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pdecirce
Published on 08/06/08 at 14:00
The DOD FX84 Milk Box Compressor is a one stop go-to pedal for true analog compression. It features a uniquely wide tonal range and is housed in DOD's high quality craftsmanship. It's built like a tank, like most DOD products. It features a 1/4'' in and 1/4'' out, with an easily changeable 9V in the back.
UTILIZATION
The usage of this pedal in the arena of electric guitar is invaluable. By placing a good compression pedal at the beginning of a long chain of pedals, it allows the player to harness his tone, compress the signal and at the same time boost the level. This allows the tone to hit the pedals at a much 'hotter' or higher volume rate and when it reaches the amp--though admittedly it doesn't sound anything like the original tone of guitar into amp--you'll have a much more malleable and workable tone coming out.
Truthfully, it's a bigger question about to go 'natural' or to go with effects, but even the most 'true-tone' players out there use some kind of effects system to 'consolidate' their tone. There's no sense in singling out any one artist because almost all of them use some kind of compression, be it rack, or analog.
I prefer analog because I use my pedals to get screaming blues/rock tone for my solos. By utilizing the four knobs 'level' 'compress' 'hi exp' and 'attack' on the DOD I'm able to literally change my tone to the room I'm playing. For example, if I was playing lead guitar in a country rock-band I'd dial level at 5, compress at 5, hi exp at 8 and attack at 4. If I was playing rhythm guitar in a heavy metal band I'd level at 7, compress at 7, hi exp at 5 and attack at 7. By messing with the tones a little bit you'll see that heavier compression allows for more sustained distortion and less compression, but a higher knob volume will give you crystal clear tone.
I'm impressed by this DOD Box for its reliability. I leave it on all the time and it's important to watch the knobs, because if you get too compressed for your playing style, you'll be stuck 'til you can reach down and turn that thing down.
SOUND QUALITY
I guess guitarists use compression to better define their tone within the context of all these other frequencied instruments. The sound quality in this pedal seems to simply enhance the natural style of humbucker or single-coil pick up you're using and promote it to a professional sounding level, provided you've got a good amplifier and decent instruments. In its range, I tested others and this DOD is untouched.
OVERALL OPINION
If you're getting into pedals, try this out and you'll see why you don't need eq pedals and all that. With good settings on a compression pedal, the power of tone should be at your instrument, not on some sliders on the rack or at your feet. It's a simple way to smooth out a bunch of pedals; and oh yes, it means you're adding one more to the pile!
UTILIZATION
The usage of this pedal in the arena of electric guitar is invaluable. By placing a good compression pedal at the beginning of a long chain of pedals, it allows the player to harness his tone, compress the signal and at the same time boost the level. This allows the tone to hit the pedals at a much 'hotter' or higher volume rate and when it reaches the amp--though admittedly it doesn't sound anything like the original tone of guitar into amp--you'll have a much more malleable and workable tone coming out.
Truthfully, it's a bigger question about to go 'natural' or to go with effects, but even the most 'true-tone' players out there use some kind of effects system to 'consolidate' their tone. There's no sense in singling out any one artist because almost all of them use some kind of compression, be it rack, or analog.
I prefer analog because I use my pedals to get screaming blues/rock tone for my solos. By utilizing the four knobs 'level' 'compress' 'hi exp' and 'attack' on the DOD I'm able to literally change my tone to the room I'm playing. For example, if I was playing lead guitar in a country rock-band I'd dial level at 5, compress at 5, hi exp at 8 and attack at 4. If I was playing rhythm guitar in a heavy metal band I'd level at 7, compress at 7, hi exp at 5 and attack at 7. By messing with the tones a little bit you'll see that heavier compression allows for more sustained distortion and less compression, but a higher knob volume will give you crystal clear tone.
I'm impressed by this DOD Box for its reliability. I leave it on all the time and it's important to watch the knobs, because if you get too compressed for your playing style, you'll be stuck 'til you can reach down and turn that thing down.
SOUND QUALITY
I guess guitarists use compression to better define their tone within the context of all these other frequencied instruments. The sound quality in this pedal seems to simply enhance the natural style of humbucker or single-coil pick up you're using and promote it to a professional sounding level, provided you've got a good amplifier and decent instruments. In its range, I tested others and this DOD is untouched.
OVERALL OPINION
If you're getting into pedals, try this out and you'll see why you don't need eq pedals and all that. With good settings on a compression pedal, the power of tone should be at your instrument, not on some sliders on the rack or at your feet. It's a simple way to smooth out a bunch of pedals; and oh yes, it means you're adding one more to the pile!