitive so it’s often partnered up with a noise gate that stops things getting totally out of control!
My favourite compressor pedal is the Line 6 Tone Constrictor which I’ve been using for some years. It’s a nice chunky pedal that sits on stage firmly. The Constrictor has 3 settings – compact, sueeze and mellow, each offers a slightly different level of aggression which is further controlled by the level, gate and sustain controls. Sadly not available as a single pedal but incorporated in the M9 and other well – priced pedal boards by Line 6
This pedal does tend to eat batteries so a mains adaptor is highly recommended. I also have a little Danelectro Surf & Turf pedal which is a lot less highly featured with just level and sensitivity controls but it’s a useable little budget unit – good for that clean country twang or even the Dick Dale type of surf sound as the name suggests.
So if you haven’t yet experimented with compressors its time to get your feet wet and add a guitar compressor pedal to your arsenal.
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