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.
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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.
Looks good! Big fan of my boss tuner too.
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 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.
