Empress Effects Compressor MKII Pedal in Blue

Retailing in the region of £269.00

On the menu for January 2026 are the Empress Effects Guitar Pedals, freshly added and carefully selected. These New units are available to order online with fast, secure delivery from trusted UK retailers. Read on for full details, specifications, demos, videos, reviews, and the best places to buy the Empress Effects Guitar Pedals today.


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Description

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On the menu for January 2026 are the Empress Effects Guitar Pedals, freshly added and carefully selected. These New units are available to order online with fast, secure delivery from trusted UK retailers. Read on for full details, specifications, demos, videos, reviews, and the best places to buy the Empress Effects Guitar Pedals today.

When Empress Effects released their original Compressor pedal back in 2011, it quickly became a favourite among guitar and bass players alike. Providing more than what most typical comp stompboxes could offer, many of which are hindered by oversimplified controls, Empress has now designed an improved MKII Compressor with impressive studio-like features. The original worked great, but this goes one better!

On top of the full range of controls normally only seen in high-end recording equipment, including input and gain reduction metering, independent attack and release controls, a mix knob for parallel compression, and an external sidechain insert – Empress has now added a 'tilt' tone EQ control and a selectable sidechain high-pass filter built into the Compressor’s detection circuit. The whole package is now half the size and available in two snazzy colours too!

Features

  • All Analog Signal Path – No digitals in here!
  • Extremely Transparent – Add dynamic control without altering the original tone of your instrument.
  • 3 Compression Ratios – 2:1, 4:1 and 10:1 ratios offer lots of flexibility.
  • Attack and Release Control – Allows for ultimate control over the compression characteristics.
  • Mix – Blend uncompressed signal in with the compressed signal for parallel compression, New York Style!
  • Metering – Meter both gain reduction and input levels on separate meters.
  • Tone – New tone knob, a "tilt" sytle tone knob centered at 500Hz to nail that perfect tone.
  • Sidechain Send/Return – 3.5mm TRS jack send and return for sidechain compresson.  
  • Sidechain High Pass Filter – No need to add a high pass filter to the sidechain, now there is one built in that can be toggled off or set to 120 or 240Hz. 
  • True Display LEDs – Bright multi-color LEDs always let you know what the compressor is doing.
  • Power On Bypassed or Engaged – For musicians that never want to turn their compressor off. 
  • True Bypass – The Empress Compressor employs true bypass, so you can be sure that it's not affecting the signal when disengaged.
  • Small Size – New enclosure approximately half the size of the original compressor, which is delightfully small when considering all the features packed into this unit.
  • Beautiful Case – It has a sparkle you can't deny, in blue or silver!

Specifications

  • Input Impedance: 1M
  • Output Impedance: 2.2k
  • Frequency Response (-3dB): 20Hz – 20kHz
  • Distortion: Less Than 0.1%
  • Noise: -101dB
  • Power Input Voltage: 9-18V DC (Negative Tip)
  • Power Input Connector: 2.1mm Barrel Connector (Negative Tip)
  • Power Consumption: ~ 100mA
  • Enclosure Material: Die Cast Aluminium
  • Input Connector: 1/4" Jack
  • Output Connector: 1/4" Jack
  • Height (Enclosure Only): 1.5"
  • Height (Including Controls): 2.5"
  • Length: 4.8"
  • Width: 2.6"
  • Weight: 1lbs

Additional information

Weight 0.5 kg

Brand

Empress Effects

Empress Effects is a Canadian manufacturer of high-quality guitar and bass effects pedals, known for their innovative designs and exceptional sound quality. The company was founded in 2009 and quickly gained a reputation for creating pedals that combine top-tier craftsmanship with user-friendly functionality. Empress Effects is particularly well-regarded for its attention to detail, versatile features, and the ability to produce pedals that suit a wide range of musical styles.

The brand’s products include a variety of effects such as overdrive, distortion, delay, reverb, modulation, and multi-effects units. One of their standout products is the Empress Tape Delay, which is praised for its realistic vintage sound and versatile control options. The Empress Reverb is another popular offering, known for its rich, atmospheric sounds that can cater to everything from subtle room reverb to deep, expansive hall sounds. Empress Effects is celebrated for producing pedals that meet the needs of both professional musicians and hobbyists, often incorporating advanced features like MIDI control and preset storage, making their products suitable for both live performances and studio work.

Category

Guitar Pedals

Tags

Compressor

Distortion

Distortion pedals take your clean guitar signal and transform it into something bigger, bolder, and full of attitude. By clipping the waveform, they add sustain, bite, and aggression, creating that thick, compressed tone that’s powered rock music for decades. From the growling crunch of classic hard rock to the tight, saturated roar of modern metal, distortion is all about energy and presence. It gives every note weight and authority, pushing your amp to its limits and beyond.

There are countless flavours of distortion, each with its own texture and edge. Some sound smooth and creamy, others raw and gnarly like tearing fabric. It’s the sonic equivalent of turning up the heat until the sound cooks — rich, sizzling, and perfectly seasoned to taste. Whether used for rhythm muscle or soaring leads, a good distortion pedal doesn’t just add volume; it adds personality, grit, and that unmistakable sense of power under your fingers.

EQ

While Ed Sheeran primarily relies on the natural sound of his acoustic guitar and vocals, he occasionally uses EQ (Equalization) to shape and enhance his tone during live performances or in the studio. EQ pedals or onboard preamps can allow him to adjust the frequency response of his guitar signal to suit the acoustics of different venues or to achieve specific tonal characteristics. Here’s how EQ might be utilized in Ed Sheeran’s setup:

1. **Tonal Shaping**: EQ can be used to adjust the balance of frequencies in the guitar signal, allowing Ed Sheeran to shape his tone to his liking. For example, he might boost the midrange frequencies to bring out the warmth and presence of his acoustic guitar, or cut certain frequencies to reduce any harshness or mud in the sound.

2. **Feedback Control**: In a live setting, EQ can help control feedback by notching out problematic frequencies that might cause the guitar signal to feed back through the amplification system. This can be particularly useful when performing in venues with challenging acoustics or high volume levels.

3. **Room Correction**: In situations where the venue’s acoustics are less than ideal, EQ can be used to compensate for any deficiencies in the sound. By adjusting the EQ settings, Ed Sheeran can tailor the guitar tone to sound more balanced and natural, regardless of the room’s acoustic properties.

4. **Matching Gear**: EQ can also be used to match the tone of Ed Sheeran’s guitar to the sound of other instruments or equipment in his setup. For example, he might adjust the EQ to complement the tonal characteristics of his vocal microphone or to blend seamlessly with backing tracks or other instruments.

Overall, while EQ may not be a central component of Ed Sheeran’s guitar effects setup, it can still play a valuable role in shaping his tone and ensuring that he achieves the desired sound in different performance environments. Whether used subtly for tonal shaping or more aggressively for feedback control, EQ allows Ed Sheeran to tailor his guitar tone to suit his musical vision and performance needs.

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New

This is brand new, fresh in, and a UK warranty is included. New Gear always comes from trusted UK music retailers.