When you first take a look at the TC-3 Compressor from Big Lloyde, you get the feeling that this is not your grandpa’s compressor pedal, and that something cool is about to happen. Then you plug it in, and realize your hopes and wishes had actually come true. A great-sounding compressor in a neat and tidy pedal package, the TC-3 gives the big fellas a run for their money.

The controls are, at first, a little intimidating, but they all serve a purpose, and come together to create a beautifully compressed sound, and as much or as little of it as you want. The Level is the master output volume control, which is an important piece to any compression puzzle. The Mix is great, too, as you can dial in as much or as little compression as is called for in any musical situation, whether it be in the studio, on stage or just jamming in a garage. The Sustain knob sort of has a few different functions – as you turn it up, you get sustain, of course, but also a more compressed sound, with added sensitivity, plus it works as a gain control as well, which can add noise into your signal the more it is cranked. Finally, Presence helps control the high end of the pedal, adding in more treble and clarity when turned up. These last two controls really make this pedal stand out, as they create a plethora of options to be explored and revered in regards to the TC-3.

Another interesting feature, one I’ve never come across, is internal, but is set by holding down the bypass switch while powering up the pedal. This feature is called Relay Bypass, and consists of 2 modes: in Mode 1, the pedal actually remembers if it was on or off when the power was last shut down, making it great if it’s a pedal you want to always have on, and not have to think about each time you plug in your pedalboard. Mode 2 just automatically defaults to the Off or Bypassed state when powered up, which is nice if you just use compression some of the time, and don’t want to worry about whether or not it’s on when getting ready for a gig.

The TC-3 is a mighty nice little piece of gear, adding sparkle to your tone, without any coloration to speak of, letting your pickups and amp shine through. Lots of features make it fun and useful for all kinds of applications, and can send an already good-sounding setup up one notch, giving it that extra zing you never even knew it needed. Thanks to Big Lloyde for letting us test the TC-3 out, here’s hoping their third pedal project continues in the craftsmanship and quality of the first two!

Specs:
Handcrafted in America
Relay True Bypass using the superior Carling foot-switch
Bypass can be adjusted to remember its last state, or default to off, for ease of use in any setup
Through hole plated PCB, manufactured in U.S.A.
1% metal film resistors
Top quality film capacitors
Alpha potentiometers
Low-Noise Signal Path
Top-Mounted Input, Output and Power Jacks
Durable Enclosure by Pedal Parts Plus
Mix, Level, Sustain, Attack, and Presence controls
Bright red indicator LED
All Jacks and Switches mounted to the enclosure and hand-wired in
Internal Battery Snap, as well as external DC jack

Submitted by Mike B, Website

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