Compressor Help Needed (Funk)

[Skjold]

I'm looking for a fairly inexpensive compressor that would be good for funk rhythm playing and I'm wondering if anyone could give me some help. Keely is out of my budget (especially since I'm in Japan and prices are like twice what they are in the States for most things).

I tried out a Soul Preacher today and it sounded pretty good, but was definitely a bit on the noisy side.

I was actually wondering if the Visual Sound Route 66 would be any good. I'm actually just getting back into guitar and don't have much gear so I could use an overdrive pedal as well.

I'm mostly interested in styles like funk, soul, R&B, reggae, and maybe a bit of blues. I'm not really into the whole rock, metal side of things.

Thanks for your help!

[Skjold]

So sorry for the double post. My browser locked up and I somehow double posted by accident.

[ultradust]

Look around for a used Boss CS-2 while in Japan at one of the larger marts(I had some success at the Shibuya Ishibashi shop). Shouldn't be too expensive at all and is great for funk and plinky pop.

[jazzfromhell]

Check out the Tonerider CP-1. Its only $79. Great for the price!

http://www.tonerider.com/effects/compressor.html

[Skjold]

Thanks! Are the CS-2's better than the CS-3's? I've read a lot of bad reviews of the CS-3's.

[JoeyHarley]

i have a cs-3 and it sounds great. no where near as noisy as what most people imply...i think it's just unfustified boss hatred 8)

but a better one, for not much more, is the Barber Tone Press. amazing compressor, and it's not that much more than a boss.

[clothwiring]

I picked up the Demeter Comp for my funk compressor needs. It does the job wonderfully and doesn't get in the way of the tone.

[other jackson]

I have a CS-2 and an MXR Dynacomp. Both are excellent. Another good choice would be the MXR Supercomp. I believe it's basically a dynacomp with an added attack control. like the CS-2, and will often go for cheaper than the Dynacomp on ebay.

[Skjold]

Yeah. I have read loads of good stuff about the Barber Tone Press. They are a bit too pricey here in Japan though and hard to come by.

I'm sort of thinking about trying out that Boss CS-2 because there may be a used one for sale at my local shop for cheap (need to check tomorrow). I am still a bit intrigued by that Route 66 though. It's a bit expensive over here, but the reviews on Harmony Central are great. Plus, it has a built in adjustable noise suppressor.

I read that it is basically a Ross clone. My question then is are Ross compressors good for getting that tight funk rhythm sound.

[JoeyHarley]

i have the route 66, and it doesn't have a noise suppressor on it? it is quite noisy, too. and it's not a ross clone at all. more on the super squishy side of compressors. the tone press isn't a ross clone, but is a ross style compressor. ross styles have a parralel circuit, which allows you to blend in the compressed signal along side the unaffected one. much much better sound than any keeley/mxr/boss/all other optical compressors.

and yes, ross style comps are GREAT for funky stuff. the blending allows you to bring just enough of the compressed signal in to give you the sound you want without affecting your overall tone and attack.

[Skjold]

Originally Posted by JoeyHarley

i have the route 66, and it doesn't have a noise suppressor on it? it is quite noisy, too.

If you look at the instruction pdf on the visual sound homepage it shows that there is a noise reduction switch and knob on the circuit board. It's factory set at minimum so you can adjust it if it's too noisy.

Also, I guess I was confused about it being a Ross compressor. However a place selling the Route 66 online has this info about the Route 66:

================

Is the compressor section of the Route 66 based on the Ross or Dynacomp?

The Ross and Dyna Comp circuits are almost identical to each other (except for maybe one resistor and one capacitor). However, the Route 66 takes those designs and combines them with an original tone circuit plus a pre-amp circuit, giving it far more flexibility and clean headroom (clean gain potential)

================

Given what you wrote, I assume you don't like the Route 66 compressor and wouldn't recommend it for funk. Is that safe to say? If so, I may definitely go for that used CS-2 at the shop near me if it's still available.
p circuit, giving it far more flexibility and clean headroom (clean gain potential)

[Moe45673]

Cheap? Great compressor? Simple. Marshall ED-1 "Edward the Compressor"



That Emphasis knob is great. It allows you to choose to apply the compression to only the lows or highs or both (if at 12:00). The compression sounds great, it gets really really squishy (or barely there, if that floats your boat), and works wonderfully. I bought mine used for 40 bucks.

[ToneHero]

Im digging my boss cs-2 i picked up at a local guitar shop. got it for 70 bucks and its in tip top shape. it sounds great!

[kurt1981]

Just to clarify, the ross circuit as a rule doesn't have the parallel blend, just the tone press does. The ross was used a lot for funky stuff, it's only drawback is it tends to pull some high end off the top, and sometimes the attack can mess with your picking a little. the maxon cp101 is a good one to check out. The route 66 is okay, but I wasn't so big on the compression, to me it didn't sound too rosslike at all. I'd also recommend the build your own clone compressor, cheap and it sounds great for funk stuff.

[dlab]

Can't say I've used the Route 66 but I can vouch for my man Joe's funk skills and the fact that his CS-3 sounds fine.