Finally , someone previewing a compressor when you have your amp in "dirt" mode! Thanks man, been looking all over for this type of review. You just sold me, since I use humbuckers, but they are active humbuckers so I wonder how this comp will work with those. I will soon find out. :)
This is certainly one "if" not "the best" pedal I think I have ever had. Just an immediate relatively transparent to the guitar overall thickness and body of tone, louder but the illusion of loudness compression brings. You can also pus an amp like an overdrive but w the not just a booster, really great tones. Seriously will never part w this puppy! You can go heavy on the compression or light in blend, but anyway you kick it, it is marvelous enhancement for the guitar, I love it. I just ordered my D&M drive along side this it refits my entire comp/boost/overdrive/gain stacking, amazing stuff Mr. Keeley is putting out these days, has become my fav builder.
Great to hear the positive feedback on your rig. For me it's not as transparent as other higher-end pedal compressors. This one definitely has a slight bump in the mids that becomes apparent, especially on the bridge humbuckers. It's too much added color for me. For other styles, it probably works just fine, but I'm after a more transparent, sparkling clean sound and the compressor has to play nicely with it.
I totally agree about compressors being better used with single coils. I remember playing a Strat exclusively for about a year and a half. At the time I was using an old tried and true Dyna Comp, which to this day is still my favorite compressor. It's true that if you consider all the qualities people say they want in a compressor: transparency, retaining picking dynamics, headroom, keep it clean, etc. The Dyna Comp is probably the worst choice, it's terrible at all of those. But singlecoils into a clean or cleanish amp: it's heaven. I use it more in the manner I would use a clean boost or preamp than I use it for actual compression. I still have the Dyna Comp on my board, but I always have another Comp for most other duties. If you're looking for something for clean sustain, I haven't tried anything that beats the Philosopher's Tone. I went to a shop with the intention of picking up a UniVibe. I saw the P. Tone and I think I just read an article about it, so I asked to try it out. I grabbed a Classic Vibe Tele off the wall, plugged it into a used Blues Jr and hit an open A chord, as soon as I did I dropped the pick. It went under a chair or something and I had to fumble around for a while before I found it. When I sat back down, the chord was STILL ringing and hadn't lost any of the sustain. I went wide-eyed and looked over to my right and there was 3 different guys at the wall of guitars, all staring at me, and 1 of them asked me "what is THAT?!" I told him it was my compressor. There were limitations though. It doesn't really do that squash like a typical OTA compressor, like the Dyna Comp, Keeley, Ross, etc. It has one of the worst layout and enclosure that I've used. It's as long as the MXR is wide, but it's about 2X pedals wide. The knobs are all really close, the jacks are on the sides and so you can't really even lay out sideways, so it takes up a lot of space. I ended up selling it pretty quickly, but they fixed all that with the Micro. I'd been using the old second version Keeley, the one that went from the 2 to the 4 knob layout. I REALLY liked it, but when he released the compressor Plus, naturally I wanted it. The Philosopher's Tone was the first Comp I used with parallel compression, so the wet/dry blend on the Keeley was a great feature. I don't know about everyone else, but I only ended up keeping it for a couple weeks before returning it. Even with the Wet/dry blend I still find the older version 4-knob to be more transparent, and by a pro significant margin (as much as a compressor can). I find the Plus adds quite a bit of treble that I can't really dial out of it without it changing how it handles the rest of the EQ. if I was playing a warmer guitar it's something I may actually prefer, but with Strat it doesn't work for me.
Very impressed with this pedal. I don't think it's spoken about enough the real utility in live situations when you play clean. I recently joined a group of musicians and we have some songs that are completely clean, and while my Deluxe Reverb can totally handle clean head room at high volume, this pedal in tangent is a perfect match. The cleans and treble can kind of get lost or a little thin sometimes and this keeps that sparkle but adds some beef and sustain to it. Really really key for anything Blues, Classic rock or Country with clean guitar.
I bought a BOSS CS-3 years ago, and never really knew how to use it. This Keeley looks to be much more versatile and user-friendly. Buying this one next.
Just got this pedal. Great compressor. I have a few compressors including a Jangle Box for that 60s vibe and the surprisingly good Joyo but the new Keeley takes things to a new level. Love the Beatles on the intro too.
