Compression Sustainer CS-3

[Michele C.]

You know that every other day I think that a compressor might save my tone and spare me bad looks and invites to turn down, while preserving body and heft.

Today I bought for 40 euros a pre-owned CS-3 from a guy at a local guitar exchange fair. I did it because my Aphex is behaving strange and unpredictable. Maybe it's time to look for strain on solder points, since all connectors are on the motherboard.

Well, I was so unimpressed with the CS-3. Its compression is rubbery, brutal, and sounds like driving with the handbrake engaged. I tried a lot of settings, but there is always too much compression for my taste.

I tried it on guitar with a Joyo overdrive I bought at the same fair and, well, it sounded so good, used as a buffer with a twist, driving the overdrive nuts.

So, I am still hunting for a good compressor, maybe the MXR this time or, if I win the lottery a Mark Bass.

On the other hand, the compressor in my Yamaha head (BBT-500) and my Behringer rack compressor (one more second hand bargain) satisfy me much more, but I wanted a stomp box to keep in the gig bag for when it's time.

 

[jeremy c]

I've got the MXR. It's pretty subtle.

 

Don't use a battery: it eats batteries for breakfast.

 

And don't daisy chain a power supply to it. It needs a lot of milliamps.

[b5pilot]

I also have the MXR M87 bass compression pedal. It has become an essential part of my rig now as it does a very nice job of evening out my signal train. It has a good set of controls not usually found on other stomp box pedals and the sound like Jeremy said is pretty subtle.

 

Not so sure about not daisy chaining a power supply to it as I'm using the compressor with a couple of other pedals daisy chained to a I-spot power supply with no apparent problems.

[Michele C.]

Yeah, I should have known, the MXR looks great on paper and has the controls we found only on rackmount compressors a decade ago. The Aguilar looks very good too.

Good news is that I believe I will get the same money back when I will trade this one for an MXR.

[Russkull]

I have a Guyatone ST2 Compressor/Sustainer that I use on bass sometimes. It can be set to be crazy (notes ring for days and days) but also subtle if needed. Only drawback is that it can emphasize any noise from my Jazz pickups if I'm not careful, but I think that's probably true of all compressors.

[Bob Gollihur]

I'm not a big compressor fan, but when I found the need to use one I loved the light but effective touch of the Really Nice Compressor

 

"Super Nice mode for near invisible compression. This mode cascades three stereo compressors in series to reduce compression artifacts."

 

It's in my son's studio and I sometimes regret handing it over.

 

[Michele C.]

I like the RNC control panel. Precision in labels and controls is a good sign for a tool.