Black label, silver screw and made in Japan. Everything you look for when you look for Boss effects pedals - and this Boss CS-1 Compression Sustainer pedal has all that and it comes with the original box and pedal manual (in Japanese of course) and it has barely a scratch on it. Wow, what a great pedal!

Opinions vary greatly on the Boss CS-1 Compression Sustainer: but if you read between the lines you can quickly see the guitarists who have been using an original Japanese model and those who have been forced at gunpoint to use a Taiwan model. Comparing the two is almost the same as comparing the acting abilities of Samuel L. Jackson with those of George W. Bush - they just aren’t even in the same ball park.

This pedal rocks for those on fairly distorted lead channels looking for a boost in their solos.

It is, like most of the pedals we feature here up for auction at Yahoo! Japan: Boss CS-1 Compression Sustainer auction. As I write there are 12 hours left on the auction, and the current price is 15,800 yen. Not bad for a CS-1 in this condition.

Rereleased by Maxon as a result of demand from musicians, the Maxon CP101 Compressor is a really impressive compressor that offers a sound comparable a Dyna Comp at a much lower cost.

Maxon has this to say about the rereleased model:

The CP101 Compressor provides clean, smooth compression with ultra-low noise and incredible transparency. The CP101’s 4:1 compression ratio is so subtle that it’s easy to forget the unit is on ­ until you turn it off, that is. While it is on you will notice note-to-note levels that are smoother and more consistent, chords and arpeggios that are tighter and more focused, and when used with an overdriven amp, sustain that will last for days. Best of all, you’ll notice minimal coloration to your guitar signal and less of the note-attack alterations so common to other compressors.

At the heart of the CP101’s circuit sits an HTV #P873 CdS (Cadmium Sulfur) Photocoupler. This light-sensitive component varies resistance based on the input signal to control the amp gain, increasing gain as the input signal weakens. Most other current-production compressors accomplish this task using a VCA (voltage controlled amplifier), but the multiple transistors packed into a VCA inevitably lead to high noise levels, which means lots of “hiss” from your rig. The CP101’s optical circuit keeps the noise-floor low - so low that you can run the unit after a distortion and still retain near-silent operation.

With its ultra low-noise level, transparent operation and natural playing response the Maxon CP101 is the perfect compressor for players who hate using compressors.

Also worth checking out is Harmony Central’s collection of reviews of the CP-101.
This offering is an original 1970’s model - and is currently going for 24,800 yen (about US$250). Very nice! You can check out the auction here: Maxon CP101 Compressor Effects Pedal auction.