Gearank Recommended
The M102 Dyna Comp first appeared on our recommended list for Guitar Compressor Pedals from our first edition in July 2017 until August 2018.
It came back onto our list as our pick for the Under $100 Budget Option in February 2021 but was removed when it was out-ranked by other options in August 2022.
Overview
The MXR M102 Dyna Comp is a long running, some would say, legendary pedal. In production since 1976, the M102 has been copied, modified and replicated in almost every way.
The most important thing to know about this compressor is that it colors your tone, and some musicians feel that it does so pretty drastically. To our ears it seems to add in a twangy mid-range hump, which is likely why it’s been such a fixture in the country guitar scene for the last few decades.
While it may not be transparent, the Dyna Comp is still the compressor of choice for tons of professional musicians. It’s also been used by musicians outside of the country-sphere, with David Gilmour being one of its most notable users.
The only real concern for some guitarists about this pedal is that it has a hardwire bypass configuration. A portion of your input signal (the signal that comes from your guitar) is routed through the pedal, which can cause treble and volume loss.
Features
- VCA Compression
- Parameters: Output and Sensitivity
- Hardwire Bypass
- 9-volt battery or AC adapter