7 Best Compressor Pedal Options: Guitarsite Reviewed
The best compressor pedal delivers uniform dynamics and good tonal control for a more consistent sound. We’ve curated these compressor pedals and done the heavy lifting for you!
Kramer Baretta Special Electric Guitar
Yamaha Pacifica PAC012DLX Electric Guitar HSS
Ibanez Gio GRG121DX
Squier Affinity Telecaster Deluxe
Gretsch G2210 Streamliner Junior
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Although all of these pedals use the same volume balancing principle, their approach, methodology, and flexibility can vary. As such, your needs will depend on your playing style, be it versatility, simplicity, modern transparency, or vintage-style “warm” compression. Whatever your preference, you will find a fitting compressor pedal right here in this list.
What a Guitar Compressor Pedal Does
A compressor pedal deals with the nuances of dynamics. It balances your sound by lowering the level of loud strings and increasing the sound of quieter strings. It does this by “squeezing” your guitar sound to make it more dynamically (volume) consistent.
This uniformity is ideal for studio work to avoid sudden spikes in volume, which can be problematic. It also works in live situations to round off the edges of your guitar sound.
The consistency and sustain of compressor pedals can get you from balanced clean to country quack and from funky highs to tight bottom end. Another everyday use is for adding singing sustain to your lead lines and chords. Compression is a must have for country players, pop musicians, and instrumentalists who want their notes to sustain for long/
If you are going for a bluesy solo with lots of micro-tonal and micro-volume nuances, you’re better off with minimal, if not zero, compression; for funky chime or country chicken picking, you need moderate compression.
Finally, if you require long sustain for your shredding or biting rhythm tones, you will want to max out the compression effect.
Best Compressor Pedals – Your Options
Wampler Mini Ego
This is the little brother and much simpler version of the Wampler Ego pedal. All of the qualities of the “big brother” are still there. It has the same true-bypass capabilities with minimal noise. The blend knobs for mixing the wet and dry signals have the same amount of effect. It also retained the sustain knob, which applies upward/downward compression.
The only difference is they’ve simplified the tonal and attack knob and replaced it with an on and off switch. Think of this as a more streamlined version. As for the amount of tone and attack the switches apply when they’re turned on wasn’t specified how much. Judging by the sound, it’s dialed about 40-50%.
Roughly about 1.5x smaller than its big brother, the Wampler Ego Mini is an excellent alternative for those who want to set and forget their attack and tone control.
- Retains the qualities of the Wampler Ego
- Saves space on your pedalboard
- Simplified tone and attack switches
- Tone and attack can’t be customized
- True Bypass: Yes
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Outputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Power Requirements: 9V-18V DC power supply (sold separately)
- Dimensions (L, W, H): 3.5″ x 1.5″ x 1.5″
MXR Dyna Comp
The MXR Dyna Comp is easily one of the most popular compressor pedals today, and it’s hard to argue with that when you see guitarists like Tim Mahoney, Joe Perry, Johnny Garcia, and more using it.
I’d called it a classic compressor pedal for simplicity. While it doesn’t have anything out of the ordinary to offer, its straightforward compression is implemented well. There’s only the output volume knob and sensitivity knob. The pedal tightens your sound and adds sustain as you increase the sensitivity setting, while the output knob lets you adjust the volume, and that’s all there is to control this unit.
Other pedals try to be as transparent as possible. Dyna Comp is sought after for its fatter low-end sustain and its unique vintage style tone. It’s something guitarists seek to develop their unique sound.
While other compressors tend to tame the sound, Dyna Comp adds more oomph, especially in the higher frequencies, ideal for country licks and funky riffs.
It also helps that it is very affordable and looks cool with its red sturdy stomp box case. Check out the Dyna Comp if you want an affordable plug-and-play compressor.
- Straightforward compressor that works as expected.
- Limited tone shaping
- True Bypass: Yes
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″ (Instrument)
- Outputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Power Requirements: 9V-18V DC power supply (sold separately), 3.3mA (usage)
- Dimensions (L, W, H): 4.25″ x 2.25″ x 1.25″
Keeley Compressor Plus
A bit of history: Robert Keeley is a guitar player who also started circuit bending until he discovered his passion for making his line of effects and compressor pedals. One of those creations is the Keeley Compressor Plus.
