MAXON Compressors/Compandors - anyone?

All about modern commercial stompbox circuits from Electro Harmonix over MXR, Boss and Ibanez into the nineties.
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fuzzbuzzfuzz
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Post by fuzzbuzzfuzz »

Has any one had experience with "vintage" Maxon compressors, and in turn can enlighten as to the differences between them?

There seems to be the (original?) Maxon "Compandor" (small case, rectangular white decals on the sides, no 9v DC) i.e ala the new reissue OD-808, a later version minus the white markings but with a DC input jack on the side, and also the large 08' series type box, CP-101 Compressor. All are 2 knob (no "Attack" function). And of course now is a small box black CP-101 currently in production.

For the record I`ve tried the latter Compandor (today), very light pedal, little squishy but warm, good amount of boost) and a CP-101 - very warm, lovely in fact. But are they all the same inside? (the CP weighs ALOT more!). Are there any duds in the line, are the original series better?

(NB. Not really looking at the intricacies of the circuit, more their sounds, pro`s and cons etc - unless one has a bearing on the other of course :lol: )
Super curious!

Thanks all :)

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fuzzbuzzfuzz
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Post by fuzzbuzzfuzz »

Ibanez CP-835 II I believe is the same as the Maxon CP-101, anyone tried that out?

Looks like this..

http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/ibanez/808/cp835

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Post by Dirk_Hendrik »

Sorry. Plain out of planes.

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Post by mictester »

fuzzbuzzfuzz wrote:Ibanez CP-835 II I believe is the same as the Maxon CP-101, anyone tried that out?

Looks like this..

http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/ibanez/808/cp835
The Ibanez has a Maxon PCB inside it!
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Post by ilcaccillo »

fuzzbuzzfuzz wrote:Ibanez CP-835 II I believe is the same as the Maxon CP-101, anyone tried that out?

Looks like this..

http://www.effectsdatabase.com/model/ibanez/808/cp835
No it's not the same pedal, the Maxon CP101 is an Opto based compressor.
the original Maxon CP101 (Red unit) has 1x IC 741, 3x 2SC828 transistors and one LDR/Optosiolator, 2 pots (Sustain and Level)
The new CP101 version (Black unit) it's the same circuit but with input buffer and buffer circuity, and uses 4558 instead of the 741

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Professor SourTone
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Post by Professor SourTone »

I have this, which I like so much the nephew is getting an Origin Effects and I’m keeping this one. I know very little about it. It’s definitely not like a CP101, more like a Dynacomp. It squashes and sustains, but more controllably, also thickens the tone.
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Professor SourTone
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Post by Professor SourTone »

Mystery solved - appears to be the same board as in the Ibanez CP830

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Post by ilcaccillo »

Professor SourTone wrote: 24 Dec 2020, 19:32 I know very little about it. It’s definitely not like a CP101, more like a Dynacomp. It squashes and sustains, but more controllably, also thickens the tone.
Thats an original Maxon CP101 (Red unit)

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Post by Professor SourTone »

I don’t think so, as it does not appear to be an optical circuit, but an Ibanez CP830 in Maxon clothing.

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Post by G.Bisson »

An optocoupler is clearly visible on the right side the PCB.
Compare to this thread: viewtopic.php?t=28039

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