The Distressor is one of the best pro audio products that has been made in the last 10-years. It has already become a classic and studio standard. It is very flexable but I don't find it always greqat on everything, I usually don't find it very useful on vocals, I not a big fan of it on the 2-bus, but do like on drum bus, and I wouldn't likley ever use it for any kind of mastering work.

The only other comp I can think of in the same kind of catagory as the Distressor is the Crane Song Tracker.

sounds great on overheads

I've got 6 channels of compression in my studio:

2 Focusrite ISA 430s (the EQ is free!)
2 Distressors
2 channels of GML 8900

I'm not a mastering engineer, but I gotta say, if you are looking for a compressor that fits in the mastering chain, look at the GML 8900. Un-freakin-believable.

The unit had a problem with a meter bridge (which has since been repaired by GML). I thought there might be other problems because, by and large, I couldn't hear the effect of the compressor. I took it to a local tech who confirmed the meter problem, found some likely causes (strictly a metering problem, not a problem with the unit), and he, too, thought something else was wrong because he couldn't hear the compressor. But, when he put it on the bench and measured it, IT WAS COMPRESSING.

I think that the definition of a mastering compressor is that it does its job so well, you can't hear it. Try a GML 8900, and don't hear it for yourself!

I think I wouldn't use it for mastering ever.
But You can you use it for tracking and mixing on pretty much everything and when you know the box you can also get not agressive sound out of it.
Good for GTR, VOX,DR, you name it.
Also be sure you got it with the brit. mod. that is a big plus. image like mode? I don't know, it depends by the money i guess.
One more thing:
You can push your dealer (sam ash and gitar center) to cut you a price as low as 1200$ (brit mod included) which is nothing for a box like that.
the GML is what 4000$ and even if it is the most clear compressor ever made it's not good as far as flexibility, no character whatsoever...
That's why is so good.