Strymon launches Compadre dual voice compressor and boost pedal
The OB.1’s successor has arrived
After discontinuing its much-loved OB.1 last month, Strymon spent a few weeks in the compressor pedal wilderness, but with the launch of the Compadre, it has a new main squeeze.
The Compadre combines “studio-quality” analog compression with an onboard boost circuit, hence the ‘dual voice compressor and boost’ subtitle.
There’s a choice of Studio and Squeeze compressor voices for more transparent or vintage sounds, while the boost can be tailored to add clean boost or soft-clipping, with treble, mid or flat EQ.
As is an essential in modern compressor designs, there’s a dry knob to blend in your clean signal, too.
Other features include the ability to hook up an external expression pedal, optional Strymon MiniSwitch or MultiSwitch Plus control, and MIDI compatibility.
Of course, the pedal doesn’t feature the OB.1’s optical design - as a shortage of these elements was what led to the demise of the Compadre’s predecessor - but the additional compressor options and dry control should make up for it here.
The Compadre guitar pedal is available now for $299 - head over to Strymon for more info.
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Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has been writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist for over 15 years, and recording and performing in original and function bands for two decades-plus. During his career, he has interviewed everyone from John Frusciante to Chris Cornell, Matt Bellamy and Billy Corgan. His writing also appears in The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.