The first electric guitar or bass pedals that come to mind for most people are effects like overdrive, distortion and modulation, which makes sense since they’re the most common. On the other hand, effects like compressors, limiters and sustainers are also worth checking out, especially because they're able to enhance both your sound and playing feel.
What does a compressor pedal do?
A compressor pedal changes the volume of your guitar signal and is deployed to get a more balanced sound, which it does by boosting quieter sounds and weakening louder sounds. In other words, it literally compresses the signal, resulting in a sound that has an easier time punching through the mix.
For Guitar And Bass
Both guitarists and bassists can reap the benefits of adding a compressor to their pedalboard. The compression effect works well for funky rhythmic parts as well as chicken-picking country styles, while bassists can use a compressor for extra-defined lows or extra-punchy short notes.
The Right Place in the Signal Chain
Most guitar and bass players like to place their compressor pedal at the start of their signal chain, but some actually opt to drop it in after their overdrive effect so they can make full use of the enhanced dynamics and drive. There's no one-way-rules-all here, it's really just a matter of personal preference. Simply give both options a try and find out what works best for you.
Piling on the Sustain
Playing with a compression effect can result in extra sustain. If that's what you want, then you could also grab a purpose-designed sustainer pedal for those extra-long notes for your solos or dreamy soundscapes. The drawback of adding extra sustain is that it can come with unwanted noise as a result of signal boosting.
What Does a Limiter Do?
Often used in the studio, limiters are designed to remove the high peaks in your signal. They're not only used for guitar and bass, but vocals as well and are usually placed at the end of the signal chain (after the EQ) in order to avoid clipping.
