BYOC 5 knob COMPRESSOR

[lxm]

just wondering if any of u guys have got one? how are u liking it? i have one on the way. :drool does it hold up with the high end Keeley's?

[lxm]

noooooobody?

[Phillip_H]

Check out the BYOC forum (http://board.buildyourownclone.com).

[dividedsky]

I have one on the way too, should be able to comment in the next day or 2. :)

[bduguay]

I've got a couple of orders for them too. I'm starting the first tonight so I can report back soon....
B.

[lxm]

I've got a couple of orders for them too. I'm starting the first tonight so I can report back soon....
B.

your the BYOC builder right? :BEER

[bduguay]

Guilty. :)
B.

[thiscalltoarms]

ah, I can't wait to hear what you think of them, especially since I was thinking of buying a prebuilt one.

what does the Tone knob do? I've played the Keeley and Barber Tone Press before so I get the rest of them. Does the tone knob tweak the EQ a bit? perhaps add more treble/high end sparkle?

[willamps]

I just built the new 5 knob BYOC comp. Had a problem with the build at first as I discovered the board was missing a trace connecting the tone section to the rest of the board. The people at BYOC sent me new board/parts and posted the easy fix on their forum. Very nice. Initial observation: Fantastic compressor. I have/use a BJF Pine Green, Analogman mini Bi-comp, and AYA. The BYOC can do the straight ahead Ross thing very well. The tone control at minimum setting actually allows you to add a bit more bass and cut treble a bit more than the standard Ross 15K resistor. At around 9:30 on the tone you get the standard Ross sound with just a slight high end roll off, just like an original. Past 9:00 you start to get the shimmering high end that you get out of the BJF. Bottom line: The tone control works great at matching the comp up with dark/bright guitars to get a transparent tone out of whatever you are using. Plus, it has a blend control, like the Barber Tone Press, which allows you to add a portion of uncompressed signal to get a very natural attack. Attack control works just like the analogman to keep humbuckers from overpowering it. Coupled with the blend knob you can get the same great attack as the AYA. At max compression it will squish just like a Ross, but won't get you the seasick wobble of a Dynacomp. Great design, good components, and very versatile. I think BYOC has a real winner here.

[lxm]

thnx for the review. a good one at that. stoked to get mine :D


I just built the new 5 knob BYOC comp. Had a problem with the build at first as I discovered the board was missing a trace connecting the tone section to the rest of the board. The people at BYOC sent me new board/parts and posted the easy fix on their forum. Very nice. Initial observation: Fantastic compressor. I have/use a BJF Pine Green, Analogman mini Bi-comp, and AYA. The BYOC can do the straight ahead Ross thing very well. The tone control at minimum setting actually allows you to add a bit more bass and cut treble a bit more than the standard Ross 15K resistor. At around 9:30 on the tone you get the standard Ross sound with just a slight high end roll off, just like an original. Past 9:00 you start to get the shimmering high end that you get out of the BJF. Bottom line: The tone control works great at matching the comp up with dark/bright guitars to get a transparent tone out of whatever you are using. Plus, it has a blend control, like the Barber Tone Press, which allows you to add a portion of uncompressed signal to get a very natural attack. Attack control works just like the analogman to keep humbuckers from overpowering it. Coupled with the blend knob you can get the same great attack as the AYA. At max compression it will squish just like a Ross, but won't get you the seasick wobble of a Dynacomp. Great design, good components, and very versatile. I think BYOC has a real winner here.

[puddinstone]

I just built the new 5 knob BYOC comp. Had a problem with the build at first as I discovered the board was missing a trace connecting the tone section to the rest of the board. The people at BYOC sent me new board/parts and posted the easy fix on their forum. Very nice. Initial observation: Fantastic compressor. I have/use a BJF Pine Green, Analogman mini Bi-comp, and AYA. The BYOC can do the straight ahead Ross thing very well. The tone control at minimum setting actually allows you to add a bit more bass and cut treble a bit more than the standard Ross 15K resistor. At around 9:30 on the tone you get the standard Ross sound with just a slight high end roll off, just like an original. Past 9:00 you start to get the shimmering high end that you get out of the BJF. Bottom line: The tone control works great at matching the comp up with dark/bright guitars to get a transparent tone out of whatever you are using. Plus, it has a blend control, like the Barber Tone Press, which allows you to add a portion of uncompressed signal to get a very natural attack. Attack control works just like the analogman to keep humbuckers from overpowering it. Coupled with the blend knob you can get the same great attack as the AYA. At max compression it will squish just like a Ross, but won't get you the seasick wobble of a Dynacomp. Great design, good components, and very versatile. I think BYOC has a real winner here.

