The Suhr Andy Wood Woodshed Compressor is an analog compressor pedal built around a feed-forward VCA (voltage-controlled amplifier) circuit. Suhr describes it as a simple, studio-type compressor tailored for guitar, designed to have more character than the commonly used compressors players usually reach for12.
It was designed alongside Suhr artist Andy Wood, working with Kevin Suhr. According to Suhr's manual, the two "have built a compressor that is the foundation of some of Andy's favorite tones," and Wood uses the pedal on his own board1.
How the circuit works
The Woodshed uses a feed-forward design rather than the feed-back topology found on Suhr's Koji Comp. In a feed-forward compressor, the signal going into the side-chain is what controls the gain reduction, rather than a portion of the output signal being fed back to drive it. Suhr's manual spells out the difference directly: "Where the Koji is a 'feed-back' design, the Woodshed is a 'feed-forward' design."1
The headline feature is headroom. Suhr says the Woodshed Comp has a massive amount of headroom, the most of any of Suhr's pedals, and that this lets it double as a clean boost with minimal to no compression when you want level rather than squeeze1. Suhr also describes the sound as "more natural, open, and present than anything else you've heard," with long, soaring sustain that does not require pushing amp gain high1.
Controls
The pedal keeps things simple: one main control plus the footswitch.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Threshold | Sets the level at which compression begins to occur. Clockwise means harder playing before compression kicks in; counterclockwise means compression starts sooner. |
| Footswitch | Press to turn the Woodshed Comp on and off. |
Power and specifications
The Woodshed Compressor runs on a 9V DC, center negative adapter with a 2.1mm x 5.5mm connector. Suhr lists current consumption at about 80mA, which RockBoard's PedalPedia listing also gives as 80mA12.
At roughly 80mA, the Woodshed draws more current than many analog pedals. A low-current daisy-chain output may not be enough, so plan your power supply accordingly.
Warranty
Suhr's warranty policy for the Woodshed Compressor applies only to customers in the USA. International customers handle warranty service through the dealer or distributor they purchased the pedal from1.
Videos
Suhr Custom
Andy Wood Music
Jack's Guitar Trax
Questions
Can the Suhr Woodshed Compressor be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Suhr's manual describes the Woodshed Comp as having a massive amount of headroom, the most of any of Suhr's pedals, and says it can be used as a clean boost with minimal to no compression. Backing the compression off and using the pedal to push level lets it act as a transparent boost in front of an amp.
What power supply does the Suhr Andy Wood Woodshed Compressor need?
The Woodshed Compressor needs a 9V DC, center negative adapter with a 2.1mm x 5.5mm connector. Suhr lists current consumption at about 80mA, so a standard low-current daisy-chain output may not be enough; a dedicated or higher-current supply output is the safer choice.
Is the Woodshed Compressor analog?
Yes. It is an analog pedal built around a feed-forward VCA compressor circuit, described by Suhr as a studio-type design tailored for guitar use.
What are the input and output impedances of the Woodshed Compressor?
Suhr's manual lists the input impedance at 1MΩ and the output impedance at 1kΩ. The high input impedance means the pedal sits well after single-coil and humbucker pickups alike without loading them down.
Does the Suhr warranty cover international buyers?
Suhr's warranty policy for the Woodshed Compressor applies only to customers in the USA. International customers handle warranty service through the dealer or distributor they bought the pedal from.
Sources (2)
- Woodshed-Manual-Final-v1-.pdf, Suhr (JS Technologies, Inc.), 2022
- Woodshed Comp Andy Wood Signature by Suhr, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
