OK, here is how I got my best sound and the secret was in the instructions. I just turned the volume to 12, blend knob all of the way on, attack at 5 oclock, and sustain all of the way up. Instructions say that with blend knob turned all of the way up and attack turned to 5 which is fastest setting, similar to a Keeley setting, you get the classic compressor sound and you do. natural. You can chickin pick to your heart's delight and get all of the punch and compression you want, when I felt I could do what I wanted, I started backing off the knobs to a myriad of sound possibilities.