I was dumb enough to buy the "blackout" version. I still don't know which knob does what. Thankfully, it's impossible to get a bad tone out of that thing.
Keeley's pedals consistently overcome RUclips's sonic limitations in the hands of A-list gear reviewers like John. Even today, running Bluetooth over to a cheap Bose Soundlink speaker, I can hear the intended differences in tone where other pedals would just sound the same. In today's world of digital audio reproduction, maintaining the best tone while still in the analog realm is vital, and based on multiple reviews and reviewers on RUclips, Keeley's pedals do that. Now if only I could you top-line reviewers to toss in a 12 string on these compressor reviews...
Hi John. With all due respect to you as a musician and someone I respect, I have to humbly disagree with your assessment that the Keeley Compressor Plus doesn't work as well with humbuckers. I'm a humbucker and filitron player and find that it works great on my pedalboard. I don't use as a boost in that regard as I have a Jackson Audio Prism for that need. Anyway, always look forward to your vidoe's. Take care my friend.
Thanks for the inspiring video, killer playing. I just bought one this week, liked the way it makes my PRS guitar sound, had no idea the versatility until I watched the demo, lucky that my guitar has the 85/15 pups with coil tap, it works great on it. I like the way it compensates for signal loss at the front of the pedal chain, very sweet sound too. You rule John...
at 6:21, what the hell just happened, now that's what i call lickity split holy s#$t, haha good stuff oh and the review is like a conversation, feel like I'm in the room talking to a pro one on one
Hello, I just order this pedal and have a question. I run my pedal board thru an fx loop on my amp. Would I want to put the compressor before the loop or the first thing on my board in the loop? Thanks. Great demo!
John you are such a great picker and i hope we can jam sometime or play a gig in Nashville after i get out of here and can start walking again, this has been a very tough year bro !!
I thought I was the only one that noticed that! Haha! Immediately after he asks, "Too bright for your taste?", he switches to the brighter bridge pickup. Lesson learned, you can't take away bright tone from this guy! :)
The compression is great, but I cannot work with the pronounced midboost, esp on clean tones. There's no getting around it unfortunately. Deal breaker for me.
When you hit a bunch of fast notes you don't hear any sustain nor can you measure it. Next review maybe spend more time demonstrating the pedal and less time ripping a bunch of notes, or least let the notes ring so we can hear the effect.
I swear, the utility of this pedal near the front of a pedal chain is lost among the masses. A masterful pedal. Thanks, Robert Keeley !!!
after the wah...
Wow, what the hell John? I was mesmorized for the whole thing. Amazing playing.
Finally , someone previewing a compressor when you have your amp in "dirt" mode! Thanks man, been looking all over for this type of review. You just sold me, since I use humbuckers, but they are active humbuckers so I wonder how this comp will work with those. I will soon find out. :)
This is certainly one "if" not "the best" pedal I think I have ever had. Just an immediate relatively transparent to the guitar overall thickness and body of tone, louder but the illusion of loudness compression brings. You can also pus an amp like an overdrive but w the not just a booster, really great tones. Seriously will never part w this puppy! You can go heavy on the compression or light in blend, but anyway you kick it, it is marvelous enhancement for the guitar, I love it. I just ordered my D&M drive along side this it refits my entire comp/boost/overdrive/gain stacking, amazing stuff Mr. Keeley is putting out these days, has become my fav builder.
Great to hear the positive feedback on your rig. For me it's not as transparent as other higher-end pedal compressors. This one definitely has a slight bump in the mids that becomes apparent, especially on the bridge humbuckers. It's too much added color for me. For other styles, it probably works just fine, but I'm after a more transparent, sparkling clean sound and the compressor has to play nicely with it.
John your demo is the reason I picked one of these pedals up. Thank you
"Oh! Darling"
Awesome playing Bro
LOL! You're from Billings. I grew up and immediately left there after graduating from West High in 1981. Great demo !
This guy always makes good demos!
Great review and great playing! At 6:18 it was like, “what?!?” Phenomenal. Thanks for also playing it with some gain/distortion.
