Noel Gallagher’s Boss CS-3 Compressor Sustainer

The Boss CS-3 Compressor Sustainer was spotted on Noel’s pedalboard during the legendary Knebworth show in 1996. While Noel has stated that he never used a compressor with Oasis, he likely meant in the studio. It’s clear from the Knebworth performance, as well as many shows on the Be Here Now tour, that the CS-3 was used extensively for live gigs with Oasis.

Compressor or a Harmonizer?

In the November 1996 issue of Sound On Stage, which featured a few pages dedicated to the Knebworth gig, there is a photograph showing a Vox Wah, a Boss DD-3, a Boss Super Phaser, and a Boss Harmonizer (shown at the bottom of this page).

However, if we compare those pedals to the photo of the pedalboard shown above, the setup doesn’t quite match. Obviously, the Wah is there, but the first pedal right next to the Wah appears to have multi-colored knob tops, so it was most likely a Boss LS-2 Line Selector.

The pedal in between the blue one and the white one could potentially be the Phaser, because it does have a greenish hue. But if you look at the photo of the Phaser below, you’ll see it has thick, visible black lettering on the front. The pedal on Noel’s actual pedalboard just barely shows any label, which means this was most likely the DD-3, with its subtle blue lettering.

Lastly, the blue pedal closest to the camera is indeed blue, like the Harmonizer shown in the photo below, but the tops of the knobs are white. This suggests that it was most likely a CS-3 Compressor Sustainer.