Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have been told that I should be be using a compressor with my 330/12.

Why?

Steve.

Go to a local music store with your guitar and try some compressors,just to see for yourself.
This is a suggestion, not a command.

Steve, if you decide that like what a compressor does to your sound I highly recommend that you check out the hand-built units by Robert Keeley. While they are not the cheapest, they are by far the most transparent, best sounding compressor on the market. His web address is http://www.robertkeeley.com. You will find studio soundclips, including noise tests etc. I've just ordered one of Mr. Keeley's Boss Blues Driver Mod's to use for my Ric 660/6 through my Fender Blues Junior and I'm probably going to acquire the compressor for my 660/12. And to keep both of them as "true by-pass", I'm going to order the looper since the Blues Junior has no effects loop and I can't stand the sag when the pedal is off. None of the above should be taken as advertisement, just for what it is, probably the best compressor that you can find. Good luck in your pursuit!

I will use a compressor if I want a Byrds/McGuinn sound, but I don't use one all the time.

Never used one on my 12 Stringers...however, using a chorus made it sound like pipe organ...I just loved the sound!!!

I find that a compressor on my 330/12 "evens out" the tonal envelope. The instrument has great attack, but relatively poor sustain with a rather sharp decay. A compressor will squash the dynamic range while (hopefuly) leaving the tonal sparkle intact.

I used to use a compressor in the past mostly, I guess, because I heard that McGuinn used it. Nowadays, I play my 660/12 straight through a tweed Blues Junior and, at least to me, the sound is perfect. I use Ric compressed round-wound strings, have removed the bridge cover so that I can use my palm to mute (it also allows me to rest my hand more comfortably), I run the gain at about half, the treble pointed toward that overdrive switch (which is not engaged), the bass at half, the middle at 4, and the reverb (not the best feature of this amp) at about half. Guitar tone and volume controls all the way up and use the blend control on the middle position. Sounds great to me... no compressor necessary. My 2 cents.

My theory on why a compressor was essential when The Byrds first started out:

Flat-wound strings, at least after some use, tend to fall off tone-wise much quicker than a round wound string would; at that time (1965) Rickenbacker was installing flats on their 12 strings...it isn't hard to see why McGuinn liked what a compressor would do the sound of the Rick 12---much more sustain and an even signal output, both advantages that still hold true today. IMHO it never detracts from the sound if you should decide to use a compressor/limiter/sustain device of some sort with a Rickenbacker 12-string, but they sound just as cool if you don't use anything either.