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Vintage threads from the first ten years

Stompbox Compressors

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3/18/2000 6:24 PM
MikeZ	Stompbox Compressors I am looking to build a realtively simple guitar compressor...anybody have any suggestions?? How about Jack Orman's Q&D Compressor line? Thanks.

3/20/2000 4:46 PM
Mark Hammer	For a clean, cheap, functional, foolproof compressor, with lots of control, it doesn't get much simpler and cheaper than the Q & D.

3/20/2000 11:07 PM
MikeZ	Has anyone heard of the Whisper Compressor over at Midwest Analog? Has anyone tried the thing out?

3/21/2000 2:33 PM
Mark Hammer	Haven't heard it, but it is essentially a reworking of the Anderton compressor/limiter, with more contemporary op-amps and a tone control. The Anderton one has served my well for nearly two decades. I see no reason why the Whisper shouldn't serve you as well. Neither is intended to have some idiosyncratic tone or dynamic characteristics.

3/21/2000 6:51 PM
Rebel420	Any recommendations on tube-based compressors that will work well for both instrument AND line level signals?

3/21/2000 10:07 PM
R.G.	Sure. The LA-2...

3/22/2000 6:02 PM

I've built two of the Whisper Compressors. They are the quietest stompbox compressor I've encountered so far. It has a wide adjustable operating range. The two drawbacks compared to other stompboxes is that it requires a +/- supply, so you need a pair of 9v batteries, and an enclosure larger than the cute 1590BB. I don't know if the chips for that Whisper are still readily available.

I have purchased parts for the Q&D Compressor, but haven't gotten around to building it yet. This is a simpler unit to build than the Whisper, is less expensive, fits in a small enclosure, and uses a single 9v supply or wall wart like we're used to, so it can be more easily integrated into a standard pedalboard array. I have confidence that the Q&D unit is a good one, certainly good enough for guitar applications, but as I said, I haven't built one yet.

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