I bought myself a compressor pedal.
The choice was bewilderingly huge so…. I went for the MXR Dyna Comp because it’s the one Lowell George used. Is that good enough reason?
Anyway it sounds awesome. It hasn’t improved my slide playing any but at least I sound a bit like Lowell while doing it.
Here’s a short clip of the first thing I did with the pedal when I got home (Yes I know there’s too much chorus on it).
https://soundcloud.com/steveclarke-1/dancing-in-the-rain-slide-guitar-through-mxr-dyna-comp-clip
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WIF5fbMLD9E5zkQV2
Very cool. Lowell used two studio compressors in series to get the sound on th albums – the classic UA1176. But you’re right, on the road he used a Dyna Comp and naturally I have one. Currently I’m using a Toneprint Hypergravity comp which has a blend control which is nice and a ton of other flexibility should you be arsed (I can’t). These chaps profess to have made a pedal which captures Lowell’s studio sound, here demonstrated by Robbie Macintosh. We are not worthy.
This track from my recent blues album (did I mention that? :-)) features double slide action at one point.
My kinda blues by Jonathan Roberts
Twang, I have a hyper gravity and like it a lot. A few interesting, downloadable TonePrint settings too. I think compression is one place where digital really shines. Even the dynacomp setting on the hyper gravity I like better than my actual dynacomp.
Btw, pretty sure Lowell ran two dynacomps live on stage into his Dumble. I have a Dumble-esque amp, and that’s half the sound.
What’s your amp? A Two Rock?
Fuchs Blackjack 21 v2.
I’m seriously considering getting a 68 Princeton.
I spent a long time trying it. It is expensive but after messing about with a lot of low wattage tube and tube-hybrid amps, the Princeton sounds and looks like a “proper amp”.
I’m a Blues Junior guy, tweed with Jensen. Very happy with it.
Thanks Twang.
Your blues album sounds great.
I have a mistrust of great guitarists demoing effect pedals. I suspect Robbie McIntosh could get an amazing sound playing a Squier Strat through a Woolworth’s HiFI.
He totally nails Lowell’s tone here. It brought a tear to my eye.
he did, didn’t he. I fancy one of those pedals but they’re expensive and I do have 4 compressor pedals already…
Maybe it’s time to sell the 4 comp pedals and get one good one, Twang 😉
Origin are known for their high end compressors. The Cali76 is one of theirs and is generally considered to be the Rolls Royce of comp pedals.
My budget was £80 and I ended up spending £90 on the MXR coz it was so good.
Well one of them is a slightly poorly Philosopher’s Tone where I fried the circuit connecting it with a standard 18v cable where it requires a reverse tonality one – they told me to remove the fried component and it will be fine but it’s never been quite the same. I loved it when I got it, then disaster….then there’s a kit I made from Guitar mag (the Paranormal pedal) which is excellent but not exactly resaleable, then the DynaComp which I’m not selling, oh, and a Mooer Yellow which is so cheap it doesn’t count – nice though, then the Toneprint. So it seems I have 5. As @podicle says there are loads of possibilities with it and I ought to experiment with them but in fact I really like how it”s set currently, on my pedal board as an “always on” box at the front of the chain. I feel motivated to get them all out and have a play with them though.
Try the Charlie Sexton Toneprints for the hyprtgtavity. Download the app on your phone then just zap it to the pedal through the pickups. Amazing stuff.
Although I possess a guitar and I have mastered half a dozen chords, I’d never claim to be a guitarist, and the world of effects pedals is a mystery to me. But I love the names! Whoever comes up with them – and I presume each company has a department (or a person) responsible for the names – is a genius. Compare the devices mentioned above with some of the clunky names given to cars, hi-fi equipment and so on. I have Naim and Linn stuff and their naming policies are horrific. I won’t mention the car I drive…
Electro Harmonix were the first company to have silly names for their pedals back in the 70s. “Electric Mistress”, “Big Muff” as so on. Other companies twigged that this was a good way to get attention so now in 2018, it’s got completely out of hand and we have such delights as the “Bag Of Dicks”.
I just updated the audio on this with a different tuning and no chorus. With the Dynacomp, it was enough just to add more ‘tube’ on the amp and a bit of delay.
I love this thread. I don’t understand a word but I love it.