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.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.
“Match the tone of the short-pants rock God”: Crazy Tube Circuits bottles Angus Young’s tone in a pedal – including the secret sauce that shaped his guitar sounds (and Kiss, Pink Floyd and Metallica’s, too)
“It can be whatever pedal you need it to be”: TC Electronic’s Plethora X1 takes the fight to the Line 6 HX One – and it costs over $100 less