Teach me how to use the PGC!

[thesjkexperience]

I managed to go 30 years without a compressor and when I tried the new MP FGC I found it really useful for several things. I tried the Effectrode Compressor and I can't say enough good things about it! I can get bright or fat while still very transparent with lots of sustain, or not. It also has a Limiter switch which is nice for early Dire Straits sounds. I can set the compression down low and the Drive up high and it acts as a dirty boost/OD and it works great as a pedal booster for solos.

I have a PGC in the house and I can't get it to sound fat & Sweet or sustain much beyond what my amps already do.

HELP!

[Donner]

The PGC doesnt do everything ...
Its more a 'leave it on' and then 'is it on?' comp ....

I still find myself thinking after playing it awhile that its not doing anything - and then I turn it off and remember, and turn it right back on....

Yes if youwant comp stunting you will want another or additional comp.... and thats ok

[Strat-o-lux]

Probably to some extent a matter of what your expectation is. Lots of guys think "sustainer" when they say "compressor". Or they want that super-squashed sound. The PGC is more subtle and, I'd say, natural sounding. In fact it's ruined me for other comps - they all seem too heavy-handed now.

I don't have any trouble getting early Knopfler tone with the PGC and the right amp & pickups if I'm at a volume level where the amp (Deluxe or Vibrolux Reverb) is contributing a bit of compression on its own. That said, I mostly use it for the "hardly know it's there" sort of thing Donner refers to, especially with amplified acoustic instruments or clean jazzy archtop.

[thesjkexperience]

I had been using the settings from Bobby D's youtube video and he has the Comp knob at 2 o'clock, but I re-read Bjorn's instruction sheet and put the Comp to around 10 o'clock and it seems thicker and sustains better. I need to play a bit louder to really test it out.

I had never used compressors because I hated the squash of dynamics and the pumping and breathing of so many of the old compressors. The reason I expected sustain is the instruction sheet mentions maxing the Comp knob for nearly endless sustain.

I tend to use the compressor most for playing slide to even things out a bit along with getting a fat sweetness to the sound. I switched slide type and brand, so I no longer have sustain issues.

[Strat-o-lux]

I had never used compressors because I hated the squash of dynamics and the pumping and breathing of so many of the old compressors. The reason I expected sustain is the instruction sheet mentions maxing the Comp knob for nearly endless sustain.

This was me as well. Tried a bunch of them - never liked, for the reasons you stated. PGC is quite nice for slide playing, and I do like it on when playing lapsteel.

I suspect as you become better acquainted with it you'll grow to love it.


So, which slide type/brand have you come to prefer? I started out metal (J. Winter inspired, many years back), moved to heavy glass, for regular guitar.

[thesjkexperience]

I think I have a better handle on the PGC! I have the Volume at 1:30, Body 10:00 and Comp at 9:00. It evens out the sound, seems to add a bit of sustain, fattens the sound as well as driving downstream boxes. It is not quite as fat on the wound strings, but on the plain strings above the 12th fret the PGC is fatter which may earn it a spot on the board!

These are the slides I like best after trying steel, brass, pyrex, Mudslide & Moonshine, real glass bottle (like Duane) and Diamond Ultimate Crystal (which I still like). http://www.rockymountainslides.com/shavano.html I use my pinky which is why I use the Shavano. The colors do sound different and I prefer the Blue, Green and Red as they stay fatter on the plain strings and the (high fire) blue and green have good string separation on the wound strings. I would like to try one of those half Green, half raw clay: http://www.rockymountainslides.com/beau ... beast.html

I use D'addario EPN115 on all my electrics (11 - 48 pure nickel) and the action on all my electrics is about 7/64" bass and 6/64" (or higher) treble at the 12th fret. I usually play in standard tuning which is why the Rocky Mountain slides are so great is they are not very heavy, but they sustain really well.

I get them at Musician's Friend as they are much less expensive and you get free shipping as well as no sales tax for me. (I live in Colorado) It is the reason I preferred to buy Curt Mangan strings from an internet dealer to save on shipping and tax which adds up fast. One note about MF is they do not always pack the slides well and I have gotten a few broken ones. However, slides are a non-returnable item, so you don't have to send it back to them

Hopefully tonight I can play a bit through different amps and guitars and do a compressor shootout!

[Strat-o-lux]

I think I have a better handle on the PGC! I have the Volume at 1:30, Body 10:00 and Comp at 9:00. It evens out the sound, seems to add a bit of sustain, fattens the sound as well as driving downstream boxes. It is not quite as fat on the wound strings, but on the plain strings above the 12th fret the PGC is fatter which may earn it a spot on the board!

These are the slides I like best after trying steel, brass, pyrex, Mudslide & Moonshine, real glass bottle (like Duane) and Diamond Ultimate Crystal (which I still like). http://www.rockymountainslides.com/shavano.html I use my pinky which is why I use the Shavano. The colors do sound different and I prefer the Blue, Green and Red as they stay fatter on the plain strings and the (high fire) blue and green have good string separation on the wound strings. I would like to try one of those half Green, half raw clay: http://www.rockymountainslides.com/beau ... beast.html

I use D'addario EPN115 on all my electrics (11 - 48 pure nickel) and the action on all my electrics is about 7/64" bass and 6/64" (or higher) treble at the 12th fret. I usually play in standard tuning which is why the Rocky Mountain slides are so great is they are not very heavy, but they sustain really well.

I get them at Musician's Friend as they are much less expensive and you get free shipping as well as no sales tax for me. (I live in Colorado) It is the reason I preferred to buy Curt Mangan strings from an internet dealer to save on shipping and tax which adds up fast. One note about MF is they do not always pack the slides well and I have gotten a few broken ones. However, slides are a non-returnable item, so you don't have to send it back to them

Hopefully tonight I can play a bit through different amps and guitars and do a compressor shootout!

Cool stuff. I've been using the Diamond Crystal for a couple years. I first tried them with my National Tricone - quite heavy strings called for a heavy slide. I grew to like them and soon tried on electric with happy results. But I'll check out the Rockys. Thanx for the tip.

Let us know results of the comp shootout.