The Mr. Black Black LTD. Voltage Comp. is a compressor pedal built around what the maker calls a proprietary voltage controlled amplifier heart. Mr. Black describes it as a responsive, high-headroom compressor delivering clean, natural sustain and smooth compression, and it is designed to work with both active and passive guitars and bass guitars1.
It is a limited edition: a Jack Deville original design, produced as a run of just 48 pedals1.
What it does to your sound
Mr. Black positions the Voltage Comp. as a compressor that stays out of the way. The maker's description promises clean, natural sustain and smooth compression rather than an obviously squashed tone, and the high-headroom design is aimed at keeping the pedal from clipping your signal1.
The heart of the circuit is a proprietary voltage controlled amplifier, the component that raises quiet notes and tames loud ones. Voltage controlled amplifier designs are a common approach in studio compressors, and Mr. Black's use of one here is presented as the reason for the pedal's responsive character1.
Controls
The pedal keeps its control set focused. The maker details one control:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Attack Speed | Sets the transient response over a wide range, from loads of "squish" to lightning fast response, delivering natural, transparent sustain1 |
The Attack Speed control is the pedal's main tool for shaping feel. At one end of its range you get heavy compression that smooths out your picking attack; at the other, the response is fast enough that the maker describes the sustain as natural and transparent1.
Power
Mr. Black specifies that the pedal can be run at up to 12VDC, which the maker says gives even further reduced noise and more headroom1. Higher supply voltage is a common way to give a compressor circuit more room before it clips, which matters for a pedal intended to handle both passive single-coils and hotter active outputs.
Availability
Because the Black LTD. Voltage Comp. was produced as a limited run of 48 pedals, it is not a standard catalog item. Mr. Black lists it at a regular price of $179.951, and the maker's product page links to a manual for the pedal1.
If you are comparing it with other dynamics tools, the compressor pedals page covers the wider field, and players building around it may also want to look at boost pedals or preamp pedals for related always-on roles.
Questions
How many Mr. Black Black LTD. Voltage Comp. pedals were made?
The Black LTD. Voltage Comp. was built as a limited run of 48 pedals. It is a Jack Deville original design, sold under the Mr. Black name, and the limited production is part of what sets it apart from the maker's standard line. Because only 48 units exist, availability depends on whether a unit is still on offer from the maker or a reseller.
Does the Mr. Black Voltage Comp. work with bass and active pickups?
Yes. Mr. Black states the pedal is for use with both active and passive guitars and bass guitars, delivering clean, natural sustain and smooth compression. That makes it usable on a bass rig or with guitars fitted with active pickups, where some compressors can struggle with the higher output levels.
What does the Attack Speed control do?
The Attack Speed control sets how quickly the compressor responds to your playing. Mr. Black describes it as affording a wide range of transient response, from loads of squish to lightning fast response, while delivering natural, transparent sustain. In practice it lets you choose between heavy compression that smooths your attack and a faster, more transparent feel.
Who designed the Mr. Black Voltage Comp.?
The Black LTD. Voltage Comp. is a Jack Deville original design. Jack Deville is the designer behind the Mr. Black pedal brand, and this compressor was released as a limited run of 48 pedals under that name.
Sources (1)
- Black LTD. Voltage Comp., Mr. Black