This 4-knob compressor pedal provides an enjoyable experience by adding extra dimension to your sustains. Guitar tone shaping is a breeze, and it works like a charm in both clean and distorted signals.
It’s because Keeley is known to use premium components and capacitors for this boutique compressor. With this pedal, you get ultra-low-noise signal bypass or turned on. The tone knob sweetens the high end and works well with subtle or pronounced signal processing.
When it comes to single-coil and humbucking pickups, the issue is always figuring out the right attack and release. This compressor pedal takes care of tweaking with a simple switch tuned for humbuckers and single-coil pickups.
The Keeley Compressor Plus offers a variety of features, from natural compression to squashed aggressive tones, your subtle or endless sustains—it’s all rolled into this compressor pedal.
- Humbucker and single coil switch
- Boutique compressor with low noise and good tones
- Works well with any genre
- A bit pricey
- True Bypass: Yes
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Outputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Power Requirements: 9V DC, 5mA (Usage)
- Dimensions (L, W, H): 4.41″ x 2.35″ x 2″
Boss CP-1X Compressor
Out of all the compressor pedals here, the CP-1X is the most sophisticated in terms of its features. This multi-band compression allows the modern guitarist to compress specific frequencies. It boasts multi-dimensional processing that analyzes the signal, providing more control over your dynamics.
Unlike the other compressors, the 4 knobs of the CP-1X take a specific approach in dialing how much compression ratio you want and how fast or slow the attack is with the attack knob.
The 18V high headroom delivers pristine-quality audio even in the highest and lowest dynamics. This means it can handle clean and distorted sounds. Gain reduction is indicated on the LED panel to fine-tune your sound.
This compressor pedal is for the gearhead who enjoys controlling the sound quality to its fullest potential.
- Compresses specific frequencies
- Accurate level feedback on LEDs
- Low noise and pristine sounding
- On the expensive side
- A bit of a learning curve due to specific controls
- True Bypass: Yes
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Outputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Power Requirements: 9V DC
- Dimensions (L, W, H): 5″ x 2.8″ x 2.3″
Xotic SP Compressor
With artists like Andy Timmons, Guthrie Govan, and Lee Ritenour on their roster, Xotic is a brand worth banking on. Still, the Xotic SP Compressor Pedal has caused quite the buzz for a pedal that’s not from a big-name manufacturer. It garnered an impressive number of consistent positive reviews.
Most rave about its great-sounding compression, comparable to sought-after vintage Ross compressors—without the noise and hyped-up price.
Another feature that users love is the SP Compressor’s simple two-knob operation, which surprisingly allows for respectable versatility. The blend knob allows for vintage tones that can go up to modern, more transparent tones by simply turning up the blend level.
Note that internal DIP switches let you adjusts attack control, allowing for even more flexibility. The bottom line is that you are getting a boutique-quality and versatile compressor effect packed in a super compact and easy-to-use form factor.
If your pedalboard space is running low or you’re looking for a compact compressor solution, check this one out.
- Boutique quality pedal in a compact form factor
- Wish it was within the same price range as its competition.
- True Bypass: Yes
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″ (Instrument)
- Outputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Power Requirements: 9V-18V DC power supply (sold separately), 3.3mA (usage)
- Dimensions (L, W, H): 3.5″ x 1.5″ x 1.5″
Wampler Ego Compressor
The word “Ego” means a lot of things to other people. However, in the world of compressor pedals, it means applying sustain to your guitar so they hear how good you are.
The Wampler Ego Compressor pedal certainly delivers that sustain and compression.
It’s a 5-knob compressor pedal for complete control over the dynamics of your clean signal. Once you’ve determined your “sweet spot,” it’s almost a matter of setting it once and just playing around with your riffs and solos.
The true bypass switching works well and does not add coloration or noise to the signal chain. Even when the Ego compressor is turned on, and the blend knob is to the left, the signal is a clean slate.
If you want to add some glassy, high-end content to the signal chain, the tone control can help.
