Jim Dunlop M132 MXR Supercomp Pedal,Black

I hadn’t used an MXR compressor in years. In the past I had a couple of Dynacomps and also a “script” version. They were all quite noisy. This one is whisper quiet, I’m very pleasantly surprised. It is voiced slightly more brightly and provides a lot of compression at max sustain. The attack knob is useful. On the whole a very good pedal.

A robust compressor indeed.

First compression pedal I've ever owned, I'll never go without one again. I was a bit unsure of spending £70 on something that on the face of it didn't seem to do a lot, but I'm happy I took the chance. There are some great reviews around for this pedal so it's a good idea to read those, but personally I find that this pedal just tightens up my sound and makes my playing sound that little bit nicer. Only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is because it's the only compression pedal I've used, and there may be one or two that are slightly better, who knows. Well worth £70 though.

The MXR Dyna Comp is probably the most famous stomp-box compressor in guitar history. The Super Comp keeps the basic functionality and sound of the original unit, but adds an Attack knob, which allows you to dial in the responsivity rate of the pedal. Set the Attack knob low and your guitar will sound like it usually does - but then a weird, levitating sustain will seem to rise from your amp, prolonging the note and even seeming to make it louder. Set the Attack knob high and the compressor seems to redouble the noise into distortion, an effect which may or may not appeal. Set the Attack knob at noon and you're more or less in classic Dyna Comp territory.One man's ideal compressor is another's artificial-sounding hell, of course. I'd heard some bad things about this pedal before I picked one up second-hand: particularly about the extent to which it adds noise to a signal chain and makes your guitar sound like a robot. But I'm happy to say that I haven't really found that to be the case. I've been playing it with a Telecaster, which has a very distinctive and cutting sound, but it still sounds like a Telecaster even with the pedal's Attack and Sensitivity knobs pushed all the way. On pretty much any setting, the Super Comp adds body to the Telecaster's mid-range while reducing the more distracting 'quacking' sounds of the guitar's high end. What can be a very harsh and trebly guitar becomes a tiny bit warmer, and a whole lot more authoritative.All compressors add noise to a signal chain, and the Super Comp gave me the odd hum of feedback at volumes I wouldn't normally expect to encounter it. But I found that playing with my amp's tone controls removed the problem. Likewise, sticking the pedal into a longish chain of effects, I found I only had to dial back on the crazier end of my distortion boxes to remove unwanted hiss or hum. And that Attack knob really does help in getting the Super Comp to play well with other pedals.However, if you want a transparent compression device, it's still probably best to look further up the price scale. I happen to like that the Super Comp is an audible component of the guitar's sound - that its effects aren't limited to a boost in volume and sustain. Even at relatively low levels, you'll hear the pedal kick in to round out the sound. This is why I can't give the pedal five stars. I love it myself, but the forcefulness of the effect is going to annoy some people. For the price, though, it's a steal.