The Pigtronix Attack Sustain is a compressor and sustainer pedal that also produces reversed, swelling envelope effects, all in one box. At its simplest, with only the Engage switch clicked, it acts as a compressor and sustainer; with the rest of the pedal engaged, the Attack knob delivers a range of reversed, swelling sounds. Premier Guitar's reviewer summed up the value proposition plainly: "While the compressor alone would make this a good buy."1
Controls and Footswitches
Three footswitches line the bottom of the pedal and ultimately dictate how it is used: attack, Engage and Decay.1
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Attack knob | Sets the reversed, swelling attack of the effect; playing with it provides a variety of reversed, swelling sounds1 |
| Attack footswitch | One of three footswitches that dictate how the pedal is used1 |
| Engage footswitch | Clicked on its own, puts the pedal into compressor/sustainer mode1 |
| Decay footswitch | One of three footswitches that dictate how the pedal is used1 |
The Side-Chain Input
The pedal includes a side-chain input that can be used to externally trigger the effect.1 For a player, that means the pedal's envelope response can be driven by an outside source rather than only by the instrument plugged into the main input, which is unusual at this price point in a pedal that also covers compression.
Size and Practical Considerations
The Attack Sustain is about the size of three MXR pedals side-by-side, so it occupies a significant footprint on a pedalboard.1 The three-footswitch layout along the bottom edge is part of that size, and it is what allows the compressor, attack and decay functions to be switched independently. True bypass construction means the pedal stays out of your signal path when disengaged.1
What Reviewers Said
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the compressor function strong enough on its own to justify the purchase, writing: "While the compressor alone would make this a good buy."1 The reversed-swell Attack sounds were described as offering "a variety of reversed, swelling sounds" as the knob is turned.1
How It Compares Within Pigtronix's Range
Within Pigtronix's range, the Attack Sustain stands apart as the largest and most feature-heavy design in the company's compressor family. Its envelope-driven approach centers on the Attack knob, which, as the company puts it, will "provide you with a variety of reversed, swelling sounds"1. Three footswitches, named attack, Engage and Decay, line the bottom of the pedal and dictate how it is used1. Reviewers noted that "the compressor alone would make this a good buy," which frames the pedal's other functions as additions on top of a capable compression core1.
For more on what compression does to a signal, see Compressor Pedals.
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Questions
Is the Pigtronix Attack Sustain true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's review describes the pedal as having true bypass construction, so when it is switched off your guitar's signal passes straight through to the amp without the pedal's circuitry loading it. That matters on a pedalboard where several effects sit in line, since each non-true-bypass pedal can dull the signal a little more.
How much does the Pigtronix Attack Sustain cost?
The Pigtronix Attack Sustain carries an MSRP of $399, according to Premier Guitar's review. That places it well above a straightforward single-purpose compressor, which is worth keeping in mind given that the pedal also covers sustainer and reversed-swell duties alongside its compression.
Can the Pigtronix Attack Sustain be used as a plain compressor?
Yes. At its simplest, with only the Engage switch clicked, the pedal acts as a compressor and sustainer. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that the compressor alone would make this a good buy, so a player who wants a conventional compression sound can leave the Attack and Decay functions switched out and use it that way.
How big is the Pigtronix Attack Sustain?
Premier Guitar describes the pedal as being about the size of three MXR pedals side-by-side. That is considerably larger than a standard compact stompbox, so it takes up a substantial amount of pedalboard real estate and needs room for its three footswitches along the bottom edge.
What is the side-chain input on the Attack Sustain for?
The side-chain input can be used to externally trigger the effect. In practice that means another signal, such as a drum machine or a second instrument, can drive the pedal's envelope response instead of your guitar alone, opening up triggered swelling and gating effects that follow an outside source.
Sources (1)
- Pigtronix Attack Sustain Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2008-10-15
