• From: Southampton, UK
  • Registered: 2011-09-06
  • Posts: 231

Re: Who is using compressor? What you got?!

I was told that you should never use a compressor with a tube amp as it reverses the natural compression of the tubes and screws with your tone etc., so since converting my stage amps to all tube I've never used one and can never see me using one.  It would have to go into the guitar line and frankly I want as little between my guitar and my amp input as I possibly can get away with.

Gibson LP '89 Custom * Gibson LP '04 Classic * Gibson JB LP Studio * Fender 50th Ann. Deluxe Strat * Gibson Explorer Pro * Epiphone Korina SG * Michael Kelly Patriot Premium * Ibanez 105NT Artcore Custom * Takamine acoustics * Fender Blues Deville 4x10" * Marshall DSL100 and DSL50 * Marshall 1960A * Laney LH55 * Bugera V55HD * Bugera 212VT * Marshall 1912 * Roland Cube 60

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  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: Who is using compressor? What you got?!

Coolaxeman wrote:

I was told that you should never use a compressor with a tube amp as it reverses the natural compression of the tubes and screws with your tone etc., so since converting my stage amps to all tube I've never used one and can never see me using one.  It would have to go into the guitar line and frankly I want as little between my guitar and my amp input as I possibly can get away with.

Wow, I never heard that?  It won't hinder my decision to use one, but still thats interesting.  Some of the compressors do have some EQ controls on them to keep much of your original tone intact when they are engaged.  Either way, I've never had one that drastically changed my sound, at least not in a bad way at all.

  • macg1
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Who is using compressor? What you got?!

Coolaxeman wrote:

I was told that you should never use a compressor with a tube amp as it reverses the natural compression of the tubes and screws with your tone etc., so since converting my stage amps to all tube I've never used one and can never see me using one.  It would have to go into the guitar line and frankly I want as little between my guitar and my amp input as I possibly can get away with.

Yeah never heard that about the whole tube amp thing either... Most pro and studio musicians use tube amps, and a lot of them use compressors.  Well anyhow, yeah I try to keep little in the way, but to create textures and make contrasting tones, effects pedals are useful.  I have it down to basics now, but may add a comp some time in the future.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint

22 Reply by wharris (edited by wharris 2011-12-08 18:12:50)

  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: Who is using compressor? What you got?!

I don't think that tube amp thing is accurate.What most people don't know is that much (if not all) of the music they buy has some element of compression used on the music and vocals. Used properly, it can be a good thing.

  • macg1
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Who is using compressor? What you got?!

I agree.  fiddling around with this dynacomp I found a setting that sort of emulates the note bloom of a tube-rectified amp.  Running the output at 3 o'clock, dialed the sensitivity back to 9 o'clock.  Most diode, solid state rectifier amps just don't have that note bloom.  Just have to get a lower noise comp version of this MXR; it is quite nice.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • macg1
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  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Who is using compressor? What you got?!

I will likely hold out until Celestial Effects comes out with a comp.  They are designing an optical one, and knowing those guys, it will be nothing short of stunning.  I will borrow some of the ones suggested by y'all to see how it all holds up in the live rig.  Thanks for everyone's input!

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Southampton, UK
  • Registered: 2011-09-06
  • Posts: 231

Re: Who is using compressor? What you got?!

macg1 wrote:
Coolaxeman wrote:

I was told that you should never use a compressor with a tube amp as it reverses the natural compression of the tubes and screws with your tone etc., so since converting my stage amps to all tube I've never used one and can never see me using one.  It would have to go into the guitar line and frankly I want as little between my guitar and my amp input as I possibly can get away with.

Yeah never heard that about the whole tube amp thing either... Most pro and studio musicians use tube amps, and a lot of them use compressors.  Well anyhow, yeah I try to keep little in the way, but to create textures and make contrasting tones, effects pedals are useful.  I have it down to basics now, but may add a comp some time in the future.

I was not entirely convinced by what I was told to be fair, so I tried one and ended up moving it on as I couldn't seem to get any better sound from my tube amp than without it.  It seemed to me that to run the comp meant making compensatory alterations to the amp settings to get near the sound I wanted and for me that made no sense. 

I know that comps are good for solid state amp set-ups and particularly if you're playing country to get a tighter sound for example.  There are some amps I believe that have built in compression of sorts to act as a noise gate (the Peavey Vypyr range does for example - YUK!).

I guess it comes down to what combination of gear you have to get the sound you crave and whether you're happy spending X amount of time messing with gear before getting down to the serious business of playing! lol  Good luck with whatever you end up with though.

Gibson LP '89 Custom * Gibson LP '04 Classic * Gibson JB LP Studio * Fender 50th Ann. Deluxe Strat * Gibson Explorer Pro * Epiphone Korina SG * Michael Kelly Patriot Premium * Ibanez 105NT Artcore Custom * Takamine acoustics * Fender Blues Deville 4x10" * Marshall DSL100 and DSL50 * Marshall 1960A * Laney LH55 * Bugera V55HD * Bugera 212VT * Marshall 1912 * Roland Cube 60

Coolaxeman's Website