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Topic: Compressor/sustain Pedal |
Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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Posted 13 Feb 2009 7:41 am |
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| Any of you lap steelers out there use a compression/sustain pedal? Like the Digitech Main Squeeze?? What are your thoughts on those type pedals; pros and cons??? Thanks |
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Steve Hamill
From:
California, USA
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Posted 13 Feb 2009 7:45 am Durham Sex Drive
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| I just picked up the Sex Drive and really like it. The compression is very subtle but but with a great feel to it. It's dead quiet too. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 13 Feb 2009 7:55 am
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Personally, I don't care for compression on my steel for a few reasons: 1) It kills the dynamic range of the instrument; 2) the higher output of lap steel pickups tend to make the compression kick in too easily and unless you've got a threshold adjustment, it's always going to sound squashed; 3) lows suffer the most because most pedals compress evenly across the spectrum and bass frequencies tend to be loudest so they get squashed, resulting in a thin sound; 4) you can get a lot of sustain with good bar technique.
Now, if you can get your hands on an Empirical Labs Distressor or any of the great studio compressors, that's a different story. FWIW, I have used many different compressor pedals and I currently have a Boss CS-3 that has the Monte Allums Opto Mod. It sounds nice on guitar, but even on guitar I prefer to go bareback.
Just my $.02
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Feb 2009 8:40 am
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I used a Keeley compressor for a while, both for guitar and lap steel, but abandoned it for the reasons Mike mentions. Another thing is that it can stand in the way of developing a good, balanced picking technique since things tend to sound smooth anyway..
These days I only use compressor to make tracks sit better in a mix, if necessary..
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"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube |
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Stephen Abruzzo
From:
Philly, PA
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