From what you have to say it's the most versitile comp. out there!!

I'm interested...very interested!

[bduguay]

I finished the first order last night and I agree with most of what Willamps said. The parts I don't agree are because I can't. I've only ever played Dyna's and currently an AYA. For sure though, this a very smooth and clean compressor.
What I can speak to as well is the great design. This kit is well layed out and it went together like Lego.
B.

[thiscalltoarms]

Would it be hard for a first BYOC kit to do? I'd do the confidence booster first of course...

[bduguay]

I honestly don't think any of their kits are hard to do, just some more labour intensive and therefore more time consuming than others. Like anything else, just take your time and be patient. The 5 knob compressor is great in that it's a very well designed layout and, like I mentioned before, goes together as easy as Lego.
Good luck!
B.

[B_of_H]

the keeley and the byoc compressors are virtually identical both in sound and design (ross clones). My friend even did a side by side comparison and the only noticeable difference was that the keeley had a little more volume boost available but both had more than you'd ever need.

[SeeMoore]

Would it be hard for a first BYOC kit to do? I'd do the confidence booster first of course...

I built the 5 knob comp and it's a great compressor.

A couple things to watch out for:

Seperate ALL the resistors by value, if possible, have seperate containers for each value and label them BEFORE you solder the first one to the board.

I wouldn't use the teflon wire for the volume and sustain pots, it's kinda stiff and it's difficult to get the stand-offs to stick to the back of the control pots.

When you solder the joints close to the edge of the board DO NOT bend the ends of the wires over the side of the board, it's a very tight fit between the board and the case and you WILL get a short, insert the wire straight up, solder and clip.

Pay attention to the numbers on the square caps, they look exactly alike and it's easy to install the right cap in the wrong position.

It's a very versitile and great sounding comp, you will be glad you took your time, did the job right, when you hear it in action.

[lxm]

thnx for the tips. :AOK i have a nice chap buildin one for me i will forward it on to him :)


I built the 5 knob comp and it's a great compressor.

A couple things to watch out for:

Seperate ALL the resistors by value, if possible, have seperate containers for each value and label them BEFORE you solder the first one to the board.

I wouldn't use the teflon wire for the volume and sustain pots, it's kinda stiff and it's difficult to get the stand-offs to stick to the back of the control pots.

When you solder the joints close to the edge of the board DO NOT bend the ends of the wires over the side of the board, it's a very tight fit between the board and the case and you WILL get a short, insert the wire straight up, solder and clip.

Pay attention to the numbers on the square caps, they look exactly alike and it's easy to install the right cap in the wrong position.

It's a very versitile and great sounding comp, you will be glad you took your time, did the job right, when you hear it in action.

[Mincer]

How about this pedal for acoustic? I need a transparent compressor- not a 'squish like crazy' Boss style compressor. Currently I use a cheap Dano Surf & Turf which is essentially a Ross/MXR clone. I know it is cheap, but I like how it evens dynamics without a severe clamping or cutting.

Strange thing, I am not going for a natural acoustic sound- think more like the California Guitar Trio...single notes, looped to make chords and arrangements. Would this be a good choice?

[speed12]

Well, apparently teh Barber Tone Press with its blend is great for acoustic and so the BYOC which has a similar feature I would assume would be jsut as good. I think the blend allows the natural attack when strumming to come through but still compresses it nicely as well....i think....

[pipedwho]

How does the BYOC Compressor compare to the Barber Tone Press? Anyone tried both?

[BillyK]

How does the BYOC Compressor compare to the Barber Tone Press? Anyone tried both?

bump for a good question!

[AfterDarkMusic]

To me it looks like they ripped off Dave Barber's Tone Press :nono

It's actually a copy of the Ross compressor. They simply took the blend from barber's comp and added it into the circuit, along with a tone control. It looks like a sweet continuation of the original Ross concept and I plan to build one.

I'm not a compressor kinda guy, but I love the idea of the blend knob, and from what I've read here and other places it sounds like this is a VERY versatile circuit.

[kp8]

Yeah can i © that whole idea of the wet-dry mix or better yet can i © the alphabet? or the C major scale?

[thiscalltoarms]

true. it might be a bit cheap. but until Barber puts a tone control on his comp, I don't know if its really the investment I want. I like the BJF but I can't afford more BJF right now. so, it might be lame, but its the best one out there for the money- and it gets the tones I need with that tone/eq control.

[thiscalltoarms]

hmm, an internal trimmer? do you guys mod stuff to put it on the top of the box by any chance?