How do I use a compression/sustainer pedal?

[SpinWheelz]

I've listened to demos on YouTube, I've read some threads here, but I can't really get a good handle on what I actually gain by using a compression/sustainer pedal. And maybe that's because a) I don't really know what it does, and b) when/how I should be using it.

Any help? Cheers.

[huw]

Ok - a)what it does: a compressor is like having someone with their hand on the volume control: when you play louder, they turn you down, when you play quieter they turn you up. The result is that your playing sounds more even in volume. Over done this can sound really odd, but judged right it sounds like you are a great player with amazing control over your picking.

A second benefit is that because the quiet bits are now louder, the guitar sustains longer: think about it, when a note is dying off it's getting quieter. And what does a compressor do to the quieter notes? It turns them back up.

These two things will happen to your guitar signal naturally when your amp is distorting, a compressor lets you take advantage of the effects using a cleaner sound.

b) when you should use it: short answer - any time you want a clean sound to be more even. Have trouble picking clean arpeggio patterns & having them come out all the same volume? The compressor is your friend. want to play some hot country style lead (which by definition means a clean sound)? Compressor again (actually pretty much every blazing country lick you've ever heard has been played through a compressor) (disclaimer: ok, not "every" lick, but you get the picture?) Want to switch from arpeggios to heavy strumming, but not leap up in volume by too much? Compressor again. See the pattern?

It's not all about clean sounds though - by cranking the level control you can use a compressor to add sustain to distorted sounds. Sometimes you don't really want to add any more gain when you go into the solo, but you want the notes to hang on. Compressor? Bingo.

The down side of compressors is that if you like to use your guitar's volume control a lot, the compressor can get in the way & a level of compression that is just right with your volume on 6 can make your guitar seem to disappear into the band when the volume is on 10 (because it's compressing more, so you haven't gone up in volume as much as you'd like). So it's best IMHO to set them up for a given level of guitar volume, and stick with that - if you're a "leave it on 10" guy anyway, then no worries...

[SpinWheelz]

That was really helpful, huw. I've got a fairly clear picture now of ways to use that pedal. And I think I need one! Cheers, mate.

[nakleh]

Good post, huw!

[Harpozep]

Here is undoubtadly one of the most tasteful uses of a compressor ever. Carlos sustains when he needs to at will. A combo of great volume control, feedback, pickup switching and the adding of a compressor at times brings it all to life.

Carlos holds a single note for a minute between 3:30 and 4:30

YouTube - Santana - EUROPA - GUITAR SHOW - 1979

YouTube - Santana - EUROPA - GUITAR SHOW - 1979

[nakleh]

wow, that was sick.

[Liam]

Excellent reply, Huw, but one thing to add.

Because a compressor is like having someone at the volume control, when you stop playing they turn the volume all the way up. Because there is a tiny reaction time between what you play and the volume getting turned down, as well as evening out volume they put a really nice click at the beginning of what you're playing. Great for funky rhythm playing (Dave Gilmour), and sounds amazing if you're using the compressor to drive an overdrive / distortion pedal.

Bit of a "must have" pedal for me, I love mine.

Liam

[GibsonSlash]

Thanks for the explanation huw.

Now where should a compressor be put at?
I have this as my pedal layout:
Amp <- Reverb <- Delay <- EQ <- OD <- Guitar

[Liam]

I'm not Huw, but I put mine between the guitar and the OD.

[SpinWheelz]

Well, I scored a used Boss CS-3 yesterday for $40 locally. I put the pedal at the end of my effects chain, just before the signal goes into the amp (I don't have an effects loop). For some of the reggae skanking I'm doing, I can already hear a nice difference. I also got clued in really quickly that the Sustain knob turned all the way isn't always a good thing. I had some weird delay/echo things going with that knob in that position.

So far so good. Thanks everyone for all the advice.

[srmaximo]

Speaking of feedback in that Carlos video--cranking up your compressor can get you awesome feedback at very low volume levels.

[notjustdrew]

Compressors do more that even out the volume... (at least to listen to) they can give you a more percussive sound (hence funk and some country) and can also give a nice swell to clean stuff by varying the attack.

Also, not strictly for compression but they can be used to push your amp or other pedals.

[huw]

I put mine first in the chain, right after the guitar & before even my volume pedal. If it was after my OD & distoriton pedals I wouldn't get the same hike in levels that I expect from them. If I'm going to use the compressor I'll set the volume on the guitar high, then use the volume pedal to ride the signal level hitting the rest of my fx.

For me there's no point putting a compressor after my fx - when I hit an OD I want the volume to go up!

[SpinWheelz]

Thanks for the advice, Huw. Any thoughts on putting it before or after the EQ, given that I have my signal going straight from guitar into the EQ before going elsewhere onto the FX chain.

[huw]

Hmmm.

Depends if the EQ isn on all the time or not. If you switch it in & out then to me that makes it part of the FX run, so I'd put the comp first. If the EQ is always on then you could think of that as part of the "guitar sound". In that case I'd maybe try the comp after it to see what that was like. My gut feeling is still comp first though, even in that scenario.

Still, suck it & see, as the actress said to the bishop...

[SpinWheelz]

That's quite helpful, Huw. Thank you!

[GibsonSlash]

I did the test (Comp after EQ) on mine, it doesn't sound as good as the comp were put BEFORE the EQ.

[st.bede]

Originally Posted by notjustdrew

Also, not strictly for compression but they can be used to push your amp or other pedals.

+1, I use my comp for that a lot, great with the epi valuve...and different comps sound different...some or more dirty (my old MXR) and some are more clean and sweet (my juicer) and my soul preacher is mellow and warm

[notjustdrew]

Originally Posted by st.bede

+1, I use my comp for that a lot, great with the epi valuve...and different comps sound different...some or more dirty (my old MXR) and some are more clean and sweet (my juicer) and my soul preacher is mellow and warm

yeh they really can add alot to the tone- my moen comp is really bright and pushes the treble on my OD nicely.

I think alot of people just use comps as volume boosts though and complain when they are noisy. You really need to think about what you want an effect to do.

[dennistruckdriver]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compres...lectric_guitar)