The PRS Mary-Cries Compressor is a PRS compressor pedal. Close alternatives include the Demeter Compulator and the MXR Custom Shop CSP028 Vintage Dyna Comp. It pairs well with the Engl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube and the Engl E656 Steve Morse.
PRS Mary-Cries Compressor
PRS · pedal
The PRS Mary Cries is an optical compressor pedal based on one of the most revered optical compressor circuits, designed to thicken tone, rein in signal peaks, improve sustain and add an organic boost while preserving clarity and definition. Its optical compression is smooth and responsive, sounding natural even at heavy settings and staying largely transparent rather than adding the obvious squish of many compressors. A simple two-knob layout of Compression and Output Gain makes it fast to dial in, even mid-song, and it works as a compressor, a clean boost, or both at once. Praised as exceptionally quiet and musical, it is made in the USA from high-quality components and suits nuanced lead playing, clean rhythm and always-on tone shaping.
- compressor
- clean boost
- natural
- transparent
- sustain
- optical
- boost
- rhythm
Genres the PRS Mary-Cries Compressor is commonly used in
- Country
- Blues
- Country Pop
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Funk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the PRS Mary-Cries Compressor
Engl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube
Engl
17% matchRun the Mary Cries' transparent optical compression ahead of the Savage 120 to even out picking dynamics before that amp's own tight, high-gain crunch takes over.
Engl E656 Steve Morse
Engl
10% matchPRS Mary-Cries Compressor leans toward clean boost, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Peavey Valveking Combo 50
Peavey
9% matchPRS Mary-Cries Compressor's own clean boost character is the real reason this is worth trying
Diezel Herbert Mk3 3-Channel 180-Watt
Diezel
9% matchPRS Mary-Cries Compressor leans toward clean boost, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Traynor YGL1
Traynor
9% matchWhat PRS Mary-Cries Compressor brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone 2202H's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the PRS Mary-Cries Compressor
Beetronics Nectar
Beetronics
25% matchInto a transparent tone, Beetronics Nectar brings the low gain it's missing
Walrus Audio Eons
Walrus Audio
24% matchRun Walrus Audio Eons into that transparent platform and it finally gets some low gain
MXR CSP033 Il Torino Overdrive
MXR
15% matchPRS Mary-Cries Compressor's own clean boost character is the real reason this is worth trying
T-Rex - 10134 Diva
T Rex
14% matchPRS Mary-Cries Compressor's own clean boost character is the real reason this is worth trying
Tone City TC Model M V2
Tone City
13% matchWhat PRS Mary-Cries Compressor brings here leans toward clean boost — that's worth building a pairing around
SolidGoldFX If 6 Was 9 MKII
Solidgoldfx
13% matchPRS Mary-Cries Compressor's own clean boost character is the real reason this is worth trying
Wampler Golden Jubilee
Wampler
12% matchPRS Mary-Cries Compressor leans toward clean boost, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Pasta Pedals Plexi Drive
Pasta Pedals
12% matchBoth lean toward edge of breakup and clean boost respectively — close enough in character that they complement instead of clashing
See all 23 pedals that pair with the PRS Mary-Cries Compressor →
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Demeter Compulator
Demeter
78% similarityShared character: definition, compressor, boost
MXR Custom Shop CSP028 Vintage Dyna Comp
pedal
75% similarityShared character: peak, compressor, boost
Suhr Koji Comp
Suhr
75% similarityShared character: compressor, smooth, compression
Analog Man Comprossor
Analog Man
74% similarityShared character: compressor, boost, smooth
Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer
Boss
74% similarityShared character: peak, compressor, smooth
MXR M102 Dyna Comp
MXR
74% similarityShared character: compressor, boost, smooth
Keeley Bassist
Keeley
74% similarityShared character: peak, compressor, boost
Jackson Audio Bloom EQ Boost Compression
Jackson Audio
73% similarityShared character: compressor, boost, compression
Jackson Audio Bloom MIDI V2
Jackson Audio
73% similarityShared character: compressor, boost, compression
SolidGoldFX Compression Machine
Solidgoldfx
73% similarityShared character: compressor, smooth, simple
T-Rex Neo Comp Compressor
T Rex
72% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, simple
JHS 3 Series Compressor
JHS Pedals
71% similarityShared character: peak, compressor, compression
See all alternatives to the PRS Mary-Cries Compressor (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the PRS Mary-Cries Compressor?+
The closest matches in character are the Demeter Compulator, the MXR Custom Shop CSP028 Vintage Dyna Comp, the Suhr Koji Comp.
What pairs well with the PRS Mary-Cries Compressor?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Engl Savage 120 Mark II E610II 120 Watt 4 Channel Tube, Engl E656 Steve Morse, Peavey Valveking Combo 50 — Run the Mary Cries' transparent optical compression ahead of the Savage 120 to even out picking dynamics before that amp's own tight, high-gain crunch takes over..