BJFE / BearFoot fx Guitar Effects Community

Slim Henderson wrote:i am REALLY trying to get my board down to FIVE pedals. it's hard to do. but i would like to make a pedaltrain junior size board with 5 pedals...

That's easy for me...

Fuzz>OD>comp>modulation>EQ. In my case, ProAnalog MKIII>very early (no LED) Crowther Hotcake>early 2-knob Pale Green>Sherlock Tremit>SBEQ. I could even replace the SBEQ with a Dredgetone Angler after the Hotcake and be quite happy. I also have to admit to reverb being on my board, but not a requirement.

I am borrowing a PGC and find it does a great job limiting the pick attack without killing it, but it doesn't seem to add much sustain even at maximum setting. Is this normal?

thesjkexperience wrote:I am borrowing a PGC and find it does a great job limiting the pick attack without killing it, but it doesn't seem to add much sustain even at maximum setting. Is this normal?

could be normal if your used to very squish happy comps that draw the note waaaaay out - the PGC is a bit more subtle/sophisticated//balanced more 'studio type' compression than a trick effect - the PGCs 'trick' its 'is it on' sound --- you dont appreciate until you turn it off ........

Donner wrote:

thesjkexperience wrote:I am borrowing a PGC and find it does a great job limiting the pick attack without killing it, but it doesn't seem to add much sustain even at maximum setting. Is this normal?

could be normal if your used to very squish happy comps that draw the note waaaaay out - the PGC is a bit more subtle/sophisticated//balanced more 'studio type' compression than a trick effect - the PGCs 'trick' its 'is it on' sound --- you dont appreciate until you turn it off ........

yes......the PGC is quite a bit more subtle than a dynacomp or ross or TC SPE compressor.

it also adds that "sweetening" ala the SBEQ.

i find that my PGC does indeed add some sustain and "zing" to my clean sound.

nature knob does some interesting things as well.......as usual

donner......how would YOU describe the effect of the nature knob on the PGC?

well compression and EQ are always entagled just because of the nature of compression....

if you picture what your signal looks like on a graphic EQ - the peaks and valleys - and then picture the flat ceiling that the comp creates lowering towards the graphic ....... it hits the ' tallest' freqs first which will be different depending on the source.....

and the ceiling wont be perfectly linear either....

so each source will react to each compressor differently - and you will get a changed EQ ..... this is why the Ross style comps have a dulled highend roll off because that style squishes the bass first so you have a defacto treble boost also adding noise/hiss --- and this is why adding some clean/uncompressed signal usually gives a more natural sound as it is also re balancing towards the original EQ

the PGCs knob sort of readjusts that source/ceiling product to what you want to hear ---- sort of rebalances things to compensate for unwanted EQ changes

so its sort of a combination EQ and balance knob to my ear - and thats why it can seem very subtle depending on the surrounding rig - some signals need more balancing than others depending on how they have been changed during compression ......

as to what it actually is and whats its actually doing only one man knows

Got to say thanks to Bobby D and Donner here.

I was thinking of selling the PGC- ("Someone Saved My Life Tonight!!!")
My first compressor was an Analogman Juicer. (Still have it!)
I then tried the Keeley and the AYA-R Comp prior to the PGC.
I now have a Dyna Comp with Analogman Mods arriving this week.

Bobby D talks of the sparkle that the PGC adds.
Alot of compressors give that squish, but shave off too much high end response.
I've been tweaking and listening to the sparkle and the true beauty of the PGC and Bobby D was right on it!!!
For a short time (?) I'll have 3 compressors on the board and the Juicer and Dyna Comp can be compared to see which will stay WITH the PGC.
Yeah I know, but I don't think I'm as addicted as Joseph "Lucidology" at TGP,
a great player who admits to being compressorholic- but I do attend the same meetings.
There are times for me when we're playing clean with just one guitarist that the PGC can almost seem too bright with single coils.
Hence the Analogman Juicer. I could also use the SBEQ- but I like both compressors for different jobs.

I played last night with a band using Donner's best clean sound- the SBEQ and the Pine Green.
Both these guys are a gold mine of tonal nuance and experience that I am grateful to have.
BJF do have fairy dust, but some of our users have experience that I have benefitted from reading around here.
Hats off to both.

As last night was totally clean- tonight is just HB, EGDM, DRD and Model H in escalating assault volumes.
p.s. the AYA R- Comp is still a work of art I'd have on the board just for the graphic. My daughter LOVED it and was really disappointed whern I sold it.