Description
The Cali76 Compact Deluxe is an 1176-style studio-grade FET compressor.
Featuring high-current, low-noise, discrete Class-A circuitry, and a dedicated parallel compression control…
all contained in one compact, stompbox-sized package!
We’ve managed to build all of the functionality from our flagship Cali76 Standard into this little marvel – and we’ve added the much-requested parallel mix control previously only found on our limited editions.
Separate controls for Attack, Release and Ratio let you precisely tailor your tone, from transparent transient control to flat-out limiting and monster sustain. Meanwhile, the elegant jewel lamp functions as an intuitive three-colour gain reduction meter.
The Cali76 Compact Deluxe delivers natural, musical compression that will enhance the tone and playability of any instrument.
The ace in the hole is the Dry Blend control, which lets you mix your dry signal back in with your compressed guitar tone for true parallel compression. An indispensable studio recording technique, parallel compression gives you all of the tone thickening and increased sensitivity of the Cali76, while keeping hold of the natural dynamic expression in your playing.
It’s the ultimate in transparent compression and sustain. By blending your “honest” guitar tone together with more subtle compression, you can also create the kind of three-dimensional, sparkling tone that you’re used to hearing on records – not coming out of your amp!
Smaller Size With No Compromise!
The original Cali76 is a big, beautiful compressor pedal that delivers studio-quality 1176-style compression using discrete Class-A circuitry that’s true to the topology and design philosophy of the original.
The Cali76 Compact Deluxe is of the same blood line, sharing the features, performance and pedigree of its larger sibling, but in a smaller package and with parallel compression added on top. A third of the size of the Cali76 Standard, the Compact Deluxe can be housed on even the most congested of pedalboards.
Like all of our Compact Series pedals, the Cali76 Compact Deluxe features high-current, discrete, Class-A circuitry for transparent, low-noise performance. We’ve taken a no-compromise approach to the circuit design using only the best of modern components.
The original Cali76 is a big, beautiful compressor pedal that delivers studio-quality 1176-style compression using discrete Class-A circuitry that’s true to the topology and design philosophy of the original.
The Cali76 Compact Deluxe is of the same blood line, sharing the features, performance and pedigree of its larger sibling, but in a smaller package and with parallel compression added on top. A third of the size of the Cali76 Standard, the Compact Deluxe can be housed on even the most congested of pedalboards.
Like all of our Compact Series pedals, the Cali76 Compact Deluxe features high-current, discrete, Class-A circuitry for transparent, low-noise performance. We’ve taken a no-compromise approach to the circuit design using only the best of modern components.
Rugged MELF resistors offer low noise performance and rock-solid reliability. Film and tantalum capacitors offer tight tolerances and superb linearity. Carefully chosen transistors biased at relatively high currents yield a distinct signal-to-noise advantage.
Please note: the Cali76 Compact Deluxe is powered by a mains adaptor only (not included). We’ve dispensed with the usual 9V battery option, both to save space and to allow us to adopt a high-current approach, yielding lower noise levels and superior tone.
Peter (verified owner) –
I got the Cali76 CD recently and it is as described – a high quality stomp-box format comp/limiter. The buying experience was also fine with the online/international thing working right. The Origin literature points out the features and they are not exaggerated. I saw a few demos by pro players and it was that that decided me. The Cali works for me just as it did for the pros.
Currently I am using it more as a limiter by having it last in the chain. With a choice of a couple of good overdrive units placed in front it gives great, manageable and repeatable fusion sounds. Comp/limiters are often described as ‘smoothing out’ guitar sounds – it does that and with the capability to blend the dry and effected sounds the player has full control.
There is no downside to this purchase.
Florian (verified owner) –
I received my pedal a view weeks ago. The pedal is wonderful sounding. It doesn’t kill any of the original sound, it gives you a beatiful compression on top. You can dial in any type of compression suitable for distorted or clean sounds.
The purchase process was very easy. Thank you!
Rob Suh –
Pure sound. Really brings out great tones out of my tube amp.
Risha (verified owner) –
It’s on board and we are a cople of gigs further now. What can I say. Great.. Great pedal. Absolutely worth the money. It’s all there; sustain; transparent sound etc. This an “always on pedal” for sure.
Azhar Kamal (verified owner) –
I got mine a couple of weeks ago. I set it up in my main studio audio path coming from my Peter Cornish G2 into a Palmer Triline which splits up the signal to my main recording amps, Boogie King Snake and a 1967 Super Reverb with 4xD110F Speakers by JBL. The pedal does wonders turning a great tone into a beautiful one. Every type of guitar,clean,crunch,Fuzz,Wah,Experimental benefits immensely from this pedal. Since I own a UA 1176 which is the channelstrip for the MD421 that is the close Mike on the Super(the Boogie is captured by a ambient set up M149 into a LA2A) my satisfaction was pretty high before I acquired the Cali 76 Deluxe, BUT after I seem to have found my sound FINALLY….Thanks to the Cali 76 Deluxe
Harry Gusman (verified owner) –
I was very happy to receive this Compressor faster than I expected. Thank you.