Thanks to its tone control, the Wampler Ego Compressor Pedal is the best if you want transparent compression with enough versatility.
- Reliable, transparent compression
- Tone control sound quality is good
- True bypass switching works well
- Needs a bit of tweaking
- True Bypass: Yes
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Outputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Power Requirements: 9V-18V DC power supply (sold separately)
- Dimensions (L, W, H): 4.5″ x 3.5″ x 1.5″
Boss CS-3
The CS-3 Compression Sustainer pedal is a sturdy and utilitarian gear worthy of its brand name. It gives you exactly what you need without added complications and has enough depth and versatility for players who deal with different music genres.
As expected from Boss, they did not compromise tone-shaping features and packed the CS-3 with several extras. Thankfully, the controls are familiar, which makes configuring convenient and uncomplicated, that is, until you tweak away from conventional settings.
The ideal use for this compression pedal is setting it to a lower compression level while allowing most of your attack to go through. Many players find great use for the CS-3 in this situation, especially when paired with overdrive/distortion effects, which add natural sustain and a more punchy sound.
If you’re looking for something more, you can go for the many modded versions of the CS-3 that many players are raving about. Still, if you are looking for a reliable and affordable compressor box that does the job, get the CS-3 and return to making music.
- Reliable and sturdy, you can expect this one to outlast your other gear.
- Simple Controls
- Great at subtle compression
- Requires further tweaking at higher settings.
- True Bypass: Yes
- Inputs: 1 x 1/4″ (Instrument)
- Outputs: 1 x 1/4″
- Power Requirements: 9V DC power supply (purchased separately)
- Dimensions (L, W, H): 5.1″ x 2.9″ x 2.4″
Look for compressor pedals that offer customizable attack, release, and ratio features. These features will allow you to fine-tune the sound to your liking and get the perfect output. In addition to these basic features, some models offer parallel compression or multi-band options.
You can blend the compressed and uncompressed signals with parallel compression to achieve a unique sound. Tilt EQ and multi-band options allow you to compress different frequencies independently, resulting in a more well-rounded and balanced sound. These features offer a lot of flexibility and can help you achieve the sound you’re looking for.
You also have to consider the power and patch connection that you’ll need to integrate your compression pedal into your rig.
You’ll eventually run out of real estate on your board. This means noting the limited space and the size of your pedals. This is why we’ve also included some mini pedals here to help you make an informed decision.
Compressor is a kind of effect that is often set once and just implemented, so mini compressor pedals should do the job well for most situations. Note that most DAWs used in home recording have built-in compressors, so a compressor pedal may not be needed.
There are many discussions and debates about the “right” pedal order. The general, agreed-upon principle is that you put the pedal at the start of your signal chain. Then, it’s followed by pitch, distortion effects, modulation tremolo and flanger, and then time-based effects such as reverb and delay.
However, it ultimately boils down to tone sounds right to your ears. Rules can be broken if it works!
When you’re in the market for a compressor pedal, it’s important to keep your budget in mind. Compressor pedals are available in various price ranges, so the best deals will depend on what you’re willing to spend.
Take some time to research the options available in your price range, and look for a pedal that meets your specific needs. Note that most cheap pedals aren’t true bypass, and will have limited features. But as you get to the average price range, you’re getting the essentials. This includes runner ups like the Diamond Compressor, Carl Martin Compressor, and the TC Electronic Hyper Gravity.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced musician, you should be able to find a compressor pedal that delivers the sound you’re looking for without breaking the bank.
Compressor pedals provide dynamic balance for guitars, catering to various playing styles. The best compressor pedal options here range from simplified designs to more intricate ones, with features like multi-band compression and tone shaping. Finding the right pedal involves experimenting with settings to achieve the desired dynamics and tone.
Regarding compressor pedals, less is more strictly applied – especially for inexperienced users. The best approach is to subtly add compression and slowly work until you find the attack, sustain, and compression settings you prefer.
Please share your thoughts and experiences with your favorite or least favorite compressor pedals in the comments below.
My fav is the dyna comp but I find the super comp w an added attack control makes a dyna comp that much better.