Xploration • Curation • Recommendation
Thorpy's Fat General Parallel Compressor has long been on the cards, and is brilliant in its simplicity
If you’re nervous about dipping your toes into compression - then the ThopryFX Fat General is the perfect vehicle for you!
It has 4 simple controls, and 2 simple modes - for ’Blend’ the Compression is ’Balanced’ in parallel with the Dry Signal right across the range, and for ’JUICY’ Mode you get full fat 90% Compo / 10% Dry - where the ’Balance’ controls then acts as a master volume.
I tend to use Compressors fairly subtly - in a transparent fashion and mostly as boost-sustainers - where parallel signal routing and compression is typically a must for me - and you get to enhance the sustain and vibrancy of the signal - without massively colouring or changing the core tonality.
A compressor has always been one of the core 3 front of chain essential tone enhancers and boost components for me. While when I moved on from the early Mini variants - I tended to favour more extended feature studio-style compressors - particularly models by Becos FX and Jackson Audio. Some of my Compressors have as many as 13 controls - and allow you to finely adjust every facet of compression - while the Fat General is one of the simplest and most elegant compressors currently on offer.
It’s my 11th Compressor to-date, and my 31st Thorpy pedal overall. I will be doing a follow-up post on all 31 of my ThorpyFX pedals - that should be coming up before the end of the month!
Controls - Treble, Sustain, Mode : Blend - 0-100% Parallel Comp to Dry Mix / Juicy 90% Comp / 10% Dry Mix, Balance = % Parallel Comp Blend with Dry / Juicy 90:10 Volume.
Ports - TS In, 9V DC [-] 35mA, TS Out.
The Fat General is brilliant in its simplicity - made with the highest quality of components - and sounds superb however subtle or full-fat you intend to deploy it. Also with an incredibly low noise floor.
I'm not sure there are many Copmressors simpler or more elegant than this. I only felt the need to adjust one of the dials - where I mostly run Blend Mode - with the Balance control typically between 9 o'c and Noon. I've felt no need to adjust the Treble or Sustain controls - which both remain at Noon too!.
It is for sure one of the simplest and most instantly satisfying compressors out there. It subtly enhances and extends your tones - without colouring the output - in my preferred Blend Mode. Of course 90:10 Juicy Mode is another matter entirely - but I use that very rarely.
Thorpy relies on premium THT components mostly - and this is another proper touring board essential!
The Fat General is £239 and equivalent from the ThorpyFX Webstore - $295 and equivalent from International Dealers.
As mentioned I normally enjoy more fuller featured compressors - but I'm really enjoying the Fat General - it really is beautifully transparent - and does all the right things for me - to help me with the elegant tone-enhancing sustaining boost!
I knew I was going to like it - but didn't realise I was going to like it quite this much - I could happily permanently deploy that one on the board for all-time - but I do occasionally too enjoy finessing Attack and Release vectors, It's really all mood-based for me - and sometimes I feel the need to be simple, and sometime I'm happier to operate in a more complex manner. The Thorpy Fat General is fantastic regardless - brilliantly engineered - and it of course deploys brilliantly too!
The enclosure / artwork has changed a few times along the way - while the guts have always remained the same - all the following demos apply, even though none of them have the latest look! (Per mine!).
Demos
