The MXR CSP204 Custom Comp Deluxe is a compressor pedal from MXR's Custom Shop line. MusicRadar's reviewer describes it as "A warm, vintage-voiced compressor that does subtle to squash, all with utmost tonal clarity."1
The controls: sensitivity, attack, output and low
The Custom Comp Deluxe carries the familiar compressor control set plus one addition. Alongside sensitivity, attack and output controls, it also boasts a low knob, which allows you to cut the compressed signal's low-end. That gives you a way to keep heavy compression from piling up bass, something the standard Dyna Comp layout does not offer1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity | Sets how hard the compressor reacts to your playing1 |
| Attack | Shapes the compression attack1 |
| Output | Sets the pedal's output level1 |
| Low | Allows you to cut the compressed signal's low-end1 |
How it compares
MusicRadar's reviewer found the Custom Comp Deluxe offers "an uncoloured, lightly squeezed take on your tone - not as squashed as a Dyna Comp, but not as hi-fi as, say, the Empress Compressor."1 Against MXR's own Dyna Comp Deluxe and Dyna Comp Mini, it sits in the Custom Shop range, and the CA3080 IC ties it to the circuit of vintage Ross compressors.1
"Always-on compressor users will appreciate the low noise floor, too - hiss becomes apparent only once you're into heavily compressed territory."
"The Custom Shop line has taken MXR into the upper echelons of the pedal market and it shows no sign of stopping."
For more on how this kind of pedal works, see Compressor Pedals.
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Questions
Does the MXR Custom Comp Deluxe run on a battery?
Yes. MusicRadar's review notes nine-volt battery and power supply operation, so you can run it from a standard nine-volt supply or a battery inside the pedal. That makes it easy to drop onto a board without a dedicated power output, though most players will use a supply once the pedal lives on a board permanently.
How is the Custom Comp Deluxe different from a Dyna Comp?
MusicRadar's reviewer found the Custom Comp Deluxe offers an uncoloured, lightly squeezed take on your tone, not as squashed as a Dyna Comp but not as hi-fi as something like the Empress Compressor. It also adds a low knob for trimming the compressed low end, and uses the CA3080 IC found in vintage Ross comps.
What does the low knob do on the MXR Custom Comp Deluxe?
The low knob allows you to cut the compressed signal's low-end. That is useful when heavy compression makes bass strings sound bloated or crowded, letting you thin out the low end of the squeezed signal while the rest of your tone stays intact.
Is the MXR Custom Comp Deluxe part of the Custom Shop line?
Yes. The CSP204 Custom Comp Deluxe sits in MXR's Custom Shop line, which MusicRadar's reviewer credits with taking MXR into the upper echelons of the pedal market. It carries the robust MXR enclosure and true-bypass switching.
Sources (1)
- MXR CSP204 Custom Comp Deluxe review, MusicRadar, 2015-02-27
