Empress Compressor

[shnakle1]

If you are using compressor the fretboard is very sensitive? so you can easily play legato?

Thank you.

[j0hnnyonthetube]

Can anyone tell me if they have compared the Keeley C4 Compressor to the Empress Compressor, and what did they prefer better? I'm in the market for one, not looking for price, just quality and the best pedal compressor.

[Eldererr]

Can someone please explain the difference between This Empress Compressor and actual Empress ParaEq? Arent they both doing the same?

[goldenmonkeycolor]

out of stock... weak sauce

[FunkKlock]

bergs!!!!!!

[FunkKlock]

@FunkKlock i mean burgs!!!!!!!

[jesman1]

I like the idea of a compressor adding sustain (especially for clean parts). But don`t like the fact that you can hear it squashing the initial attack, therefore making it sound muddy to my ears. Does the Empress (or any compressors) have a mix control to where one can still have the dry signal present to keep the attack? Read in reviews this is a very good compressor none the less. Does it squash (pun intended) a MXR DynaComp in quality and sound?- heh

[LukeManos]

@jesman1 yes it has a mix knob, so does the wampler ego, barber tone press etc. Apparently yes (to the dynacomp question)

[JoshFazzz]

Sorry but, I need more cowbell out of this compressor!.

[1goodguitar]

Sadie calling for more cowbell, what a hoot ,Id loved it. Good demo, Im just about to pull the trigger on this bad boy.

[Hatafuriyamanokaiju]

Cowbell not included

[wileysupergenius]

Love this pedal!! Finally a serious studio compressor in a pedal. Transparent when you want it, squishy when you want that. Never muddy. The led metering is also fantastic. This thing does wonders in a Class A amp's pedal chain. 

[pombrunetti]

Wampler Ego / Keeley 4Knob / Empress Compressor

3 Pedal the winner? thank

[andrewwglenn]

@pombrunetti

The BJFE PGC :)

If that cannot compete, the barber tone press.

[tjalla]

GO BURGS!!! 

[bolomsa]

Amazing guys !!! Sounds like ooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhh )))))))))))))

Keeley , Diamond , Wampler - kids , compare with Empress

[bobbyatomic]

I sometimes think by the colours they use Empress doesn't want people to buy their pedals.

[everonlyallforthee]

PGS hired Burgs?!?!?!! Amazing!! Is Sadie on staff now as well?

[YofterMofter]

Louder sounds better 99% of the time, so it would be nice to have the compressed and the uncompressed volumes at the same level.

[billmeedog]

Cool compressor!

I did notice that Burgs kept the Mix-setting at 100%-Wet for ALMOST the whole demo. That coupled with the super-fast Attack (and a moderate-input/threshold) made for a bit of a "squashy-sound!"

It's just that the Mix-control (which allows those cool parallel/New York-style compressor-settings) is a sweet feature, so it would've been cool to hear that demoed and explained in greater detail (for those who haven't heard what that before.)

Sell those features Burgs - LOL!

[jamiev4]

Aussie at PGS!?

[MrDblStop]

Wow. Want.

[jakevonwurden]

This pedal is amazing.. Never have I come across a pedal that is so well suited for just about any player's style, gear, and personal preference!

[knikk77]

Does the pedal change the tone(bass/treble) when engaged? I like compressors that don't add or subtract to the bass/treble. Not always easy to hear differences between bypass and engaged.

[yongling]

what does 10:1 and other ratios mean? I think you need to dedicate an 'in the corner' post about compressors man

[Socioistic]

Was it just my system reproducing wrong, or was that thing giving off a bit of high pitched whine?

[TesserId]

I became a big believer in "blend-knob" compressors with the Pigtronix Philosopher's Tone (thanks to PGS and Andy). I use the thing ALL the time. So, this Empress Compressor has me very curious, and I'd love to see if this isn't a step or two above the very excellent Philosopher's Tone.

Cheers Burgs; glad to see you here and hear you there (Oh, and funny how everyone seems to notice how good you are at working the knobs from behind. Did you every try the mirror thing?)

[Burgerman666]

@TesserId Hey hey! No, I never did try the mirror thing. But I will because it might make things a little easier. Cheers, B.

[wickedwizardofspeed]

Hey PGS!! your plugged into the pedal straight to the amps input right? what kind of mic are you using?

[Burgerman666]

@wickedwizardofspeed Yep, straight to the amp's 'Normal' input. Tones were flat (noon); Normal channel volume at around noon (no breakup) and master volume at neighbour-disturbing level (as usual). The mic is a Violet Design "The Amethyst Standard" studio condenser. I place it about 4 inches away from the centre of the speaker to get a good mix of air, bottom and top end. Cheers, Brett K.

[druno82]

Thanks for the explanation. I also had no idea what the a compressor was used for.

[bigtorquehemi]

@druno82 I use a compressor in my rig and rarely ever do I play anything that is country music. A compressor adds the little things that seperate guitar players sound...makes people say "man that guy has great tone". I keep my turned on all the time and just adjust the attack if the song requires more or less. IMO its a must have and I will never go without mine.