PG needs to do a rig rundown on John. Had no idea he was such a monster player.
you are too kind. Check out the Lee Brice Rig Rundown. I'm in that one around the end..
Samba Oz He's a humble man
I totally agree about compressors being better used with single coils. I remember playing a Strat exclusively for about a year and a half. At the time I was using an old tried and true Dyna Comp, which to this day is still my favorite compressor. It's true that if you consider all the qualities people say they want in a compressor: transparency, retaining picking dynamics, headroom, keep it clean, etc. The Dyna Comp is probably the worst choice, it's terrible at all of those. But singlecoils into a clean or cleanish amp: it's heaven. I use it more in the manner I would use a clean boost or preamp than I use it for actual compression. I still have the Dyna Comp on my board, but I always have another Comp for most other duties.
If you're looking for something for clean sustain, I haven't tried anything that beats the Philosopher's Tone. I went to a shop with the intention of picking up a UniVibe. I saw the P. Tone and I think I just read an article about it, so I asked to try it out. I grabbed a Classic Vibe Tele off the wall, plugged it into a used Blues Jr and hit an open A chord, as soon as I did I dropped the pick. It went under a chair or something and I had to fumble around for a while before I found it. When I sat back down, the chord was STILL ringing and hadn't lost any of the sustain. I went wide-eyed and looked over to my right and there was 3 different guys at the wall of guitars, all staring at me, and 1 of them asked me "what is THAT?!" I told him it was my compressor.
There were limitations though. It doesn't really do that squash like a typical OTA compressor, like the Dyna Comp, Keeley, Ross, etc. It has one of the worst layout and enclosure that I've used. It's as long as the MXR is wide, but it's about 2X pedals wide. The knobs are all really close, the jacks are on the sides and so you can't really even lay out sideways, so it takes up a lot of space. I ended up selling it pretty quickly, but they fixed all that with the Micro.
I'd been using the old second version Keeley, the one that went from the 2 to the 4 knob layout. I REALLY liked it, but when he released the compressor Plus, naturally I wanted it. The Philosopher's Tone was the first Comp I used with parallel compression, so the wet/dry blend on the Keeley was a great feature.
I don't know about everyone else, but I only ended up keeping it for a couple weeks before returning it. Even with the Wet/dry blend I still find the older version 4-knob to be more transparent, and by a pro significant margin (as much as a compressor can). I find the Plus adds quite a bit of treble that I can't really dial out of it without it changing how it handles the rest of the EQ. if I was playing a warmer guitar it's something I may actually prefer, but with Strat it doesn't work for me.
Amazing version of "Oh! Darling"!!!!!! And one of the best review I've ever seen
I just bought one, they are on sale right now. Cannot wait to get it
Great review thank you. Keeley just sent me this pedal. Can't wait to try it!
Very impressed with this pedal. I don't think it's spoken about enough the real utility in live situations when you play clean.
I recently joined a group of musicians and we have some songs that are completely clean, and while my Deluxe Reverb can totally handle clean head room at high volume, this pedal in tangent is a perfect match. The cleans and treble can kind of get lost or a little thin sometimes and this keeps that sparkle but adds some beef and sustain to it. Really really key for anything Blues, Classic rock or Country with clean guitar.
Great product that makes everything sound better, thanks for the demo🤘
I bought a BOSS CS-3 years ago, and never really knew how to use it. This Keeley looks to be much more versatile and user-friendly. Buying this one next.
Oh darling, that intro is sublime! 🙏🏻
I have this exact pedal, so thanks for showing me new ways to use it!
Just got this pedal. Great compressor. I have a few compressors including a Jangle Box for that 60s vibe and the surprisingly good Joyo but the new Keeley takes things to a new level. Love the Beatles on the intro too.
I was dumb enough to buy the "blackout" version. I still don't know which knob does what. Thankfully, it's impossible to get a bad tone out of that thing.
This is the greatest pedal I've ever owned.
Cool pedal, and awesome demo, think I might just get me one :)
Great pedal. Really enjoy John's playing...a fine guitarist indeed. Presentation good too.
This guy never fails.
Sounds fantastic! Thanks John.
Gettin' me one of these, nice demo.
