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

[Hemispheres]

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!

No.

[Jimmy Love]

Nothing is a must have. It depends on what the player wants to have at his/her beck and call.
I use a compression/sustain pedal for some of the sounds that I like to use. It sounds pretty cool on a clean strat sound or for the smooth sound of the neck pickup on my les Paul.

[Rockprocess]

I thought so for a very long time. However, I'm compression free now for about 6 months and my overdrive/distortion and dynamics have never been better. I miss is slightly for clean playing though.

[chuckmoose]

Compression can be used for a clean boost, or to kick in an overdrive pedal for even more sustain. I use several OD pedals that have very little natural compression, and sometimes it's really nice to have a compressor in front of them to make things "sing" a little more during leads. That said, the compressor would be on eht e first things I would take off of my board if I was downsizing. BTW, I use an old MXR Dynacomp, it's still my favourite thing I have tried so far...

[blackba]

I don't think a compressor is a must have in a guitar rig. I used to think it was a must have for bass, but now I don't use one at all.

I find my barber tone press the most useful when playing clean or light OD at lower volumes. With a band, I can crank my amp more and so don't bother with a compressor.

[The_Whale]

Originally Posted by Biff Cooper

I do do allot of live clean playing.

then get a compressor.

they're pretty cheap, and at some point in your playing you'll find a use for it.