[Ziece4]

I still and never understood what a compressor pedal does :S

[SterilizeThePopulace]

@Ziece4 Don't worry, no one else knows what a compressor does either. It's one of life's mysteries.

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

@Ziece4 - Short answer: Compressors even out the dynamics in your playing by bringing up the quietest part of the signal, while simultaneously bringing down the level of the loudest parts. Guitarists generally use them to add greater punch, sustain, and perceived volume to a clean (or slightly dirty) guitar tone. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching!

-PGS Crew

[druno82]

@Ziece4 In the same boat man.

[MyHeartBeatsRnR]

all of our times have come, lalalala, awesome song and burger's the man!

[Mastersonics]

Wow, great addition... Burg is the MAN!!!

[DavidRayT]

What amp is being used here? Love, love, love the tone!

[Burgerman666]

@DavidRayT That would be a HIWATT (UK) SA212 Custom 50 2x12 Combo. It's a fantastic clean amp and perfect for the art of pedal demos. Cheers, Brett K.

[DavidRayT]

@Burgerman666 I just knew it was a Hiwatt! Great Gilmour-y vibe going on. Great review btw, man! :)

[emgcarra]

Welcome Burgerman666 at PGS...

[Tylermackenzie]

Great demo Burgs!

[ChickenRapist]

@OverJam52

Technically the best thing about Brett is that he shows the entire range of each knob. Not many pedal reviewers do that!

[OverJam52]

@ChickenRapist

Agree, but it's still interesting to see some real-life setting examples, rather than just tweaking the knobs to show the range of the pedal. Don't take me wrong, Brett's awesome, and he's a real valuable addition ton PGS, but again, really liked Andy's explanation and setting examples.

[wrf1973]

@OverJam52 I second that. Nice playing but with proguitarshop I expect a better explanation of the individual controls. The thing I like about Andy's videos is that he explains the significance of each control and what sound he's going for with each setting. I prefer Andy's big picture/walkthru of the entire pedal. And all cowbell jokes aside, no need for this guy to play the same tune 2 or 3 times.

[captainkjub]

what a great piece of gear and a great player!!

[VinylCyril]

If you promise to keep Andy around, then it means the PGS channel has just become twice more awesome! I'm loving the British approach to demo-making :)

[cosmogang]

Burgs on PGS eh?

Well, at least it's something new! I've always appreciated Burgs' demos. A genuine nice guy. PS: this is a killer compressor.

[DenKulesteSomFins]

Is that burgerman666? KICKASS!

[taztherocker1]

Great demo. 

[mymusicjeter]

Can you guys do HIWATT Amp Demo ?

It's sound so awesome when plug-in with this pedal :)

[Seishinbunretsusho]

Compressors aren't really my thing, but I'll be damned if that isn't the best color scheme I've ever seen on a pedal.

[intheblues]

COWBELL!!!! :P

[thegreedyamber]

ITS THE BURGERMAN!!!!!!!!!!!

[SasaYamaoka]

Did he bend the neck or strings at 1:03?

[Foreignsik]

Burgerman and PGS! A winning combo!

[ArielsSmartyPants]

One of the best sounding and most versatile compressors I've seen yet. Looks like a winner.

[Zephyrsapphire]

I was expecting Andy but was like "Holy shit it's Burgs!" when I saw Brett. Wise choice indeed for PGS. He's definitely one of the best product reviewers out there.

[FreaquedeMusique]

that 2nd position would be perfect to play john mayers vultures

[FreaquedeMusique]

I found myself listening to that amazing strat more than to the actual pedal!!

damn that strat is nice!!

[vileguile4]

Great demo brett! Compressors can add so much

[cnsengineer]

Great review. It would be awesome if you could include a review of this compressor (and other comps) using bass guitar.

[fantofradiomuse]

certainly, this Empress is a lot better than Boss, but what about EHX Black Finger?

[dupadupadoo69]

dont fear the reaper!

[Guitarisforgrins]

cowbell joke... never heard that...

[moucon]

PS - I love Andy (and Scotty) - but this is a great addition. New video style, and every organization needs at least one British accent. Instant credibility ;-)  Now Burg - play us some BOC from "Secret Treaties" and I'm with you for life ;-)

[GuitaristAidan]

@moucon He's Australian, not British

[OverJam52]

@moucon That's an aussie accent mate, not british.

[kurtdmay]

@moucon He's an aussie mate!!

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

@moucon - Thank you very much! We would agree that his accent lends credibility, but Burgs is Australian. Just wanted to clarify. Thanks again!

-PGS Crew

[mracidqueen]

Sadie for PGS!!

[deedoubleohdoo]

I like that this guy tweaks the pedal on the fly, so to speak. He obviously has taken the time to learn what the pedal does, and knows how to apply it in real time. Keep 'em comin' guys! Good job.

[kriskunisch]

Glad to see you on PGS, Brett! Your demos and playing have always been, IMHO, the "standard" for format, explanation, and truly highlighting the equipment's versatility through different genres and styles.

[theactionindex]

Dude. Burgs and PGS combining forces. Doesn't get much better.

