Electro-Harmonix Tone Corset review

The pedal that squeezes in your guitar at all the right places for shapely sounds

  • £85
  • €99
  • $89.50
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MusicRadar Verdict

A pedalboard-friendly compressor with a good mix of options that complements guitar sound.

Pros

  • +

    Plenty of options.

Cons

  • -

    Very few.

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Based around OTA (Operational Transconductance Amplifier) circuitry like the MXR Dyna Comp, a two-knob job, the Tone Corset goes beyond the standard output volume and a Sustain knob for turning up the compression. 

It offers control over the attack with varying degrees of sharpness at the front edge, and a Blend knob sets up parallel compression. 

It also has a ‘Pad’ switch to set the right input for your guitar, preventing distortion caused by high-output humbuckers or an active bass. 

The compression sits well with the sound, keeping it in check and, with the extra gain that’s available via the Volume knob, the Tone Corset offers a consistency that means you’ll keep it permanently engaged. 

Rather than compressing the whole signal, Blend enables a more nuanced approach, keeping your natural sound’s note attack while bolstering its body and eking out some extra sustain.

Trevor Curwen

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.