Rothwell Audio Love Squeeze Compressor
The Love Squeeze is a compressor
designed simply to sound right with guitars, without any bizarre
“pumping” effects and without any noise.
This has been achieved by
designing a circuit from scratch instead of adopting the more common
approach of using an operational transconductance amplifier (for tech
heads, it’s usually the CA3080 chip) or simply copying an existing
design (like some American boutique makers have done) and gives the Love
Squeeze a sound of its own. Low level signals can be raised by as much
as 20dB without boosting high level signals, so when used in front of
distortion - either in a pedal or an amp - leads lines can be fattened
up without chords sending the distortion into mush. When used with a
clean sound the Love Squeeze can be set to just take off the ice-pick
attack of single coil pickups for a tone a little easier on the
ear. Like reverb (when used sensibly), this is a subtle effect which can
go almost unnoticed until it is switched off - then you wonder how you
could live without it.
why not optical?
Compressors based
on optical circuits can sound very good but the latest EU regulations
have outlawed the use of Cadmium Sulphide so light dependent resistors
(LDRs) are now banned and so are compressors which use them.
Why
not a Ross or Dynacomp clone?
Why make a clone when you can make
something better? The Love Squeeze gives a much more natural playing
feel than vintage (and modern) units which seem to be fighting against
the player all the time instead of controlling dynamics and enhancing
tone.
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So what’s in a Love Squeeze? |

