A
compressor effect limits the dynamic range of a signal, boosting the softer sounds
and limiting the louder ones – it’s the opposite of overdrive. What makes the compressor an
essential part of the guitar and bass player’s toolbox are the many beneficial side effects of this
treatment. Most of all, compressors sustain the notes without degrading sound quality. They are
also used to keep the peak sounds from breaking up, especially important for bassists who want a
smooth clean bass line. Many guitarists like to use compressors to add a percussive, clicky sound
to their playing or to alter the attack/decay characteristics of their sound.
Noise Reduction and Noise Gate Pedals
Because compressors can also be used to reduce
distortion, Sam Ash Direct includes in that category noise reduction and gate pedals all of which
act to reduce hum and noise in your signal.
Here are some compressors, gates, and noise reduction pedals for your consideration:
The
Boss CS-3
Compression Sustainer Pedal is a very popular all around compression sustainer pedal.
With low noise design and control over level, tone, attack, and sustain it does the job well for
both guitars and basses.
It is unusual for a high-end boutique pedal to be in high demand, but this feat is achieved
by the
Keeley Compressor Pedal from Keeley Electronics. This pedal is made with true
audiophile circuitry and is made with the quality of professional rack mount studio equipment. Of
course it has a true bypass switch so it won’t interfere with your signal when turned off.
The
MXR M102 Dyna Comp
Compressor is inexpensive and simple to use. This is a great tool for producing that
percussive sound on a clean guitar. For Bass, consider MXR’s higher end M87 Bass Compressor, which
gives you studio quality circuitry and full control over your sound. With the Bass Compressor let’s
your full dynamic range come through until you reach your compression threshold indicated by status
LED’s.
Boss also has a very good solution to noise suppression in the
Boss NS2 Noise
Suppressor Pedal. The NS2 is particularly effective at eliminating the noise and hum
that can be associated with some guitar and bass effects setups and amps.
The
MXR M135 Smart Gate
Pedal is another great unit for clearing out the sizzle and hum from a string of
effects and a high gain amp. This is studio electronics squeezed down from a half rack size into a
minuscule stomp box, so it will never cutoff your sustain in the process of cutting out the noise.
Roctron Reaction
HUSH , acclaimed as a potent noise killing machine by Guitar Player Magazine, is a
high-end pedal at a low-end price. HUSH will removed the noise from your effects set-up and kill
the hum from your non-humbucking pickups, without damping any of your sustain. Rocktron recommends
that for best results, you put HUSH in your effects chain after you distortion and modulation
effects (such as chorus, flanger, and phasers), but before any delay and reverb effects. Hush is
studio quality electronics in a small package with True Bypass circuitry.
