Origin Effects SlideRIG

The Origin Effects SlideRIG is a dual-chained compressor pedal: two complete FET compression stages, stacked in series inside one box, modeled on the Urei 1176 studio compressor¹. Where a normal compressor pedal smooths your dynamics once, the SlideRIG runs the signal through two compressors back to back, the same trick Lowell George used in the studio with a pair of chained 1176s to create his trademark slide tone². The result, as Premier Guitar's Barry O'Neal put it, is a pedal that "stacks two compressors in series to add obscene amounts of sustain without getting into Soldano levels of distortion"³.

The line is discontinued: the Cali76 Stacked Edition and the SlideRIG Compact Deluxe Mk2 are both described as discontinued⁴. The SlideRIG family ran from the original full-sized pedal through the SlideRIG Compact and the SlideRIG Compact Deluxe, ending with the Compact Deluxe Mk2.

Two FET compressors in series

The SlideRIG's core idea is cascaded compression. Origin Effects' flagship Cali76 is a pedal-format take on the Urei 1176 FET studio compressor, and the SlideRIG builds on that design by putting two of those compression blocks in one pedal⁸. Vintage Guitar described the arrangement plainly: "The SlideRig uses two FET compressors"¹.

The point of running two stages is what happens to sustain. Each compressor on its own evens out dynamics; two in series squeeze the signal much harder, holding notes at a nearly constant level for far longer than a single stage can. That is exactly the effect Lowell George chased in the studio, where he chained a pair of 1176 compressors together for his slide tone, and the SlideRIG replicates that setup in pedal form². MusicRadar's reviewer described the Compact as "two identical Cali76 blocks chained together for double-stage" compression⁹.

The sound the pedal aims at is the compression tone associated with Lowell George and Paul Barrere of Little Feat, which is why slide players were its natural audience¹⁰. But it was never limited to them: Jason Isbell was spotted using the SlideRIG on his rig in Premier Guitar's rig rundown feature¹¹.

Compression modes and controls

The original full-sized SlideRIG was a dual-stage compressor designed primarily for electric slide guitarists, and it carried an adjustable compression ratio⁸. The compact versions simplified and then re-expanded that control set.

SlideRIG Compact. Sound On Sound's review detailed a stripped-down layout: the input-gain control also sets the amount of compression, and the output control applies make-up gain. Attack and release times are fixed, as is the compression ratio, a parameter previously adjustable on the original SlideRig⁸. The key control is the central blend knob, which mixes the output of the two compressors, letting you select single-stage or dual-stage compression at either extreme, or a mix of the two⁸.

SlideRIG Compact Deluxe. The Deluxe adds back the depth. Sound On Sound noted it "offers individual level controls for each stage, plus an additional dry level k[nob]", the latter allowing parallel compression⁸. Delicious Audio described it as giving access to conventional single-stage compression as well as the SlideRIG's trademark dual-stage mode, through a revised gain structure that allows greater control over compression levels².

So yes, the SlideRIG can be used as a single compressor: turn the Compact's blend knob to one extreme, or switch the Compact Deluxe into its conventional single-stage mode⁸².

From the Cali76 to the Compact Deluxe

The SlideRIG was one of Origin Effects' first two products. Simon Keats designed it simultaneously with the Cali76⁶, and his motivation was personal: "The SlideRIG was chosen because I love the slide tone of Lowell George and just had to have it at my disposal"¹². Keats expected it to be a hard sell, but the opposite happened: "It's such a niche product and I thought I might never sell a single one, but in actual fact this was the unit that got t[hings moving]"¹².

The line then evolved through several formats:

1. The original full-sized SlideRIG, with adjustable compression ratio⁸
2. The SlideRIG Compact, the same two dual-chained Cali76 blocks in a smaller box⁸
3. The SlideRIG Compact Deluxe, adding per-stage level controls and a dry blend⁸
4. The SlideRIG Compact Deluxe Mk2 in 2019, "the latest evolution of Origin's unique dual-chained compressor"¹³

Both the Compact and the Compact Deluxe use the same circuit topology as the original, with two dual-chained Cali76 blocks inside the box⁸. The original SlideRig built on the Urei 1176-inspired design of Origin's flagship Cali76 compressor⁸.

What reviewers said

MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen reviewed the SlideRIG Compact and found it had reach beyond its target audience. His overall verdict: "A no-brainer for slide players, especially Little Feat fans, but plenty for conventional guitar, too"⁹.

On That Pedal Show, the Compact was described as no longer made, with links pointing to the newer versions¹⁴, and Guitar Pedal X later noted the Cali76 Stacked Compressor shares "a lot of DNA with the now discontinued SlideRIG pedals"⁷⁹.

Players who used Origin Effects gear spoke well of the build. Scott Sharrard, in an interview on Origin Effects' site, said "All the pedals are also built like tanks"¹⁰. SlideRIG number 001 now resides at Origin Effects HQ after being reacquired by Simon Keats¹⁵.

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