Diamond Compressor

icabod · Post by **icabod** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 1:43 pm

Too bad I missed the beer store on our way to Craigs that eve. Howard, I know we passed it..oh well...it was raining also.plus I phoned a buddy whose place we passed at Vic. Park, and never even noticed the all to fammiliar sign..."BEER STORE"..R

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:56 pm

Well, Richard, all was not lost - thanks to our generous host.

trancedental · Post by **trancedental** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:44 am

"From listening to the demo on the Diamond page,
yes, it has a good tone...but as soon as i hear
it click on, i'm also hearing noise. The
JangleBox i have is _very_ quiet and that's with
the bright setting on ...if you can, try before
you buy"

Possibly from the change from bypass mode to the high Comp / EQ setting? I'm sure the bright switch on the Janglebox would be similar after being in bypass mode! I would suspect that those clips are miked guitar amps picking up some of the room noise as well? I know from experience that the Diamond compressor is as quiet as a studio compressor.

I think you can only get a brief impression on what products are like from online sound demos but I suppose they help to a certain extent. Different recording equipment Guitars & Amps / techniques make it very hard to tell . I did listen to both before I bought mine as I had no way of auditioning both.

The demos on the Diamond site seem to be Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson guitars all though famous makes of guitar amplifiers. Pity theres no 12 string Rickenbacker at the moment only a 330 through a AC30!

Seems that the Janglebox Demos are mosty direct to desk without the bypass being played & the ones that use a guitar amp seem to have some FX at the same time? I thought they were putting Rickenbacker demos up?

It would be nice to hear both pedals at once though, no chance of any dealer in England doing that?

arrow201 · Post by **arrow201** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:58 am

Yes...i dont know if any stores are carrying the JangleBox for one to try or if they're
available only from mail order.

ok...i was a little hasty in my comment

...i first listened to the Diamond at work
via headphones which will of course will catch every ambient noise ...the demos sound
much better listening home through speakers

But yes, as you said best if possible to hear both side by side. As the name applies,
JangleBox really brings "the sound" out of a Ric ..especially 12 stringers...don't
know if the Diamond can create that same sound

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 11:53 am

Just saw this thread! Yes Kevin it was a Keely we a/b'd with the Diamond. They really are different animals though. The Diamond is an opto based compressor, as mentioned here earlier. It is very subtle, yet when the tone is taken up to 8-9 and the compression is on full, the 660/12 goes very Byrds in tone, however with sustain into the next decade.

I don't get any additional noise using the Diamond except on very high gain models with my AD120. With my tube amps, no more noise than without.

What I really like a lot about the Diamond is the lack of percussive pick sounds even with high compression. Some folks use an EQ pedal with Valvetronix amps to "lift the blanket" off of them. I find the Diamond a better solution.

John K. is quite right, I never turn it off. I need to tweak the EQ (tone) and volume and that's it.

I tried the Diamond, the Keely and a Janglebox in the "better quality" end as well as the Boss and DOD compressors. No question for me and my needs the Diamond get's 100% marks. For straight up Ric jangle, the Jangle box was great, while the Keely was not quite what I needed, although it was incredible through my boutique tube amp. The rest are just toys, IMO.

...Dean

trancedental · Post by **trancedental** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 1:31 pm

There's quite a few posts on http://www.thegearpage.net/board/forumdisplay.php?f=4 about both the Janglebox, Diamond & other top notch compressors like the Barber Tone Press(?) mentioned . Plenty of information, opinions & a few people using Rickenbackers with them.

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:55 am

I just picked up a used Diamond Compressor at the Markham L&M, so I'll post my impressions one I've had a chance to play with it a bit more.

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 2:24 pm

So I tried the Diamond Compressor using a 660/12 through a Traynor YCV40, and I must say it's an impressive little pedal! I tried it briefly at the store just to make sure it was working (it's dated from the summer of 2005), so this was my first chance to run it through its paces. Finally my Rickenbacker 12's sound like they should! A very transparent sounding, quiet effect that evens out the signal and allows the highs to shine through. The controls are straight forward and easy to figure out. The EQ knob is a nice feature to help fine tune your tone. I also tried it with a 4001 and it tightened up the sound quite nicely. It's well constructed pedal made by a small company in Nova Scotia (I'm assuming those are the owner's signatures on the back plate). Here are a couple of pics:

philhowes · Post by **philhowes** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:30 am

Oh man! You beat me to it!

I was at that store on Saturday and saw that compressor there but they were too busy and I figured I had spent enough on myself already this year - so I hope you enjoy it!

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:49 am

Sorry to scoop you Phil! It actually wasn't greatly discounted, and the only reason I got it there was because I had received a L&M gift card for Christmas. David Love had mentioned at the Toronto Rick-fest last September that you could get a good deal on these at the Twelfth Fret, (if you mentioned his name).

philhowes · Post by **philhowes** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:58 am

Yes - I was at that Rick-Fest last September - I hope we organize another one. I also ran into Dave at The Arts in Newmarket early this month. He also encouraged me to buy a 12-saddle bridge for my guitar, which I did, but haven't had it installed yet. But I am seriously in penance mode these days because of the amount I spent on guitars during 2006! And any trip to 12th Fret can be dangerous.

Oh well - very soon another year will start and I will have a fresh beginning.

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:24 pm

Phil - I'm e-mailing you off board about another matter.