The Swindler Effects Workers Comp is a compressor pedal aimed at players who want the squishy, sustain-heavy character of the classic MXR Dyna Comp and Ross compressor circuits, but with more control over the sound. Swindler Effects says it uses a unique configuration of the same chip found in those two compressors, and that the pedal offers more headroom with less noise, ranging from a hint of sustain and consistency to seriously squishy1.
The Workers Comp is a compressor pedal from Swindler Effects. The maker describes it as offering more headroom with less noise, with additional controls to help fine tune your sound, ranging from a hint of sustain and consistency to seriously squishy1. Both the original pedal and a later V2 are now listed as unavailable on the maker's site, so the Workers Comp has to be found second-hand12.
The controls
The Workers Comp gives the player four knobs and one switch, which is more shaping power than the two-knob Dyna Comp and Ross circuits it descends from. Swindler Effects lists the controls as level, compression, attack, and release12.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output volume of the pedal1 |
| Compression | Determines the threshold and how much squish is added to the sound3 |
| Attack | Shapes how quickly the compression engages on a note1 |
| Release | Shapes how the compression lets go as a note decays1 |
| Bright switch | Helps reclaim high frequencies and sparkle that can be lost during compression12 |
The compression control is the heart of the pedal. Delicious Audio described it as the control that "determines the threshold and how much squish is added to the sound"3. The attack and release knobs are what separate the Workers Comp from its ancestors: on a stock Dyna Comp-style circuit those timings are fixed, and here the player can set how fast the compressor grabs a note and how long it holds on.
The bright switch addresses a known side effect of this family of circuits. Compression that clamps down on a signal can take some top-end sparkle with it, and Swindler Effects says the switch helps reclaim those high frequencies12.
Circuit and versions
The Workers Comp is built on the compression chip used in the MXR Dyna Comp and the Ross compressor, two designs that shaped what players expect from a guitar compressor: audible squeeze, long sustain, and a leveling effect that evens out picking dynamics. Swindler Effects says it uses that chip in a unique configuration, and that the result offers more headroom with less noise than the originals12.
The pedal appeared in two versions:
- Workers Comp: the original compressor pedal, described by the maker as offering more headroom with less noise, from a hint of sustain and consistency to seriously squishy1.
- Workers Comp V2: the updated version of the pedal2. Both versions are listed as unavailable on the maker's site12.
Both versions are listed as unavailable on the maker's site as of 2026, so neither is in current production12.
The Workers Comp is discontinued in both of its versions. Anyone wanting one today is looking at the used market, and the V2's reduced bypass pop potential is the practical difference to look for between the two when comparing listings12.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio covered the pedal at its introduction in June 2016 and summed up where it sits among compressors3:
"While not the most transparent compressor around, the Worker’s Comp offers compressed tones that are aggressive without overpowering your sound."3
That verdict matches the pedal's design brief: it is a Dyna Comp and Ross descendant, not a transparent studio-style leveling amplifier. Players chasing invisible dynamic control would look elsewhere; players who want that classic squish, with attack and release knobs to shape it, are who the Workers Comp was built for13.
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Questions
Is the Swindler Effects Workers Comp true bypass?
Yes. Swindler Effects lists the Workers Comp with soft touch, true-bypass switching, and the V2 carries the same feature. The V2 update also reduced the potential for a pop when switching the pedal in and out of the bypass signal path.
What chip does the Workers Comp use?
Swindler Effects says the pedal uses a unique configuration of the same chip found in the MXR Dyna Comp and the Ross compressor. That family of circuits is known for a squishy, sustain-heavy compression character rather than transparent leveling.
Is the Swindler Workers Comp still being made?
No. Both the original Signature-line version and the V2 are listed as unavailable on the maker's site. The Signature line of graphics was discontinued on Black Friday, November 24, 2017, and the V2 page also shows an unavailable status.
What does the Bright switch do on the Workers Comp?
According to Swindler Effects, the bright switch helps reclaim some of the high frequencies and sparkle that can be lost during compression. Compressors in the Dyna Comp and Ross tradition can dull the top end at heavier settings, and this switch counters that.
How much did the Swindler Workers Comp cost?
The maker listed the Workers Comp at US$150.00, and the V2 carried the same US$150.00 price. Both figures come from Swindler Effects' own product pages as they stood in 2026.
Sources (3)
- Workers Comp Compressor, Swindler Effects, 2026
- Workers Comp Compressor, Swindle Effects, 2026
- New Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2016-06-08