[OliOsbourne]

Yay Burgerman!

[vdentello]

I tought he was going to play another brick in the wall at 3:04

[toiletfarm]

There's a strange, unhealthy obsession with Andy.

[topicrass]

the song at 1:23 it's not Sultans of Swing.... that song its a must go! for compressor reveiws... =(

[topicrass]

really..... you didn't play sultas of swing.... i know knopflers uses a Orange Squeezer... but c'mon

[topicrass]

The Digital Youtube Compressor totally makes this review a piece of shit

[FreaqyFrequency]

@topicrass

720p renders about 128kbps AAC, which while not lossless, is transparent enough to give you a good enough idea of what's going on with the recording. You can trust your ears on that setting.

[Burgerman666]

@FreaqyFrequency Yep. Demoing a compressor or a booster is a tough call on Youtube because of the compression thing. I only used a Waves Limiter on this vid's master, with plenty of headroom left, in order to keep the levels in check at -0.2dB. You might notice that this video is a little quieter than some (of my) others and that's why - I left extra headroom to try and convey the pedal's own compression characteristics. A never ending pursuit... :) Cheers, BK.

[ThePencil901]

Aussie ftw

[metazoa64]

You guys should hire Gearmanndude next haha

[DenKulesteSomFins]

@metazoa64 amen, brother!

[aenimicvids]

MOAR COWBELL!

[BlackKightsLB9]

you could get a sweet robin trower tone!

[stealyourface73]

Ok... Empress effects obviously sound great. But, I wish they ran on 9V instead of 18V. & they're pedals are really expensive. & usually oversized.

[Coztomba]

@stealyourface73 Not sure about this one, but I have the ParaEQ and it has internal dip switches so it can run from standard 9v up to 24v

[TimothySmith]

@stealyourface73 All Empress effects will run at beautifully at 9v, but have the option to go as high as 18v is you want. I run my tremolo, paraEQ, and phaser all at 9v. I run the Multidrive at 18v.

[jomarthegreat1]

clean compressed guitar = one of the sweetest sounds known to man

[Ramones1234100]

I like the format of this guy's videos. He sets the pedal in the foreground so we can see the setting, but we can see what he's playing, too. I prefer Andy, but with 2x as many videos, you can't beat it. Thanks PGS!

[JJgeetarisst]

I can appreciate the fact that PGS is trying to change things up and this guy's really great, but I miss Andy :( Even when he just does the rundown of the product and someone else plays. That's just distinctly PGS for me. Still, great demo and the pedal sounds killer. Keep up the good work guys!

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

@JJgeetarisst Just to clear things up. Andy isn't making any less videos. We are increasing the number of videos that we produce by adding Brett. This isn't an either/or situation. Andy will still be making as many videos as he possibly can.

[JuiCeBoX19]

@ProGuitarShopDemos Keep it up PGS; yer future is very promising

[letsgetcarriedaway]

@JJgeetarisst are you kidding? brett's demos are amazing!

[pimpleburger]

Great demo! It seems to really keep the tone in tact. Any noticeable treble roll off? Is it good for really bright and chimey stuff?

[CustodianStatus]

Somebody explain to me what it does, and if I need one:) lol

[skleung]

@CustodianStatus a compressor isn't a necessity. It can be helpful tho. You might notice most compressor pedal demoes are usually used on a clean tone, since distortion already has it's own compression. Basically compressors take the softer sound and boost it up, also making the louder sounds reduced. So the end sound is more even.

[moucon]

@CustodianStatus oversimplified, but a compressor amplifies the soft tones and clips the loud tones making the entire signal more consistent - a nice side-effect for guitarists is way-increased sustain. Kind of "stores" the energy and releases it in a more controlled way. Things sound "chimier" "smoother" etc. An UNwanted side-effect, it can also eliminate good dynamics, making things flat/uninteresting.  Use with care/ thus the controls. This one sounds killer -esp. w/ the single-coil PUPs

[CustodianStatus]

@moucon Thanks!

[francescotaranto90]

This thing sounds absolutely killer!

[MiLemonPie]

I'm curious, did he win the "new international cool testing man" contest?

[yuvalrplaysguitar]

@MiLemonPie nahh, burgs makes killer demos and andy makes killer demos, so when andy too busy getting it on burgs is a reliable alternative

[GuitarBlues3]

It sounds good, but it needs more cowbell!

[rodwyr]

@GuitarBlues3

I'm sure you're not the only one with a fever!

[Burgerman666]

@GuitarBlues3 You know, I had Sadie do a "more cowbell, dad!" cameo for this one but I pulled it in the end thinking the cheese factor would be a little much. Just for the record..:)

[TheStrangerInTheRye]

Wut.

[MrNate0620]

I LOVE BURGS!!! Sorry Andy :/ Youre awesome too tho :)

[AlexSongDoesCovers]

Once again, I thought this video was uploaded by Burgs.

[SpicyMojoBand]

2nd view and first to comment!!

[StraitUpSuburbanite]

@SpicyMojoBand FAILURE!!!

[1800pie]

not first...