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Transparent compressor pedals...

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dombennisondombennison Frets: 99
On the subject of compressors... I'm pretty fussy with them (probably with listening to compression effects in detail most days at the studio) so, I'm looking into what the most transparent compressor pedals there are for guitar... What compressors have you tried and liked?
I had a Fargen Tumbleweed which was bloody amazing and almost undetectable at certain settings, but glued everything together perfectly and added just the right 'snap' on cleans. Plus the boost side sounds immense. Sadly, it broke and several techs couldn't find the fault so I'd be wary of that one again, just down to quality.
I had a Keeley 4 Knob compressor too which sounded great but needed a lot more tweaking with attack and release to get it to even things out without getting too squishy. Once I'd got it set, I could leave it on all the time.
Everyone raves about the MXR dyna comp but I found that far too obvious for me - I could hear it squishing straight away, which is fine if that's what you're after but it's not my thing.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one!
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Comments

  • Any with a blend, so you can mix it with your clean signal.

    Wampler Ego is good, Xotic SP, but best of all for me is the ThorpyFX Fat General
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  • sweepysweepy Frets: 4158
    ThorpyFx Fat General, it replaced my Cali 76 transformer large box compressor, says it all really 
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  • Any with a blend, so you can mix it with your clean signal.

    Wampler Ego is good, Xotic SP, but best of all for me is the ThorpyFX Fat General
    Cheers mate! I've been eyeing up the Thorpy Fat General for a while now... might just be the time!
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  • Danny1969Danny1969 Frets: 10356

    I like the Rothwell Love Squeeze, it's very quiet and covers all the ground you need a compressor for 
    www.2020studios.co.uk 
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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    MXR Dynacomp is really obvious as are the Orange Squeezer derivatives. The Xotic SP, is much less so and I found that to be the case with those that have a blend but I've found the original Keeley 2 knob to be really good and sits in the middle of those ones and can be left on all the time if set sensibly.

    JHS have a new mini one with a blend called the Whitey Tighty
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  • BeexterBeexter Frets: 597
    I've had Dyna Comp, Biyang Compress X,  Marshall Ed Compressor,  Mooer Yellow,  Xotic SP, Suhr Koji and Cali76 Compact Deluxe. 
    Still have the last 2 which are the closest to transparent but still add something to the sound which I like. 
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  • I have the fat general & while I’ll happily say it’s my favourite guitar pedal compressor, it’s not as good as a rack compressor obviously! - it’s very transparent, but I would mention the word ‘fat’ as that’s exactly what it does. It fattens & beefs the sound. It’s very good at what it does though. 
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  • NorthernStompsNorthernStomps Frets: 398
    tFB Trader
    Fat general 

    ta ta 

    Facebook: @northernstomps // Instagram: @northernstomps // Twitter: @northernstomps

    Specialist Retailer Of Handmade British Stompboxes // https://www.northernstomps.com/

    Currently Stocking: Hudson Electronic/Raygun FX/Zander Circuitry/ThorpyFX/Rainger FX/Life is Unfair/ Magnetic Effects/Fredric Effects

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  • KeefyKeefy Frets: 2272
    The Cali76 can make your guitar sound better without it sounding obviously compressed. I guess that would qualify as ‘transparent’.
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  • SassafrasSassafras Frets: 30273
    Rothwel Love Squeeze, for people who don't like obvious compression.
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  • Rothwell. 
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  • +1 for the Fat General. It doesn't really do the heavily-squished sound of some compressors, but is definitely the most transparent I've tried. Mine's not going anywhere.
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  • scovell001scovell001 Frets: 60
    edited October 2020
    This forum post made me find this site by pure accident https://www.compressorpedalreviews.com/all-compressor-reviews   Free the tone, empress & strymon especially sound exactly what the op is looking for 
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  • BoromedicBoromedic Frets: 4700
    Fat General went on my board and won't be leaving! It's great and whilst you know it's there doing it's thing, you can't really tell either. 

    My head said brake, but my heart cried never.


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  • KebabkidKebabkid Frets: 3301
    edited October 2020
    I just wanted to add that whilst with some compressors, it's not just what you hear, obvious or not, but it's something you can feel under fingers, with fingers or pick attack.

    The Analog Bi-Comp is good having both the Orange Squeezer-type on one side and the Ross Compressor-type (what the Keeley is based on) on the other but as mentioned, something with a blend might be more for the OP
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  • BoromedicBoromedic Frets: 4700
    Yeah, I had a BiComp, it was great at what it did but you could always hear it was on (background noise was high), and definitely felt it. The Fat General you can feel the difference but you can't hear that it's on. 

    My head said brake, but my heart cried never.


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  • markr76markr76 Frets: 360
    Fat general all the way!
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  • Another vote for the Fat General. The only pedal compressor that rivals my Cornish OC1
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  • I currently own three compressors - an API Tranzformer GT, Effectrode LA-1A and a Markbass Compressore, and have owned a Janglebox and a Homebrew Electronics CPR (both MXR Dynacomp variations).

    though if I had to choose one and didn’t want to go too spendy or have non-standard power requirements, I would go for the ThorpyFX Fat General. Covers a lot of ground and is very low noise. 
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  • BradBrad Frets: 658
    Don’t really know if it’s ‘transparent’ or anything but I really like the Drybell Unit67. 
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