Wampler Ego experiences please

[dave42]

Hi! On my small board I've had a Boss CS-3 to use with my 12 string to even out the sound a bit. A week ago it started a hissing sound engaged or not. Looking around the web I guess it's common. So off the board it went.

I'm looking for folks that use (or have used) the Wampler Ego. Seems well regarded. Your comments please! Thanks!!

[pieterh]

Originally Posted by dave42

Hi! On my small board I've had a Boss CS-3 to use with my 12 string to even out the sound a bit. A week ago it started a hissing sound engaged or not. Looking around the web I guess it's common. So off the board it went.

I'm looking for folks that use (or have used) the Wampler Ego. Seems well regarded. Your comments please! Thanks!!

I like mine a lot on my electric setup and use it both for getting that chicken picking feel and for boosting solos. I am not sure I would use it on an acoustic setup: it does color the sound a bit but in a pleasant way. I have recently acquired a Carl Martin compressor pedal and that is very neutral and would be the one I will use with my acoustics if I need a compressor.

[dave42]

Originally Posted by pieterh

...I am not sure I would use it on an acoustic setup: it does color the sound a bit .....

Great info. Thanks for your input!

[Revy]

I run one on my pedal board. I use my pedal board for both electric and acoustic applications. I would agree with possibly coloring the sound a bit, but not much. Will add quite a bit of boost if you need it for that and will also add sustain (if needed). Wampler makes great pedals. When on, it make zero background noise. Mine is the full version, not the mini.

[stevecuss]

Wampler makes great pedals and the Ego is a fine compressor. My favorite though is the Barber Tone Press. Dave Barber actually started the "blend" feature on compressors, but he also added a switch to add some highs and presence back into the signal after compression. The Wampler (and most compressors) tends to squash the highs a little, so if you're sensitive to that, you may prefer the Barber pedal.

[dave42]

Thanks for all the input!

Recently I had a Boss Super chorus in the house and was amazed at how much it colored the tone even when not engaged. So I'm a little apprehensive of the Wampler's slight coloring of tone. Does the Wampler color tone in the slightest even when not engaged?

Is your Barber quiet? That was the big problem I had with the Boss.. lots of hiss.

[stevecuss]

I would expect the Wampler to not color the tone when not engaged, and I would expect the same from the Barber. I'm guessing that old Boss Super Chorus may not have been a true bypass pedal, hence the permanent coloration.

Yes, the Barber will definitely add noise to the signal, but that is more due to it being a compressor. I think all compressors are noisy by definition. They are a tricky effect for sure - usually a little goes a long way unless you are Dave Gilmour

Originally Posted by dave42

Thanks for all the input!

Recently I had a Boss Super chorus in the house and was amazed at how much it colored the tone even when not engaged. So I'm a little apprehensive of the Wampler's slight coloring of tone. Does the Wampler color tone in the slightest even when not engaged?

Is your Barber quiet? That was the big problem I had with the Boss.. lots of hiss.

[RockerDuck]

The Strymon OB-1 is the best compressor I've found for acoustic. Very transparent.

[dave42]

Thanks, RockerDuck!

[Laughingboy68]

I've used a Wampler Ego on my acoustic pedal board for a few years now. It has both a blend control and a tone knob to combat the usual concerns of using compression with acoustics. I find it sweetens the tone nicely and use mine as an "always on" pedal. It works great on acoustic guitar and can be as subtle as you choose. YMMV.

[Laughingboy68]

A comment on noise. A compressor will "tame the loud" and "boost the quiet". So... if your signal chain is already noisey it will be moreso. I can't hear any extra noise when I engage my Ego.