MXR Dyna Comp

Last updated

The MXR Dyna Comp is an effects unit, which is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument. This effects unit is produced by the MXR company intended for use with electric guitar. Made since the 1970s, the MXR Dyna Comp, which adds its own coloring to the tone, has become a frequently copied and widely used guitar effect, even a standard.

Contents

History

The MXR Dyna Comp was first produced in the 1970s and became "a Nashville standard". [1] It is frequently copied by other builders and hobbyists. [1] MXR also produces a 'vintage' Dyna Comp, with the 1970s "script" logo, and an updated version, the Super Comp, which has an "Attack" control that determines its "bite-/squash ratio". [1]

Description

The unit produces a dynamic range compression effect. It has two controls: "Output" controls the output level, and "Sensitivity" determines the amount of compression. [1]

Use

The compression effect helps to smooth out differences in volume between notes, [2] such as in quick runs played by chicken picking. [1] It also fattens up the sound, giving more body and sustain to lead guitar lines, and can be used as a booster. [1] Its "thickening" effect is especially appreciated in Nashville, where many country music guitar players who use Fender Telecasters use it to thicken the otherwise thin sound of the single-coil guitar; besides, the compressor's lessening of the initial attack "gives the effect of a pedal steel player working his volume pedal". [3]

The effect can be used by bass players as well. [4]

The MXR Dyna Comp is not considered tone-neutral; that is, it adds its specific coloring to the sound, [5] which is appreciated by many users. [6] [7]

Notable users

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effects unit</span> Electronic device that alters audio

An effects unit, effects processor, or effects pedal is an electronic device that alters the sound of a musical instrument or other audio source through audio signal processing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slide guitar</span> Guitar technique

Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos that reflect characteristics of the human singing voice. It typically involves playing the guitar in the traditional position with the use of a slide fitted on one of the guitarist's fingers. The slide may be a metal or glass tube, such as the neck of a bottle, giving rise to the term bottleneck guitar to describe this type of playing. The strings are typically plucked while the slide is moved over the strings to change the pitch. The guitar may be placed on the player's lap and played with a hand-held bar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guitar amplifier</span> Electronic amplifier for musical instruments

A guitar amplifier is an electronic device or system that strengthens the electrical signal from a pickup on an electric guitar, bass guitar, or acoustic guitar so that it can produce sound through one or more loudspeakers, which are typically housed in a wooden cabinet. A guitar amplifier may be a standalone wood or metal cabinet that contains only the power amplifier circuits, requiring the use of a separate speaker cabinet–or it may be a "combo" amplifier, which contains both the amplifier and one or more speakers in a wooden cabinet. There is a wide range of sizes and power ratings for guitar amplifiers, from small, lightweight "practice amplifiers" with a single 6-inch speaker and a 10-watt amp to heavy combo amps with four 10-inch or four 12-inch speakers and a 100-watt amplifier, which are loud enough to use in a nightclub or bar performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dunlop Manufacturing</span> American manufacturer of musical accessories

Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. is a manufacturer of musical accessories, especially effects units, based in Benicia, California, United States. Founded in 1965 by Jim Dunlop Sr., the company grew from a small home operation to a large manufacturer of music gear. Dunlop has acquired several well-known effects pedal brands, including Cry Baby, MXR and Way Huge.

A phaser is an electronic sound processor used to filter a signal by creating a series of peaks and troughs in the frequency spectrum. The position of the peaks and troughs of the waveform being affected is typically modulated by an internal low-frequency oscillator so that they vary over time, creating a sweeping effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boss DS-1</span> Guitar effect pedal

The Boss DS-1 is a distortion pedal for guitar, manufactured by the Roland Corporation under the brand name Boss since 1978. The first distortion effects unit made by Boss, it has become a classic effect, used by many notable guitar players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auto-wah</span>

Auto-wah is a type of wah-wah effects pedal typically used with electric guitar, bass guitar, clavinet, and electric piano etc. The distinctive choppy rhythm guitar sound on many funk and disco recordings from the 1970s popularized the effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pro Co RAT</span> Guitar distortion pedal

The Pro Co "The RAT" is a distortion pedal produced by Pro Co Sound. The original RAT was developed in the basement of Pro Co's Kalamazoo, Michigan facility in 1978. Numerous variations of the original RAT pedal are still being produced today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Echoplex</span> Tape delay effect machine

The Echoplex is a tape delay effect, first made in 1959. Designed by Mike Battle, the Echoplex set a standard for the effect in the 1960s—it is still regarded as "the standard by which everything else is measured." It was used by some of the most notable guitar players of the era; original Echoplexes are highly sought after.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MXR</span> Music effects company

MXR is a New York–based manufacturer of effects pedals from Rochester. The company was co-founded in 1972 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood and incorporated as MXR Innovations, Inc. in 1974. The MXR trademark is now owned by Jim Dunlop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distortion (music)</span> Type of electronic audio manipulation

Distortion and overdrive are forms of audio signal processing used to alter the sound of amplified electric musical instruments, usually by increasing their gain, producing a "fuzzy", "growling", or "gritty" tone. Distortion is most commonly used with the electric guitar, but may also be used with other electric instruments such as electric bass, electric piano, synthesizer and Hammond organ. Guitarists playing electric blues originally obtained an overdriven sound by turning up their vacuum tube-powered guitar amplifiers to high volumes, which caused the signal to distort. While overdriven tube amps are still used to obtain overdrive, especially in genres like blues and rockabilly, a number of other ways to produce distortion have been developed since the 1960s, such as distortion effect pedals. The growling tone of a distorted electric guitar is a key part of many genres, including blues and many rock music genres, notably hard rock, punk rock, hardcore punk, acid rock, and heavy metal music, while the use of distorted bass has been essential in a genre of hip hop music and alternative hip hop known as "SoundCloud rap".

