Frantone Sandwich Optical Compressor

It would be a whole lot easier to use with a manual--there's none-no suggested settings-no explanation for what each pot does. Think I figured it out because I can get a very nice sound out my amp. I have to mark it down because novices will be lost

My, what lovely sustain with no added noise! This pedal has a volume control though for the life of me I don't know what to do with it. The volume seems totally independent of the compression settings. The pedal seems very sensitive to attack and you can make a game out of how hard you have to hit a string to trigger the cool little red LED that tells you the soft-knee compressor kicked it. The effect can be super subtle and as a result, I keep it on all the time. If you really flip the threshold and limiter controls, you can get an overly squishy sound--not my cup of tea but if you like it, you can get it. I've not used any other compressors with my setup strat/electric uke/pedal steel into a SIB FATDrive-Sandwich-Mad Professor Red Distortion-Modded Rat-Telenordia 100 overdrive-Frantone Vibratone-SIB Blue EchoDrive-Hardwire RV-7 Reverb-Peavy Nashville 112 or Songworks Super 50.

By reputation, its supposed to be reliable. Wierd that there's NO mention of any warranty on the pedal. Gives one a reason to worry a little. even the Website doesn't mention a warranty. Have to mark it down for that.

Haven't needed any.

Simply said-it makes me sound the way I want and that makes me want to play. Performance-wise, its near perfect and fits in with the blues, pop, and country I play. This isn't meant to dissuade others from getting the pedal, but for $300.00 you should get a manual and a warranty,no? If it were lost or stolen, I'd be mucho upset but would probably shop around for something a little cheaper and simpler---maybe the Frantone Sputnik !

It's a little tricky at first get a feel for the limit/threshold controls. But I get it now, and it's quite straightforward.

I knew I'd love this thing when I heard it on the proguitarshop video. There was something about the attack/release that I just loved. I wasn't disappointed! I keep it on most of the time, and just adjust the gain into the Sandwich to get the compression range the way I want it. I can then just adjust the output knob to make up the gain. It's quiet, transparent, and warm. What's not to like?

FYI...I love hitting it HARD to get a real pumped sound, then play light, or with my fingers. It's a beautiful and unusual sound.

It looks to be built well. The internal wiring is done neatly. Even the famous clear feet had to be REALLY pried off for pedal board mounting.

I emailed Fran. She was fast, friendly, and businesslike. I got a sense that she really likes what she does.

I've got some more Frantone stuff on the way.

3 knobs - floor, ceiling, and level - piece-o-cake.

AWESOME. I was looking for transparent soft-knee compression - it delivers. I've tried the Maxon CP-101, Keeley 4-knob, BBE Orange Squash, Barber Tone Press, T-Rex CompNova, BBE OptoStomp, and Home Brew CPR. They ALL made my tone sound thin (among other shortcomings), except for the Sandwich. Having said that, I also know that every compressor sounds different on each guy's rig. I play a Gibson LP Classic Antique (body chambers) into a Mesa Road King. Cables are Planet Waves PWG series double-shielded; speakers are V-30's. Clean and dirty.

100% hand made and backed up by Fran, a real musician. Seems to be very solid.

Email and Fran will respond. It's a new pedal, so I've never had a need for repair.

I play rock: classic and modern. Been playing since I was 12 - I'm 40 now. I'm VERY picky about my tone and work hard to keep it the way I like it. The controls work beautifully, and I don't find myself needing anything more from this pedal; it stays on 100% of the time. Also, the volume level know is auto-adjusting, so you can change the compression on the fly without getting bombed - very nice. It costs as much as the Keeley 4-knob, but it's in a whole different class, IMO.

Beautifully designed pedal...ok, I am a bit shallow. I needed something to help my tone at live gigs and decided to go compressor. Very clean sound that helped even out the problems with the pick ups (the bass is too loud and the treble tends to get lost..) of my favorite gigging instrument. Also made it so I could hear myself over the rest of the people in the band instead of just having my sound land in mud. The only problem is that it got way too loud with my distortion, so be a little careful.

Clean wonderful intense sound. Usually I use this pedal through the board because I am lazy and don't like taking amps around NYC. I have used it in the studio through a Naylor and a Matchless. With the Naylor it sound especially sweet. There is no noise in this pedals...so far played it with an Electric Mistress and an old Farfisa pedal with great sounds.

Ummm...only had it for about a month, but I am sure that it will last as long as my other beautiful Frantone pedals.

I play everything from noise rock, singer/songwritter, straight ahead rock and classical. I would buy it again.