A Study in Invisible Sustain –
I am a huge fan of compression but I have always preferred the kind you can’t actually hear. I want the benefits like the leveling and the weight without that heavy handed pumping effect that usually gives the game away. That is exactly why the Wampler Ego 76 is so impressive. It is Brian Wampler’s take on the iconic 1176 studio sound and the versatility is honestly a bit ridiculous. You can run this thing a dozen different ways. If you want that classic aggressive cluck and squash of an old school Dyna Comp it is in there. But it is also capable of being so transparent you would swear it was not even on.
The real reason I am obsessed with this pedal though is the sustain. This is quite literally sustain in a box. The best way I have found to use it is to just let it feed that endless singing note length that usually requires a cranked stack and a lot of luck. What is wild is that I get all that compression and hang time without that annoying squashed feeling. It is that rare breed of compressor that stays out of the way of your hands while keeping everything leveled and professional. I prefer a pedal that I do not notice until I turn it off and suddenly realize my tone sounds thin. The Ego 76 is that invisible glue that makes everything sound finished.
On the spec side including the stuff you always want me to mention it is loaded. You have full control over the Attack and Release so you decide exactly when the pedal grabs your note and when it lets go. The Tone knob is a lifesaver for keeping things from getting muddy and that Blend knob is the secret to keeping your original pick attack while the compression works its magic in the background. It is built with high grade components to keep things quiet and runs on a standard 9V. It is a workhorse plain and simple. If you want your guitar to ring forever without feeling like your signal is being strangled this is the move.