This time I’ve got 4 pedals that are utility pedals or just always on so I don’t have as much to say about them individually.
Boss TU-2
I realized I’ve probably had this pedal for nearly 20 years. Only had my DS-1 longer. Can’t go wrong.
Boss NS-2
Recently got this to help tame all my drive pedals when I’m using my single coil guitars during recording. Using it with the Send/Return loop is the way to go.
Keeley Compressor
Had a couple compressors in the past that I was using more as an effect rather than a compressor and got rid of them. Got this sometime last year as I was recording more to clean up the sound. I just leave it on the “Always On” setting in the manual and turn it off when I use Humbuckers.
BBE Sonic Stomp Mini
People like to dunk on this pedal but I love it. It’s always on and I keep the bass lower and move the treble knob around depending on what I’m going for.
Looks good! Big fan of my boss tuner too.
Very nice. For me it’s a Cmatmods Deluxe Signa Comp, always on… and polytune. But I have so many options and I’m not done deciding (are we ever?). For example… I often have on a low-gain centaur clone (as part of the OD-200), and have recently been experimenting with the SF-300 in boost mode as an always-on. I need to experiment more.
I also have a TU2 and it has served me well. The noise gate I have is the Behringer clone of the NS2. I don’t use it any more as I don’t need it - bought to fix a noise issue that turned out to be caused by my Boss RC-1 looper.
What other compressors have you used? I bought the Behringer as it was cheap and I just wanted to see what compression was all about. I don’t really like it though and it’s not something I want to spend so much money on. The Keely has always appealed, but the price just turns me away. I was thinking of a DynaComp or a Mooer Yellow Comp - have you tried either?
I’ll have to checkout that BBE as it sounds like a “be more good pedal” and more good is more good!
I’ve used the Boss CS-3 and the Xotic SP Compressor in the past, but like years ago. Never used either of them as they were intended though and didn’t really know what I was doing.
The CS-3 can definitely get that more extreme squish sound. Think RHCP - “Under the Bridge” or Sublime - “Santeria”. Which is what I bought it for.
The SP was more subtle with the squish and like I said I was using it more as an effect rather than an actual compressor. I didn’t have it that long and that’s when I gave up on compressors for a while.
I think scooping up a Mooer comp or a used DynaComp might be a good idea if you can spare the cash. You could prob score one under $50. I saw a JHS video about compressors where he recommended getting one with a “blend” knob and while I’m not a fan of him I tend to think Josh knows what he’s talking about. The Keeley one has this feature and I think it’s why I like it better.
Thanks. I’ll try find that JHS video. I want the sustain from a compressor that everyone talks about but I’m not a huge fan of how squidgy my Behringer can sound and if I turn it down I can’t really tell it’s doing anything. It might just not be for me. I’ll keep an eye on reverb for some second hand deals.
For me it’s ego comp, and boost side of kot clone as always on.
I have a big sonic stomp, but gave it to someone. It’s sitting in a pile of dust, and wonder if I should try using it again, but I can’t fit it anywhere, and I’d probably opt for an eq instead. But it’s definitely a good tone sweetener in my limited experience. Not sure what it does entirely tbh, reminds of a mastering tool I guess.
I had the big sonic stomp for a while. Saw a bunch of people saying you didn’t need it and that it was “snake oil”. Got rid of it to make room and missed having it. Got the mini version a few years ago and haven’t looked back. Every time I turn it off it feels like my tone is being muffled. I don’t play live or through an amp though so maybe that has something to do with it.
It’s definitely in the realm of EQ/Mastering tools. I believe the original unit was a rackmount and they turned it into a pedal.
I actually got it originally cause my buddy had the rack mount and I thought it sounded good, but more that I knew it at all lol. I did actually really dig how it maximized the tone, I have no idea wth it actually does. Some kinda phase magic and eq I’m guessing.
