Is a compression pedal a MUST on ever PEDAL BOARD!!!?

[B_of_H]

what amp/guitar and how loud you play has something to do with it.

crank up a deluxe reverb or vox ac30 you don't probably want to use one. With a twin or pro or super? if you want some spanky squash then you'll need a pedal.

I have an orange squeezer clone (clean stuff) and a modded ross (feedback and super fusiony sustain tones) on my pedal board but my amp is super open sounding and uncompressed at ear splitting volumes. These two pedals would be pointless with some other amps like a deluxe reverb.

[Bobby D]

for me, yes.

[tzamosti]

Originally Posted by Bobby D

for me, yes.

+1...for my style, I feel like I am missing something with my clean tone without a bit of compression. Parts just flow together better, for me, with a compressor. Even use it with my light OD's...find a compressor you like and I think it makes a great sound just a touch better. I have one on my big and small board...so for me, its a necessity.

[spence]

Is it a must? No, but if you know how to use one, it can certainly help. Most guys buy one and start turning up all the knobs and then it sounds like crap and it chokes their sound. Then they sell it off and rant about it in threads like this. I started out with a Dynacomp in 1979. I put it on my homemade pedalboard where it stayed (always on) for about 4 years. I never realized how much it really affected my dynamics (not that it was really bad, I just got used to the sound) until I got rid of it. It was like taking a blanket off of my speakers. Today I use an optical comp (I don't like any other kind) on my clean sound only. It doesn't change my dynamics enough to the point that I can't live with it. Just a slight kiss to the signal and it levels things right out and I can barely tell it's on. All my strings ring out at the same volume which is great when picking or chording. In the end do you really need one? You might not, but I like what I'm hearing, and my clean sound is better with it. You just have to know how to use it correctly. Comps are completely different beasts than effects pedals. You have to learn how "not" to hear it.

[Madison]

I had an extended love/hate thing with compressors until I got the two knob Keeley. It's been on my pedal board for probably 5 years now, longer than anything but the tuner. Thing is, you'll find as many haters as lovers when it comes to comp pedals. You'll have to try one and see, but try a good one.

[Blues Wail]

Originally Posted by Biff Cooper

Is compression a must have on every pedal board? What are the Pros and Cons to compression. Forgive the newbness, all the this gear stuff is still somewhat new to me. Thanks!

If you play for Tower Of Power!

[tjmicsak]

You are also alot more apt to use a compressor with single coils than if you only play humbuckers.

[stratmaniac]

It's a must on my board. YMMV. I never turn mine off, even with drive pedals. I run mine in a pretty subtle fashion though, but I still can't be without one. Nice comp + Twin RI = happy camper.

[buddachile]

I get plenty of compression from my amps the way I set them up at the breakup point.

[Ed G.]

Originally Posted by buddachile

I get plenty of compression from my amps the way I set them up at the breakup point.

Yep, I like my super reverb b/c it compresses at pretty reasonable levels due to the rectifier tube.

[thevelourfog]

Originally Posted by monstermike

There are no "musts."

The only "must" is, it "must" make a sound.

[sabby]

Originally Posted by thevelourfog

The only "must" is, it "must" make a sound.

Mute pedal, anyone?

[triple_vee]

it's pretty cool at the extremes, too...when all the knobs are maxed out, but the overall volume is less than your uncompressed peaks. i like the click-y sound that the attack turns into, and how it low-fi's the overall sound in an intentional way. (loose analogy would be like singing through a megaphone).

[essguitarman]

Originally Posted by Hoss

the simple answer is no...

i don't care for them at all...

you can get plenty of compression from drive pedals...

+1 to that!

[Lucidology]

Spent most of my career without one ...
It's only in the last 4 years or so have I have gigged or worked in the studio with one ....

So of course it's not a must to have on a pedalboard, or even to have in front of an amp..

Yet now days I considered the compressor to be the most important pedal of them all ...
(hands down ...)