My Rocktron compression pedal is a total peice of ****... so I'll stay away from anything made by that company.

While I can't speak on Rocktron pedals from experience, I just want to say that compressors take knowledge to use correctly and it's not exactly an effect that's ready to use just by arbitrarily turning some knobs.
You could buy the best compressor out there, but if you don't know how to use it, it's not going to do anything for your sound.

I'm not assuming you don't know how to set up a compressor optimally, but I just want to put that out there.

i had bad luck with my compressor as well. it was a DOD Milkbox (from the 90s when everything needed a 'funky' name). it lasted about 2 months before breaking down into something that makes nothing besides a REALLY loud buzzing sound when clicked on - regardless of how the knobs are twiddled.

best i could pull from it when it worked were some really nasal lead tones a la Neil Young. otherwise, pretty much useless.

much prefer an octaver for buzzy fuzz tones.

If you're wondering why I hated the thing it was because it completely sucked the tone out of my signal... the bypass system was ****ing ****.

Bumping this thread because I saw a band last night covering Gloria Gaynor and rocking the wah pedal like a fucking kick drum. It was pretty obvious he was only doing it to cover up his mistakes.

^ that's a typical noob mistake with a wah pedal. unfortunate but it happens, some people just don't get how to rock their foot properly. if you're just going to be going from one extreme to the other you might as well just get an autowah and set it to go nuts.

i'm guessing the rhythm was also quite choppy as well.

Effect pedals give guitarists their own unique tone and style. I think that if you do try to hide your mistakes, well whatever. If sounding good artificially suits you and boosts your confidence, go for it. But be careful when playing at your local guitar store, if the wrong person hears your TRUE playing, you might get yelled at.

dunno about that, i've seen people be politely asked to play a different riff when busting out stairway or freebird but that's it. usually it's in a joking manner too. if it's not coming from a clerk that's when you offer up the guitar to the heckler and get them to step up or shut up.

i've never EVER seen anyone hassled for not being 'that' technically proficient in a music store, everyone in there has been a beginner at some point. on the other hand if you've been running your mouth about you shredding skills.... well, that's your own fault in that case.

I was exaggerating. But what I have seen is some 12 year old kid playing One, and another kid about 16-17ish came up to him, and said turn off the reverb and go back to guitar hero, you suck. I felt so bad for the poor kid.

I have muff too, it's made from metal taken from Russian tank.