This is the best compressor I’ve ever own. Like some said, it’s great for clan as well as distorted sounds. It adds clarity and enhance the sound of the guitar as a whole.
The only thing I would suggest for the future would be the size. If you could make it smaller and put the jacks on the sides like other small effects would be even better.
ROBERTO DAMIAN (verified owner) –
I got mine two days ago and can’t keep me away from it.
It’s just amazing, it’s sound amazing and it’s very very clean performing with your sound.
I mean it looks like if it enhance your sound.
For me the best compressor I’ve ever hear on a pedal.
Just blows my mind.
ROBERTO DAMIAN (verified owner) –
I got mine two days ago and can’t keep me away from it.
It’s just amazing, it’s sound amazing and it’s very very clean performing with your sound.
I mean it looks like if it enhance your sound.
For me the best compressor I’ve ever hear on a pedal.
Just blew my mind.
Mark Lewellen –
For as long as I have been playing guitar I have always had a compressor in my signal chain. In over 40 years of playing I have owned many varieties of them with all of the usual choices from the Ross-Dynacomp OTA’s through the FET, VCA and Optical types. For the last several years I have had a permanent spot for my beloved Keeley 4 knob compressor. Up until now nothing else came close to the Keeley. I decided to purchase the Cali 76 after I had a casual conversation about jazz guitar with my amp tech. He mentioned that the Cali 76 was the holy grail of stomp box compressors and would be his first choice recommendation for vintage jazz guitar tone. So I took his advice and ordered one the same day. I really didn’t know what to expect and at worse it would be just another compressor that would just be sidelined and sent to the closet in favor of the Keeley. This is where the love affair came to a sudden and heart breaking halt. After setting up the Cali and dialing it into my rig I was absolutely stunned how intrinsically musical this compressor was. I suddenly was thrusted into a whole new love and lust for compression. For starters the tone is so transparent, clear and dimensional. It’s truly amazing how all of the guitar and amp tone came busting through the mix. All the great squishiness and sustain of compression without any tone loss! My Gibson 335 sounded absolutely stunning and my Gibson 175 jazz box just blossomed into greatness. The dry mix knob is pure genius and is perfect for adding back the unprocessed signal in the mix. I was also very impressed with the clarity and sustain that my overdriven tone now had. It has been a very long time since I have been this excited over a stomp box but the Cali 76 has just supplanted a very dear and trusted piece of audio gear. This is audio engineering at its finest!
Fred Markert –
My new Cali76 CD leaves me speechless! I’ve used an MXR DynaComp (script version) for decades and have tried out many different compressors over the years, but nothing compares to the Cali76 CD. The ability to fine tune every aspect of both my signal and the compression is unparalleled in any other compressor pedal out there. Simply spectacular! I’m in love with compression all over again. The ability to preserve and maintain expression and touch is allowing me to achieve the tones and dynamics that I’ve heard in my head but couldn’t make happen in the real world — until now. Thanks for putting such a great tool in my hands to unleash untapped creativity. You guys are magical wizards who can bend electrons to your will. Please don’t stop innovating!
Matt Biffa –
I got my Cali76 Compact Deluxe last week from No.Toms in Denmark St, and it is an absolute revelation. It adds so much sparkle and sweetness to my tone that I literally don’t want to stop playing, and my fingers are killing me. I’d heard it was a pretty good pedal, but I wasn’t prepared for this – it retains all my pick attack, while sustaining for days, the kind of sound you get lost in. Immense. Hands down my favourite pedal, and worth every penny.
Peter Vande Casteele –
What a pedal! Quite an investment, but easily worth every penny, no doubt about that.
Life’s been good to me as I get to play an excellent guitar, a few wonderful pedals and two outstanding amps every day. I was already a happy man, and at gigs I’ve been proud of my tone for years now.
But this Cali76 CD’s parallel compression is something else, there’s no way back – I realised that within the first hour of playing it. This gets me studio tone quality in any real life situation.
My Tele’s bridge PU used to be very lively, now it sounds as lively as fat and snappy.
But the neck PU … it has never come to life like this before; your description of a “three-dimensional, sparkling tone” is spot on. Truely beautiful!
The level of control (attack, dry signal, release …) really allows you to dial anything you need for any application – but basically: anyone playing clean or crunch sounds thru a high headroom amp, simply needs this to upgrade his tone from good to excellent. Same goes for bedroom practice, it’s so much more rewarding with this Cali76 CD.
(Important; for good parallel compression you need a very fast attack, mine’s at 15 o’clock.)