Take Your Sound to the Nest Level Using the Best Guitar Compressor Pedal
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Keeley Dark Side Workstation Guitar Compressor Pedal -
Seymour Duncan Studio Grade Guitar Compressor Pedal -
Wampler Ego Compressor V2 Guitar Compressor Pedal -
Xotic Effects SP Guitar Compressor Pedal -
Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer Pedal -
Buyer's Guide
The guitar compressor pedal is an underrated tool in your average guitarist’s effects rig, but nonetheless a piece of gear that can subtly take the sound coming from the amplifier to the next level. The compressor pedal not only thickens and tightens a guitar tone by evening out the volume differences between separate notes, but can also increase the sustain of the signal which is a result that most guitarists normally lean on distortion for. In this case, distortion isn’t necessary, but a compressor can also be used in conjunction with distortion or overdriven signal to boost it further. Here are the best guitar compressor pedals in 2022, with each one we've chosen featuring knobs to control the amount of compression that is used so players can decide how extreme they want the effect to be, each pedal can be powered by a 9V battery, and they also provide little to absolutely no effect on your guitar rig’s signal when the effect is not activated.
Comparing the Best Guitar Compressor Pedal for 2022
Keeley Dark Side Workstation Guitar Compressor Pedal - Best Guitar Compressor Pedal Overall
Keeley’s Compressor Pro guitar pedal offers state-of-the-art studio-caliber compression in the form of a stompbox. Like most compressors, you’ll find the standard knobs dedicated to Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, and Output Gain. The Pro also offers an auto mode that automatically adjusts the envelope based on what you’re playing – so if you’re not one for fiddling with knobs, this is good news. The pedal’s LED screen not only clearly signals when the compression is actually in effect, but also gives players a visual cue as to how much gain reduction is being implemented via a seven-segment LED ladder. The Compressor Pro is also a true bypass pedal, so the rest of your guitar’s signal will remain unaffected when this unit is not activated.
Seymour Duncan Studio Grade Guitar Compressor Pedal - Runner Up
The Seymour Duncan Vise Grip guitar compression pedal offers a range of potential uses for guitarists looking to tighten up their tone. Four knobs control the pedal’s Attack, Volume, Sustain, and Blend – the latter allowing players to create a mix of both the compressed signal along with the original sound. Players can totally squash their tones by cranking up the effect, or use it to achieve a more subtle compression. A 3-position Mid/Full/High switch also provides control over your signal’s EQ. And because the Vise Grip is a true-bypass pedal, the unit will never affect the guitar’s signal when it’s not in use.
Wampler Ego Compressor V2 Guitar Compressor Pedal - Honorable Mention
Wampler’s main goal in creating their Ego Compressor guitar pedal was to provide an effect that strengthened/boosted guitar signal without leaving its mark in a noticeable way. They definitely were successful in that endeavor, as the Ego Compressor is transparent – even as it is able to totally transform the character of the guitar’s signal. The pedal’s Sustain and Attack knobs are standard compression staples, while the Blend knob allows players to control the mix between the dry, original signal and the effect. The Tone knob provides some EQ sweetening that is just icing on the cake. And like any great compressor pedal, this one is true bypass – so your signal will remain intact should you ever opt to actually turn this effect off.
Xotic Effects SP Guitar Compressor Pedal - Consider
The legendary Ross Compressor pretty much set the standard for guitar compression, and that unit is exactly what Xotic was aiming to emulate with their SP Compressor pedal. The pedal’s compact design allows it to easily squeeze into most pedalboard spaces, even if the area is already crowded. The pedal’s output knob is capable of boosting signal up to +15dB, while the blend knob provides control over the mix between dry signal and the compressed sound. The pedal’s actual compression can be controlled via a three-way switch, and the unit’s internal DIP switches allow players to control four attack/release options to add extra punch to the effect. The SP Compressor can be powered by a single 9V battery, or by an optional AC adapter.
Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer Pedal - Best Guitar Compressor Pedal
The BOSS CS-3 Compressor/Sustainer pedal allows players to compress the signal of their guitar in any way they see fit. Compression can often be a confusing concept for people to grasp, but the controls on this pedal make the whole process simple. Knobs for Compression, Attack, Volume, and Emphasis (which functions sort of like a tone control) make it easy to dial in the exact amount of the effect that you’re looking for. Compared to many other compression pedals available on the market, this pedal touts a very affordable price tag, which gives it a leg up especially for those buying with a budget in mind. The way that BOSS manufactures their pedals makes their products extremely durable, so you won’t have to worry about causing any damage through routine use. And like most BOSS products, this pedal offers a five-year warranty.
