Cosme:
Are you sure of your question? The reason that I ask this is because you say "before the signal reaches the amp". What should be in that circuit is what the player uses-pedals, for example. You (the engineer) should be keeping out of the way in this area. Whatever processing that you want to do should be AFTER the amp is mic'd up (or DI'd).
If you're referring to a simple electric guitar running into a typical tube amp, you really shouldn't need to compress it any more than the amp is already on its own. That's another reason why a dynamic mic (like a 57 or a 421) works so well on an tube guitar amp is that the mic tends to do it's own bit of dynamic compression, especially as the volume is turned up on the amp. Then, of course, the power tubes in the amp do that BIG time, so you can ditch the compressor and patch it on the bass rig...
Personally, I have very little use for 'maximizers' or 'exciters' in the first place, and they certainly don't help an electric guitar, especially an overdriven rocker. All they'll do in that situation is boost the top end where the harmonics are harsh and 'fizzy'. I guess they could be used on an acoustic electric, but still, the boosted string noise can be very irritating.
Try concentrating on capturing the sound of the player using a decent room and a good mic choice/placement.
Cosme: Are you sure of your question? The reason that I ask this
Cosme:
Are you sure of your question? The reason that I ask this is because you say "before the signal reaches the amp". What should be in that circuit is what the player uses-pedals, for example. You (the engineer) should be keeping out of the way in this area. Whatever processing that you want to do should be AFTER the amp is mic'd up (or DI'd).
If you're referring to a simple electric guitar running into a typical tube amp, you really shouldn't need to compress it any more than the amp is already on its own. That's another reason why a dynamic mic (like a 57 or a 421) works so well on an tube guitar amp is that the mic tends to do it's own bit of dynamic compression, especially as the volume is turned up on the amp. Then, of course, the power tubes in the amp do that BIG time, so you can ditch the compressor and patch it on the bass rig...
Personally, I have very little use for 'maximizers' or 'exciters' in the first place, and they certainly don't help an electric guitar, especially an overdriven rocker. All they'll do in that situation is boost the top end where the harmonics are harsh and 'fizzy'. I guess they could be used on an acoustic electric, but still, the boosted string noise can be very irritating.
Try concentrating on capturing the sound of the player using a decent room and a good mic choice/placement.