What is delay supposed to do?

[Della Street]

Yeah OK that is strange to me because I generally loathe compressors and if used I never crank them up to the point where they squash my dynamics so much that pick clicking is as loud as the music?

If you are not sure what each knob does because so many FX builders making the same stuff as every other FX builder choose to put special names on basic control functions so we will thing they created a secret effect that will make us more special, yeah I run into that problem now and then too.

One knod with multiple names is blend/ mix etc which some compa give you to dial back in some of the attack you paid to get rid of.
The idea being you get the sustain without losing the attack.
Turn that up if its included!

Then the actual function of a comp is compression, and the knob that adds that may have alt names you need to look up in the manual.
Turn that down!

Level or output is just to reset the overall volume after changing the compression function between more and less compression.
But again, that knob can have many names...

much has been said about compressors here and i didn't mean to re-start that argument.
awhile back i replaced my noisy Boss compressor, which i never really understood in terms of function or benefit, with Amazon brand. i turn it off for hollow bodies - i guess because it's a little embarrassing when i can still hear the actual guitar. but otherwise it's always on and it's essential to me because it makes my playing sound like a record - professional, i suppose. i wouldn't describe whatever it is my compressor does as "squashing". rather opposite - enriched blossoming, if i had to give it a name.
what is squashed sound? in my understanding, BRAT is squashed sound and it's very unpleasant. have you ever played BRAT - just to sync up the vernacular?

 

[Butcher of Strats]

much has been said about compressors here and i didn't mean to re-start that argument.
awhile back i replaced my noisy Boss compressor, which i never really understood in terms of function or benefit, with Amazon brand. i turn it off for hollow bodies - i guess because it's a little embarrassing when i can still hear the actual guitar. but otherwise it's always on and it's essential to me because it makes my playing sound like a record - professional, i suppose. i wouldn't describe whatever it is my compressor does as "squashing". rather opposite - enriched blossoming, if i had to give it a name.
what is squashed sound? in my understanding, BRAT is squashed sound and it's very unpleasant. have you ever played BRAT - just to sync up the vernacular?

Not familiar with BRAT?
Squashed means dynamic range is reduced, which if you make a visual chart of highest and lowest db range of playing a guitar, the compressor squashes all the highest peaks and raises all the lowest or softest volume notes.

 

[Della Street]

Not familiar with BRAT?

probably for the better

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[Oldiemurphy]

I’d agree with others about dialing in compression. Also, in my own experience, some of the JHS3 series pedals can be a bit on the bright side, and that brightness tends to accentuate pick attack sounds.

I really love the older analog “bucket brigade” delays for their warm and forgiving sound. The old Boss DM-2 and the MXR Carbon Copy are great examples. My go-to since the ‘80s as been the DOD FX-90. It can be picked up for the $100-150 range in good condition on Reverb (they used to be way cheaper to find). It’s not super versatile, but if you keep the mix setting on the low side, it’ll produce a really nice mellow slap-back.