CS-2 Compression Sustainer
Warm 1981 compression with character - the vintage comp that squashes with soul.
The CS-2 Compression Sustainer was Boss's first compact compressor, released in 1981. It delivers aggressive, audible compression with a distinctive tone that some players love and others find too colored. The CS-2 doesn't try to be transparent; it squashes and sustains with personality.
The MN3007 compander chip provides the compression, introducing a noticeable coloring to the signal. The attack is fast and the sustain is pronounced, adding a percussive snap to picked notes that sits particularly well in funk, country, and clean rhythm playing. The trade-off is a higher noise floor than modern compressors.
Level, Attack, and Sustain controls. At just 4mA it barely draws power. No tone control, which means you get the CS-2's voicing as-is. Produced from 1981 to 1986 before being replaced by the quieter CS-3.
The CS-2 has a cult following among players who prefer its aggressive compression character over the CS-3's smoother, more refined approach. Vintage units command premium prices. Ross Compressor and Dyna Comp fans tend to appreciate the CS-2's similarly bold compression.
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