The Marshall Bluesbreaker is the popular name given to the Models 1961 and 1962 guitar amplifiers made by Marshall from 1964/65 to 1972.

The Marshall Super Lead Model 1959 is a guitar amplifier head made by Marshall. One of the famous Marshall Plexis, it was introduced in 1965 and with its associated 4×12″ cabinets gave rise to the "Marshall stack".

The White amplifier was an instrument amplifier made by the Fender company, named for Fender's production manager Forrest White and designed as a surprise by Leo Fender for his longtime associate. It was sold together with the matching steel guitar and was made from 1954 until 1962. Approximately 1,500 copies were made. The amp was nearly identical to the 5F2 Princeton circuit, but was made under the White production name, probably "to get more inexpensive amps and steels into the market without offending authorized Fender dealers." The amplifier was not in fact white, but had blue-gray linen tweed, dark blue grill cloth, and blue dyed leather handles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MXR Phase 90</span>

The MXR Phase 90 is a phaser effects pedal introduced in 1972 by MXR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshall JTM45</span> Guitar amplifier

The Marshall JTM45 amplifier is the first guitar amplifier produced by the British company Marshall. It was initially produced in 1963, and has been ranked among the most desirable of the company's amplifiers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuzz bass</span> Electric bass guitar tone modification

Fuzz bass is a style of playing the electric bass or modifying its signal that produces a buzzy, distorted, overdriven sound, as the name implies. Overdriving a bass signal significantly changes the timbre, adds higher overtones (harmonics), increases the sustain, and, if the gain is turned up high enough, creates a "breaking up" sound characterized by a growling, buzzy tone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vintage musical equipment</span> Old music gear

Vintage musical equipment is older music gear, including instruments, amplifiers and speakers, sound recording equipment and effects pedals, sought after, maintained and used by record producers, audio engineers and musicians who are interested in historical music genres. While any piece of equipment of sufficient age can be considered vintage, in the 2010s the term is typically applied to instruments and gear from the 1970s and earlier. Guitars, amps, pedals, electric keyboards, sound recording equipment from the 1950s to 1970s are particularly sought. Musical equipment from the 1940s and prior eras is often expensive, and sought out mainly by museums or collectors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson Victory Bass</span>

The Gibson Victory Bass was an electric bass guitar produced by Gibson Guitars from 1981 until 1986. It was a bass guitar variant of the Gibson Victory. It was not a successful model.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hunter, Dave (2004). Guitar effects pedals: the practical handbook. Hal Leonard. pp. 24, 89. ISBN   978-0-87930-806-3.
  2. Bacon, Tony (1981). Rock hardware: the instruments, equipment, and technology of rock. Harmony. p. 124. ISBN   978-0-517-54520-1.
  3. 1 2 Ross, Michael (1998). Getting great guitar sounds: a non-technical approach to shaping your personal sound. Hal Leonard. p. 75. ISBN   978-0-7935-9140-4.
  4. Sheehan, Billy (2004). Billy Sheehan: Advanced Bass, Book & DVD. Alfred Music. p. 7. ISBN   978-0-7390-3312-8.
  5. Brown, Pete (January 2011). "New Standard in Stompbox Compression? The Effectrode PC-2A". Vintage Guitar . p. 138.
  6. Gibson, Bill (2007). Instrument and Vocal Recording. Hal Leonard. p. 52. ISBN   978-1-4234-3049-0.
  7. Savona, Anthony (2005). Console confessions: the great music producers in their own words. Hal Leonard. p. 237. ISBN   978-0-87930-860-5.
  8. http://spinterview.media/articles/talking-heads-equipment-check/
  9. https://i2.wp.com/spinterview.media/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/DSC4128-Copy.jpg?fit=1800%2C2164
  10. Brend, Mark (2002). Rock and roll doctor: Lowell George : guitarist, songwriter, and founder of Little Feat. Hal Leonard. p. 81. ISBN   978-0-87930-726-4.
  11. Drozdowski, Tec. "How To Get David Gilmour's Solid Gold (Top) Tone". Gibson Guitar Corporation . Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  12. Chappell, Jon (1999). The recording guitarist: a guide for home and studio. Hal Leonard. p. 121. ISBN   978-0-7935-8704-9.
  13. Messina, Jim. "Facebook - 12/20/2015". Facebook.
  14. "John Frusciante recording Mellowship Slinky in B Major solo (Full) - YouTube". YouTube .
  15. Masayoshi Takanaka - On Guitar , retrieved 2023-01-06 https://www.discogs.com/master/1050166-Masayoshi-Takanaka-On-Guitar/image/SW1hZ2U6NDYzNTgyMTA=