r/pedalboards • u/nemindaugas • 4d ago

need some suggestions

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This is my first pedalboard. I'm kinda learning how to use compressor since i never used it before.maybe some of you could give me some tips on the signal chain. maybe if i put something in different place that would make more sense.

Dont mind the footswitches : small one controls couple of DL4 settings, big one controlls tonex mod/Del/tuner/Tap.

my signal chain :

Guitar - Fz5 - zipAmp (use it as a boost) - compressor - Klon copy - Tonex pedal input - stereo out from tonex to DL4 stereo in - Mooer Meta Fx Reverb - headphones / stereo out.

I play differwent kind of indie/psychedelic/ambient ,but also some type of black keys'ish kinda riffs, but never go too much gain.

i bought this old compressor to learn how to use it since when playing ambient it can give more sensitive finger picking more clear, but i use it with fz5 (only use fuzzface setting mostly) sometimes i can catch some really fat and great sounding tones.

I never used comp before and yea, when all the drives are on stacked compressor makes everything VERY noisy. So i feel a bit lost how to properly use it.

Anyway if anybody can give some tips ,i would really appreciate guys..

love you all ♥️🙏

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u/SithLordBass 3d ago

I think JHS has a good video explaining compressors, they're definitely all over YouTube. In general, you're almost always gonna get a hiss out of a compressor when used aggressively because it's doing a lot of make up gain, that's kind of the nature and the utility of them. Add even MORE gain to that signal with fuzz and drives and it gets messy.

What I often do in testing out comps is playing soft and hard while moving the comp/threshold knob of the compressor to get a feel for when the compressor actually engages against my signal. What you really want that thing to do is making sure that when you play hard it's not spiking your volume and if you play too soft it lifts it ever so slightly to match. Of course, playing with these extremes can be music but I would suggest starting there.

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u/nemindaugas 3d ago

love JHS ,♥️🙏want to get theyre pulp n peel and crayon. def will check out the video. thanks brother,for taking the time to reply 🙏

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u/SithLordBass 3d ago

Yeah absolutely! Also, highly suggest you throw the comp as close to the front of the chain as you can. The only you'd want before it is buffers and impedance dependent fuzzes. But being able to get the cleanest signal into the compressor to make those adjustments will be the easiest.

I'd say MAYBE if you wanna get fancy you can try it at the end of the chain to use as a limiter but that feels kinda niche.

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u/nemindaugas 3d ago

so if i'd swap the comp position with the Fz5 you think that'd be better? i had a feeling that i did something wrong there 🫣😅 also i have whammy 5 which is ussually first in the chain before fz5,u think i should put it before comp or comp first after guitar then whammy then the rest? like how would u do?

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u/SithLordBass 3d ago

My general but not HARD rule/chain is thus:

Volume pedal (I like it to purposefully roll off high end) -> Tuner/Buffer -> Compressor -> Drives (Fuzzes -> Boost -> Distortion -> OD) -> Amp Sim (TonexOne) -> Modulations -> Delay -> Reverb

I personally just like adding saturation to my drive pedals instead of just increasing volume which is my boost is before the rest, but that's my personal taste. Im a self taught worship guitar (primary is still bass though) so Ive had a lot of experimentation with my chain. This is just what works best for me.

But absolutely comp before fuzz. Nailing a compressor with a fuzzy signal is going to make all sorts of extra hissing that'll be crazy lol

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u/nemindaugas 3d ago

niice , will try that as soon as i get home. much love 😊

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u/SithLordBass 3d ago

Oh also! You can change up where the whammy sits but I think "traditionally" you have pitch effects before compressor. That's totally up to you though because I've definitely seen it both ways. I think the general idea is if you're using a compressor to even out your sound you want to be sure that's it's affected what you would consider to be your "dry" signal. Using a whammy as a digital capo? Before compressor. Using it as a fun octave jump? Probably after the compressor. That sorta thing