EarthQuaker Devices The Warden V2 Optical Compressor Pedal

Compressor Guitar Pedal with Tone, Level, Sustain, Ratio, Attack, and Release Controls and True Bypass

Item ID: TheWardenV2

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Dynamic Control with Opto-cell Character

The Warden V2 keeps your dynamics in line. But it does so in eminently musical fashion. This EarthQuaker Devices' optical compressor pedal sports classic feedback-style circuitry and a feature set you'd expect to find on studio compressors. Built with high-grade components and internally powered by 18 volts, The Warden V2 has gobs of gain and sustain on tap. With total control over attack, release, sustain, and ratio, The Warden V2 delivers everything from heavy squash with quick attack and release to super-subtle compression. Optical compressors enjoy a reputation for having more character than VCA- or FET-based designs, and Sweetwater can attest that EarthQuaker Devices' The Warden V2 sounds wonderfully warm and characterful, indeed.

Classic feedback-style compression

A feedback-style compressor, The Warden V2 likes it hot — as in, the louder the signal, the more compression you get. Short sustain equals little compression, more sluggish attack and release, and cooler signal; maximum sustain equals heavy compression, longer sustain, hotter signal, and more sprightly attack and release. If you've ever used a Teletronix LA-2A (the holy grail among those in the know), that's classic feedback-style compression, in all its glory. The Warden V2 nails it. Add dead-quiet operation and a complete modern control set to the vintage mojo, and you've got what may be the ultimate compressor pedal for guitar or anything else. Put EarthQuaker Devices The Warden V2 in your signal chain, and you'll hear what we mean.

From the pedal gurus at EarthQuaker Devices

Akron, Ohio's, EarthQuaker Devices is a boutique pedal company that puts all their focus on building tools for musicians to find their own tone. Their designs range from enhanced classics to pedals that have never been seen or heard before. Company founder Jamie Stillman was working with rock band the Black Keys when he came upon a design for the pedal that kick-started the company's success. Ever since then EarthQuaker Devices has been committed to helping you find your tone with high-quality products at great prices.

EarthQuaker Devices The Warden V2 Features:

Warm, colorful optical compression with tons of control
2nd-generation edition with silent relay-based switching
True bypass
Requires standard 9V DC power supply with negative-center barrel (not included)
Handcrafted in EarthQuaker's Akron, OH-based factory

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Tech Specs

Pedal Type: Compressor
Analog/Digital: Analog
Inputs: 1 x 1/4" (instrument)
Outputs: 1 x 1/4"
True Bypass: Yes
Power Source: 9V DC power supply required (sold separately)
Power Usage: 31mA
Height: 2.25" with knobs
Width: 2.50"
Depth: 4.75"
Weight: 0.87 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number: The Warden V2

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Reviews

5.0

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Just love Opto Compression! Nothing against Keeley or Wampler and other great compressor pedals, but the organic, smooth sounds of the Earthquaker Opto Compression pedal - with its six infinitely tweak-able knobs - is sublime! So musical and easy to shape tone with this pedal.

This thing takes everything you like about your guitar's tone and amplifies it, with some added warmth that doesn't take long to love. It adds some color, but the for the amount of "hot" signal you get, it's totally worth it.

You can dial up sustain to the point where any chord will ring out until it becomes feedback.

If you drone, doom, dirge, whatever - this is your new best friend. Put it in front of your dirt pedal(s) and you'll never turn it off.

This compressor is so natural and clear that it can be used with very little noise later in the chain for smoothing out the gain section. Obviously, it is also entirely adequate as an "only compressor", but that is not why I ordered the warden. It was very difficult to find a second compressor that was smooth enough to use after my gain section without adding too much noise. This one does this very well. Adds a great deal of clean headroom as a "boost with benefits". Adds some wonderful, pulsing sustain when set just right and even gives me the option to work with that natural feedback which remains musical. A held note will blend into this beautiful, singing feedback (when I want, I'm doing this intentionally)

After playing through an Xotic SP and a Keeley, I found I liked the optical style compression more than FET. It sounded a bit more natural to me. So when I started building a second board, instead of getting a second SP, I decided to look into other similar comps and liked what I read and heard from demos of The Warden. After having it a few weeks and playing with different knob combinations, I've finally dialed it in and gotta admit, it sounds amazing! Playing clean is very smooth and glassy, and even improved the sound quality when using overdrives like the TS9. I highly recommend the Warden for those looking for a top-notch optical compressor in pedal form.

I've owned at least 4 other brand name compressors that were okay. But I longed for a pedal that was as adjustable as my rack mounted unit. Alas, in comes the Warden. I can dial in a tad or strangling amounts of compression, make it jump on notes pronto or saunter slowly up to calm down the sonic confusion. I hate otherwise good compression pedals that have one or more functions factory set. This compressor is as adjustable as my rack mounted unit. And it makes all the difference to me. It is solidly constructed and easy to use. Finally, a compressor pedal made for me.