Buyer's Guide
Choosing the best guitar compressor pedal can be a tedious task, we know. After it is a huge investment, and you only want the best of the best in return. However, as soon as you start searching, you come across a flood of brands with different models, each claiming to be the best – and eventually, you are left with nothing but confusion. So how are you going to choose the best guitar compressor pedal for yourself? Don’t worry. As always, we are here to the rescue!
There are a lot of factors and features you need to look for when it comes to buying compressor pedals. From functionality to controls to effects, you need to look for hundreds of things. To help you give a hand and make a smooth purchase, we are compiling a comprehensive buying guide below. Keep Reading!
Buying Considerations for the Best Guitar Compressor Pedal
You need to consider a lot of basic and essential factors before finally purchasing the best guitar compressor pedal. Most of these factors depend on your personal preferences, while the rest depend on the quality of the model you are going to purchase. Want to know about those important buying considerations? Here you go:
Compressor’s Functionality
Basically, the function of the compressor is to squash the signal in a way that it sends all the signals on the same level. It also has another feature, which is to remove any dull sounds from your guitar. As some sounds are audible and others are not, so the compressor brightens the tone so the softer notes can also be heard. A very convenient factor of the compressor is that it can be placed on any part of the pedalboard as well and will provide the same functionality.
Control Panel
When you are looking for the best guitar compressor pedal, always make sure to pay attention to its control panel. All compressor pedals come in different types of sizes; the bigger ones have a larger and more complex control panel, while the smaller ones have a more compact and straightforward one. However, the smaller ones lack some of the features. So, it is essential to consider your requirements first, and then buy a model with the required control panel.
Bypass or Buffered?
Signals can not always be perfect – Most of the musicians don’t like any interruptions in the signals when the pedal is off. A bypass pedal is specifically designed for this as it does not interrupt the signal at all. While on the other hand, buffered ones have a significant impact on the signals. So, if you are someone who doesn’t like any interruptions, go for the bypass ones. If not, then choose the buffered one!
Battery Operated or Power Supplied?
When it comes to buying the best guitar compressor pedal, you will come across two options: battery-operated or power supplied. The battery-operated ones are slightly expensive, but you will have the freedom to use the compressor anywhere, anytime, without worrying about the electricity. While on the other hand power supplied ones are relatively cheaper, but you will always need a power supply to use. So, the decision to this totally depends on your personal preferences.
Vintage or Modern?
You will come across a lot of old compressor models during the hunt, and there is nothing wrong with buying them. However, keep in mind that it won't have all the new controls and effects that modern models have. And if you just love the appearance of vintage models, you can easily find a modern compressor pedal with an old-school and vintage look as well.
Best Guitar Compressor Pedal Key Controls
After the buying considerations, let us go through some standard but essential controls you need to look for in the control panel of the best guitar compressor pedal you are going to buy. Here are the list 4 most essential controls and what they really mean:
Sustain/Compression
Sustain/compression is probably the most essential control; it controls the amount of compression your signals will receive. The higher the compression, the more level of noise you can add to your signals.
Attack
The attack knob controls how quickly you will be able to add the compression. If the attack is low, you will get a low portion of compression. However, if you have a higher attack, the compression would be higher as well.
Release/Recovery
As the name implies, Release/Recovery controls are responsible for bringing your compressed signals back to normal. They also allow you to adjust a time to bring back those signals.
Ratio
The ratio is a control that you will mostly find on high-end models, but worth every penny. This control allows you to adjust the volume when the compression hits the signals.
Conclusion
Now that you have gone through our top 5 picks for the best guitar compressor pedal, we hope you are all ready to kickstart your purchasing process. Just keep all our buying considerations and key features in mind, and we promise you will choose the best of the best for yourself.
Also, don’t forget to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. We always love to hear back from you!
Best Guitar Compressor Pedal FAQs
Q.1) What makes a good compressor pedal?
Ans. A good compressor pedal will always provide you with the best and balanced sound, a solid tone, and the perfect compression. Also, it should have all the Gain-staging, modulation, and frequency effects along with all the basic controls for a content guitaring experience.
Q.2) Is buying the best guitar compressor pedal worth it?
Ans. Buying the best guitar compressor pedal would be the best thing you will do to fulfill all your musical desires. It is useful, versatile, and will help you a lot for taming your dynamics.
Q.3) Can you use a compressor pedal as a boost?
Ans. Yes, you can definitely use a compressor pedal as a boost. Just turn the volume up and keep the sustain down, and you will see your compressor turn into a clean boost!
