Compression Pedals

[Kahn]

It seems everyone and their mother has a TS9. Recommend some solid pedals for me. And what kind of improvements to tone can I expect. Also, how much quieter will it make me?

[RunsWithBuffalo]

Wait, the ts9 is a tube screamer. Do you want compression or overdrive?

[Kahn]

whats the difference? Im not educated on electric guitar jargon

[RunsWithBuffalo]

Ah gotcha,

So the tube screamer is an overdrive pedal. Way back when, guitarists would take tiny amps and turn them up as loud as they went to get that "distorted" sound. This was referred to as "overdriving an amp." All the pedal will do is give you some crunch and sustain.

Now a compression pedal does what all compressors do, that is, even out the sound by making the loud passages softer and the soft passages louder. This can actually make you sound like a better guitarist especially if you play through it cleanly (no distortion). You have to be careful when you are running it with distortion because you can lose control of the feedback pretty quickly. On the other hand, if you learn to control the feedback, the compressor pedal opens a lot of doors.

I will always vouch for boss pedals, I think they are great sounding and rugged as hell. Their drawback is that they are widely used and not as unique sounding as some other boutique and vintage pedals.

I love my boss CS-3 (compression sustainer), it is probably my favorite pedal. I pair it with the digitech bad monkey (not a bad overdrive pedal for 49 dollars) and get great results through my fender blues jr.

[Kahn]

So... do you need a tube amp to use a tube screamer?

[taparoo]

So... do you need a tube amp to use a tube screamer?

No. The pedal just simulates the sound of an overdriven tube amp.

[RunsWithBuffalo]

No, the tube screamer emulates the sound of an overdriven tube amp.

[RunsWithBuffalo]

Wow, got me by a second!

[taparoo]

Wow, got me by a second!

I'm very sneaky.

[Kahn]

I see. So building a board which (tube screamer and compression) would you put first.

guitar > pedal > pedal > amp

[RunsWithBuffalo]

I go compression into distortion but you can do either, you gotta experiment. What kind of electric are you using and what type of sound are you looking for?

[Kahn]

I go compression into distortion but you can do either, you gotta experiment. What kind of electric are you using and what type of sound are you looking for?

Strat, I am looking to mimic the Soldano sound. Maybe add some tremolo and a dd-3 and volume. Do you have recs for volume and tremolo?

I also don't like effects, Im looking for a more honest tone, maybe just a little crunch.

[RunsWithBuffalo]

As in Soldano amps? I think you would be better off saving for the amp than trying to use effects to get that sound.

[Klondog]

As in Soldano amps? I think you would be better off saving for the amp than trying to use effects to get that sound.

Dear lord are they expensive! I just check them out and didn't realize they were that pricey!

[RunsWithBuffalo]

I mean its a pro amp, maybe a bit to much unless you are gigging for a living. There are a lot of good tube amps out there for less. And if you think those are expensive, check out Mesa. Orange aren't bad amps either.

I've always loved Fender amps. I have a blues Jr. and for recording and small gigs, its perfect. Above that, you could get a twin reverb (really fuckin loud.)