As a guitar player and lover of all things rock, I often find myself reaching for the fuzz pedal. It’s a pedal I’ve had quite the journey with, and at many times struggled to get the sound I was looking for.
As I speak to guitar players and read deep into the trenches of the forums, I feel I’m not alone with this. One particular question that seems to come up a lot is, ‘Should a Compressor go before or after fuzz?’
I can see straight away where this question comes from. After all, both fuzz and compressors are pedals that are often suggested to put first in our signal chain. So, the messages can be mixed and confusing.
Turns out, there are good reasons for both setups.
In this article, I’ll unpack the compressor/fuzz debate so you can start getting the sounds you’re looking for. Based on some trial and error and a lot of talking to guitar players, we’ll explore how signal order impacts sustain, clarity, and aggression.
There are strong cases on both sides, but it’s not necessarily an either/or choice. With some tweaking and a bit of experimentation, I’m sure you’ll find the fuzz sound you’re looking for.
Key Takeaways
- Compressor before fuzz evens out dynamics, reduces noise, and provides a controlled fuzz tone.
- Compressor after fuzz controls signal level preserves fuzz texture and adds sustain.
- Compression, both before and after fuzz, offers maximum tonal control and dynamic response.
- No compressor allows for a raw, dynamic fuzz tone with a sensitive playing response.
- Experiment to find the best compressor and fuzz order for your specific pedal and preferences.
Table of Contents
Compressor Before Fuzz
The most common arrangement I see is the compressor before fuzz. Here are some benefits of using this tried and tested order.
An Even Fuzz Tone
Placing a compressor before your fuzz pedal can even out the dynamics and reduce the dynamic range of your signal. This gives you a more consistent, controlled fuzz tone that stays at an even level. It seems a lot of guitarists prefer this method, as it’s something I see a lot.
Less Noise, More Clarity
Compressing before fuzz can also help reduce the noise floor, creating a cleaner and clearer tone. The compression essentially “squashes” the signal, cutting out excess noise. This lets the core fuzz tone shine through with more definition.
Feeding the Fuzz Circuit
The key advantage here is that you’re feeding a compressed, even signal directly into the fuzz circuitry. This allows the fuzz to work its magic on a nicely prepared foundation, and many feel this produces the most natural, musical fuzz tone.
Compressor After Fuzz
Of course, not everyone agrees. There are some guitar players who actually prefer putting compression after fuzz. Here are a few reasons you might want to do that.
Controls Overall Output
One major advantage is controlling the overall signal level hitting your amp. A fuzz pedal can get ridiculously loud and out of control. Placing a compressor after reins in those extreme peaks and prevents your amp from farting out.
You’ll still get that signature fuzz snarl and sustain. But with a compressor’s gentle limiting, it becomes much more manageable at higher gain levels.
Preserves Fuzz Texture
Many guitarists feel that compressing before fuzz can squash the distortion and make it sound lifeless. By placing the compressor in the effects loop or after the fuzz circuit, you preserve all those delicious hairy overtones and dynamics.
The compressor simply captures the output and adds its own flavor. This allows most of the fuzz’s frequency spectrum to remain intact.
Sustain for Days
Compression after fuzz can add an aggressive, prolonged sustain that carries with it some beautiful overtones. As the fuzz signal grows and decays, the compressor catches those waveforms and squeezes out every bit of clarity.
It’s like an endless ocean of saturated, compressed fuzz tones. It works great for singing solos or choppy, staccato riffing.
Popularity Is Rising
While less common than pre-fuzz compression, a number of guitarists do use this order.
As the tone-shaping possibilities become more widely known, this once under-utilized technique seems to be growing in popularity.
Compressor Before AND After Fuzz
Can’t decide between the two? Well, you’re not alone. A small group of players actually use compression on both sides of their fuzz!
This allows you to tame the dynamics going into the fuzz while still harnessing its unrestrained energy. It gives you a lot of options for sculpting and controlling your fuzz tone.
The before compression refines the fuzz’s boundaries, while the after compression molds it into a perfectly gnarly objet d’art.
Using No Compressor At All
This is certainly a viable option for some guitarists, especially if you prefer a more “in your face” fuzz tone with no loss of dynamics.
Some players find compressors restrict their playing too much, removing the natural transients and dynamics of their playing. With a compressor-free setup, your pick attack, note bending, and volume changes will come through the fuzz circuit unfiltered.
Maximize Expressiveness and Sensitivity
Not using a compressor can give you a more aggressive, in-your-face fuzz tone that responds sensitively to your playing. The fuzz’s natural peaks and valleys are left intact, giving you a wider tonal palette to work with as you play.
However, going compressor-free does mean you lose some of the benefits compression provides, like an evened-out sustain and more consistent note-to-note volume. You might find your fuzz tone sounds more uneven and “all over the place” without a compressor to clamp down the dynamics.
The Trade-offs of Unrestricted Fuzz
For certain styles of music, a fuzz straight into the amp setup can give you the most unrestricted, explosive fuzz sound possible. That sounds pretty cool to me.
It Depends on Your Fuzz Pedal
The order of compressor and fuzz can greatly impact your overall guitar tone. But a lot can also depend on the type of fuzz pedal you’re using.
Now, there are way too many Fuzz pedals to give you advice for each one, but here are a couple of the most popular.
If you’re using a Big Muff-style fuzz, many guitarists recommend putting the compressor first. This helps even out the dynamics for a more controlled, consistent fuzz sound. The compressor reins in those wild peaks before they hit the fuzz circuit.
On the other hand, for Fuzz Face-style pedals, you may want to run the fuzz first. These fuzzes have a more sensitive, dynamic response – compressing afterward can add punch and sustain while retaining their iconic splatter.
Listen to the Pedals
At the end of the day, you’ll want to experiment and let your ears guide you. Does the compressor before the fuzz smooth things out too much? Does it make the tone overly squashed? There’s no right or wrong way. It’s just different flavors for different players and styles.
Put It Into Action
Now you’re armed with a bit of knowledge to help you experiment and make a decision for yourself. Fuzz can be a difficult beast to tame, but when you get it right, it really is glorious.
Try all the different combinations and see what works best with you. Make notes. Sleep on it. And remember that it’s not set in stone. You can change it any time you want. I know it can sometimes seem like a bit of a chore, but changing and rearranging our pedalboards can totally open up a whole new selection of sounds.
