BJFE / BearFoot fx Guitar Effects Community

So I did some rearranging in my pedal chain.

Originally: Guitar -> RMC3 -> Mont App Buzzaround -> MH -> HBOD -> SBEQ -> AM BiComp -> Wampler Delay -> Daimond Vibrato -> Amp

For the last week or so I've just been running this set. This morning I was feeling a little Saucey. The Wah wasn't quite doing it for me so I tried the Compressor all the way at the front. It sounded pretty damn good when either side of the compression was on, and, all or some of the bjfe's on. However, once the AM was off it just sounded a bit lifeless. So I tried the compressor straight OFF all over my chain and off my chain. To my surprise the set up sounded at it's best with the Comp out of the picture. The BJFE's all sounded like they had room to breath and frolic in my eardrums. Really, I couldn't believe how much of a tonal difference it was without the compressor all together.

Anyone else have similar problems with compressors doing this? I haven't tried the PGC because I thought my AM was suffice... boy was I wrong.

I also tried the chain without the modulation and they had no noticable effect in squashing the tone of the BJFE's.

I often don't like compressors. The PGC is one of the only exceptions. The other is a vintage MXR Dyna Comp from the mid 70s. You may want to check that out as well. It definitely colors your tone but in a good way.

These two are the only compressors I have found usable for my particular taste.

yup, compressors compress - squishers squish ....

the PGC is different in that while it does limit explosive dynamic changes and adds natural sustain about the way a cooking amp would ~ it also gives more note detail and presence, giving an over all feeling of actually improving the tone and feel ....

so if you dont need the squish sound or unnatural sustain - the PGC could be more what you are looking for.

Yeah, been wanting to try one out.

The part that boggles me is that when the Compressor is off is when it happens to squash the tone. Anyone know why it would do this? I thought it was true bypass is it not?

I assumed this was true bypass -- can you verify? If it's buffered and the buffer isn't reacting well in your rig then that makes sense why it's only a problem when off. If it's true bypass you shouldn't see much/any effect from it being off in your pedal chain.

...yeah thats kind of odd,,,,,

is your amp compressing --- is it a master volume and you have the pre gain up real high or some thing ??hmmm

It's an older Traynor. Basically a fender style amp with el84's. I pregain it around 4-6 and then master at 3 for home practice and 5-7 for band practice. After your comment Donner I tried various setting between the two volumes. I tried using a 9v battery and the 12v adaptor that comes with it but to no avail. I can't stomach keeping it on at all times because it is rather loud when it's first in the chain. Kinda of at an end with it. Maybe i'll try a bearfoot or mp. PGC may tickle my fancy but I'm still addicted to seeking out Bjorn's dirt pedals.

Thanks for all the suggestions though. If anyone else cares to chime in that would be great too.

I have the same trouble with Wah pedals. They are true bypass, but I can always tell when they are in-line by the drop in low mids and dynamics. I just wish the SWAW worked better with my fuzz pedals.

I think it was Geoffrey Teese that told me some footswitches can affect the sound as they age and become something less than true bypass.

I will also add that the PGC works really different from other compressors in that you can still get great dynamics with it on, it has minimal color to the tone and, like the SBEQ, it just sounds better when it is on! Nothing against Analogman, but I think he clones the old Ross compressor which tends to pump and breath along with adding a bunch of sustain and squish.

The only other compressor I got along with was the Effectrode which runs a tube at real plate voltages and is modeled after a 60's studio compressor. It really fattened up the sound and had a limiter with great sustain, but the PGC just works better with Bjorn's other pedals and as you can see below half of my board is Bjorn made, or designed, pedals.