Compressor?

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:08 am

any of you guys use a compressor with your rigs?

peewee · Post by **peewee** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:12 am

I'm using an old MXR Dyna Comp for the time being....'til I find something a little better. When used with my c64 and flats, I can dial in a pretty convincing post '65 Macca tone, especially when a pick is in use. What are you looking at, Sean?

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:36 am

The Demeter Compulator is by far the best stomp box compressor I have found. It's a tad pricey but does it's job without killing your tone. It can be very transparent but I prefer a little "squish" mixed in with my overdrive and chorus.

gearhed289 · Post by **gearhed289** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:39 am

I have a Bellari LA120 tube compressor in my rig. I love it. VERY subtle, yet effective. Here's one now!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bellari-Tube-Compressor-Limiter-LA120_W0QQitemZ140136000393QQihZ004QQcategoryZ23793QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

peewee · Post by **peewee** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:40 am

Brian, is this the Optocompulator you're talking about? I've been trying to get as much info on this pedal as possible w/o any luck.

Love that name........sounds like a weapon from a really bad '50s Sci-fi "B" flick! "Puny humans! We are your superiors! Bow down before your overlords or we shall release the wrath of the Optocompulator upon your pitiful species!"

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:48 am

I use a Keeley. It's a repro of the old Ross with top grade components.
Tonally transparent, true bypass (as pretty much all good effects are now), uses a standard Boss-type 9V power source.
Not cheap, but not too expensive.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:51 am

It's just called "Compulator" but it's optical (whatever that means) so maybe Optocompulator was the original name.

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:53 am

Here's an Ebay link to the one like mine.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/DEMETER-PEDAL-Compulator-COMP-1-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ120141059507QQihZ002QQcategoryZ41414QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:58 am

They must have an optical switch, rather than a mechanical one. Far more reliable.

peewee · Post by **peewee** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:59 am

That's the one!

incubus2432 · Post by **incubus2432** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:16 am

I stand corrected, those Keeley units are excellent as well. I forgot about it when I said the Demeter was better by far. I went with the Demeter because I found a better deal on it. I'd say they are comparable in quality performance. IMO, virtually identical......but I'm tone deaf.

The Demeter uses a standard Boss 9v adapter as well (I use a Dunlop DC Brick to power my 7 pedals). All you have to do is reverse the polarity (cut, strip, flip, solder, tape and you're all set). Just FYI.

alan · Post by **alan** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 5:45 am

I have settled on the EH Black Finger. It is also an optical tube driven compressor, and is very transparent. Nice squish, as well as a bit of a boost if you want it.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:14 am

Stompboxes = bad for me. fewer chords the better. my guitarist is recommending a DXR 160 series. They are rackmounted which is perfect for me.

qwezirider · Post by **qwezirider** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 6:25 am

I used an FMR Audio RNC1773 for the longest time until I dumped my Peavey amp for something with more beef. Haven't had a need for the compressor with all the headroom now. But when used, it is a very clean and transparent unit.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:31 am

No correction intended, Brian!

You posted that the Demeter was the best you had found, the Keeley is the best I've found, though I've only tried 3, so that's a pretty limited spectrum!
I think I paid $219, maybe less. It was over a year ago.
Excellent, fast service.
Robert Keeley has a pretty illustrious clientele, so I went by that as a recommendation.
And the blue LED looks pretty cool shining up through a thick blast of fog!

I use mine mainly as a limiter, to keep the low notes, particularly those from the 5 string, from pounding the hell out of my amp. If I don't use the comp. the power amp limiter is working almost all the time on lower notes (I play pretty aggressively).

The Diamond compressor (made right here in N.S.) is reputedly a very nice piece, but was not available yet when I was looking for mine, so I haven't tried it.