Transparent compressor?

[Surfkat]

I have a Boss compressor and also tried the Dynacomp. Neither of those would be accused of being transparent compressors. Any suggestions for a more versatile pedal that can be transparent or spank it when you want. How's that Demeter pedal or the Keeley? Other ideas?
Thanks in advance for your comments.

[James Knox]

Diamond Comp
AYA R-Comp
BJF Pine Green Compressor (my fav)

[dividedsky]

Diamond, then the Barber Tone Press

[Shaman]

I've tried: Barber TonePress, Analogman Bi-Comp, T-Rex CompNova, Menatone JAC, Aphex Punch Factory, Blackbox Oxygen, Diamond.

All pretty good in different ways, but the most transparent? Diamond hands-down. That's the only one of the above I've kept. Of course the BJF PGC is supposed to be stellar and transparent as well, but I haven't had the pleasure to try it.

Heard good things about the Keeley, but transparency hasn't been one of them. Demeter's is supposed to be good, but I heard it doesn't take distorted guitars very well -- great for clean though.

[drolling]

I used both a script logo DynaComp & an MIJ CS-2 untill recently, when I went on a compression jag & picked up a few new ones;

First up, the Marshall ED-1. Damn good little pedal for the money.. Definitely more transparent than either the MXR or the BOSS. Not true-bypassed, but the buffer's also a bit better than the Dyna or the CS-2. It's got an interesting control called 'emphasis' which shifts the compression to either the low or high frequencies.

But I had to have a JangleBox. This one's like a DynaComp on steroids, with a treble boost that'll rip your head clean off. More transparent than the others, it's still very much an 'old-school' comp. True-bypassed and booteek priced, it also needs a reverse-polarity power supply, like a vintage-style fuzz.

I was so impressed with my Diamond delay (and still am!) that I wanted to give their compressor a shot. I have an early one, and IT WILL NOT do Nashville-style 'squash' (current production model's had the comp control recalibrated). More like a hi-end studio rackmount squeezed into a pedal, it's THE MOST transparent I've heard. With a very effective 'Tilt' EQ, this one provides great clean boost & tone shaping. Also true-bypass, but I really wouldn't care if it wasn't, because I NEVER turn it off. Fantastic piece of gear!

Just recieved a BJF Pine Green compressor last week & it's everythng I hoped it would be. True-bypass & lo-noise, it provides as much squash as the Dynacomp & as much sustain as the CS-2.

While the PGC's allowed me to finally retire the old compressors, I'd have to say that if transparency's your ultimate goal, the Diamond best fits the bill.

Nice to have both:AOK

[bchamorro]

Demeter Compulator

[Tonemeister69]

Another vote for the Tone Press

[dorfmeister]

BBE Opto-Stomp

[groovetuber]

AM Bicomp or Keeley Comp! Tried em both, still have the AM Bicomp. They are both really good.

[landru64]

please clarify what you mean by transparent

[MjCartney]

+1 for Diamond Comp

[dividedsky]

Originally Posted by groovetuber

AM Bicomp or Keeley Comp! Tried em both, still have the AM Bicomp. They are both really good.

Both very good Ross comps but not what I would call transparent.

[lifeinsong]

I've tried a bunch of pedal compressors and my search ended with the Keeley...you'd be hard pressed to find a better built, more transparent compressor in a pedal.
Read the reviews on HarmonyCentral.com and check out the Guitar Player Mag shootout...it's truly that good!

[nickreynolds]

Originally Posted by bchamorro

Demeter Compulator

This is one killer compressor, but it totaly adds a little top end sparkle and thats what I love about it, so i would call it "tone-coloring"...

[tonefordays]

I tried a DOD FX80B on a recommendation a few months back. It bumped my script logo dynacomp off my board. It's the best sounding non-squishy comp I've ever heard. Adds shimmer and sustain to everything without any grit or tone squashing. I only use it with dirty tones, though, to add resonationa nd sustain to the gain of my head. The best part is it cost me $25 shipped. There's a lot of hidden gems in the old DODs.