Extensive compressor reviews and FAQ

Here are some comps that I intend to try out and review when I get the opportunity:
(By the way, I update this page every time I review one of them, so if you see a unit on this list, I have not tried it yet.)
 
Zoom B3
BBE's newer Opto version, just to see if they fixed the problems with the "monacle" version Rivera Sustain Shaman
Earthquaker The Warden
Walrus Audio Deep Six
Whirlwind OC
Alto rack units (various)
Fishman Platinum DI
Grace Designs M102
Xotic BB Comp and AC Comp
Xotic SP (just another **** Ross/Dyna clone, but everyone still wants a review)
Aphex Punch Factory (the newer silver ugly one, now discontinued)
Presonus Studio Channel
Palmer Deepressor (if it's not another Ross, I'll eat my hat)
Overstayer Stereo Comp (FET and VCA versions)
Fuchs Royal Plush
MI Audio comp (they have already told me it's not good for bass)
Roger Mayer RM58
Eleven Electrix Opto (not yet available)
SolidGoldFX Comp Machine
FMR A.R.C.
Sebatron Caveman and Nitrous (the Caveman doesn't quite exist yet)
AMT Bass Packer/Krusher
Himmelstrutz Miss Nutcracker
BSS DPR-901 II and DPR-402
Fodera X-Caliper
Drawmer DS-241/251
ART TCS and Pro VLA
Cranesong Trakker
Drawmer 1968 and TS1/TS2
SPL Charisma (though nobody outside SPL thinks it is actually a comp/limiter)
TL Audio C-2021
Rocksonics MB-3X
Mindprint En-Voice
Also I intend to review more multi-fx pedals/racks that include compression.
 
Have you found a comp that is not on this list, that I have not reviewed? The usual reason is that the vast majority of "boutique" comp pedals are nothing more than tarted-up Ross/Dynacomp clones and variations, and I am absolutely sick of those. I've already reviewed enough of them, and they're all tediously similar to each other. And frankly I'm irritated by the driveling, asinine hype written up by most of the people that build them. Same goes for some of the more boring Orange Squeezer clones. So please bear that in mind when asking me to review that "brand new" super awesome boutique custom pedal.
 
Also note that most of the ones on the list are either pedals or 1-space rack units. There are many fantastic compressors in 2RU or "API lunchbox" module formats which I probably won't review any time soon because they are impractical for most stage musicians' rigs, and honestly I just can't afford to buy many of them.
 
Here are a few that I probably won't review, for other reasons:
Janglebox JB-2: Apparently it's just as noisy as the original, but bigger.
Akai Hexacomp: Probably cool in a geeky way; but discontinued many years ago, prone to internal breakdowns, and nearly impossible to repair.
AMT Slap Bass: It's actually a distortion pedal, not a compressor per se.
Artec Turbo: Two knobs, and one of them controls a noise gate? No thanks.
Original Ross and Dan Armstrong units: What I've read about them so far indicates they are just noisier, dirtier, and more prone to tone-suck than the newer copies and variants.
Same goes for any of the more ancient and obscure ("vintage and rare") guitar comp pedals that show up on Ebay; with compressor pedals, older is usually not better, and sometimes the reason it's "rare" is that it sucked, so not many were sold.
 

 
 
All text on this page written and owned by Cyrus J. Heiduska, 2006-2013, all rights reserved.
Copying is prohibited, but please feel free to link to this page using the link text "compressor reviews".