Keeley's pedals consistently overcome RUclips's sonic limitations in the hands of A-list gear reviewers like John. Even today, running Bluetooth over to a cheap Bose Soundlink speaker, I can hear the intended differences in tone where other pedals would just sound the same.
In today's world of digital audio reproduction, maintaining the best tone while still in the analog realm is vital, and based on multiple reviews and reviewers on RUclips, Keeley's pedals do that.
Now if only I could you top-line reviewers to toss in a 12 string on these compressor reviews...
Intro, amazing!
I need a B bender in my life.
Great demo - Brilliant playing !!!
Outstanding playing technique!
Would you say this version have more output (volume) than the previous version the C4? Great review Jhon!!!
Man! This sounds so nice on a rainy Saturday. I wish I had friends to jam with. haha
Hi John. With all due respect to you as a musician and someone I respect, I have to humbly disagree with your assessment that the Keeley Compressor Plus doesn't work as well with humbuckers. I'm a humbucker and filitron player and find that it works great on my pedalboard. I don't use as a boost in that regard as I have a Jackson Audio Prism for that need. Anyway, always look forward to your vidoe's. Take care my friend.
This pedal in front of the Dream 65 is magic
p.s great demo on the keeley compressor does it work with a bass guitar ??? Keeley makes great stuff !!
Thank you cause i know some compressors drop some low end !!
What's with the lighting in this video? Nice demo. cheers.
I need the tab of the opening music 🥹 so beautiful
Sweet B bender wielding, man. Nice review too. :-)
Hye John can i use this compressor on a bass?
Was the blend up all the way for the clean boost test?
Excellent demo!
I own this one. But, I'm thinking the Wampler Ego sounds better but I haven't got to demo it, yet.
What setting works best for P90s? Humbucker?
Oh Darling, please believe me
I'm mezmerized by this tone
Can’t believe how long I went without listening to the Beatles!
Excellent demo, thanks
Thanks for the inspiring video, killer playing. I just bought one this week, liked the way it makes my PRS guitar sound, had no idea the versatility until I watched the demo, lucky that my guitar has the 85/15 pups with coil tap, it works great on it. I like the way it compensates for signal loss at the front of the pedal chain, very sweet sound too. You rule John...
Sod the compressor, well played, John! (although this compressor is on my shopping list)
Damn, that was some intro. Man...
Right? I've watched this video so many times, and it took me forever to realize it was "Oh! Darling" by the Beatles...😂
at 6:21, what the hell just happened, now that's what i call lickity split holy s#$t, haha good stuff oh and the review is like a conversation, feel like I'm in the room talking to a pro one on one
thanks Gus.
Hello, I just order this pedal and have a question. I run my pedal board thru an fx loop on my amp. Would I want to put the compressor before the loop or the first thing on my board in the loop? Thanks. Great demo!
Generally in front of the amp, not in the loop.
John you are such a great picker and i hope we can jam sometime or play a gig in Nashville after i get out of here and can start walking again, this has been a very tough year bro !!
Ernest Flanagan stay strong man , stay srong
Thank you so much, cause my car accident was on dec 16 2016
Yo Earnest. Come on out to a gig some day, amigo.
Love you John.
You sold me, i just bought one off Ebay, can't wait
EBay
Keeley b-bender compressor
Ughhh that DGT.....so nice
This pedal is awesome with high gain!
anybody use this pedal with an active bass? if so how does it work with it?
Any tabs for the intro??
Great balanced review :)
Great compressor bug I prefer the xotic Sp
Great playin!!!!
This guy shreds!!!
sick player, Sick pedal
cheers!
Intro 🔥🔥🔥
But where can I get that shirt from? Anybody??
Some compression happens naturally with humbuckers at least to my ears
Ohhh darlin
It is very noisy with few power supply I tried. I could make it work finally (I was very disappointed)
with a 9V battery.
Any suggestions to try?
4:45 "Little bright for your taste, take that thing back"
Forgets he is doing demo and switches to bridge pickup of a Tele
I thought I was the only one that noticed that! Haha! Immediately after he asks, "Too bright for your taste?", he switches to the brighter bridge pickup. Lesson learned, you can't take away bright tone from this guy! :)
PRS pickups ?
Chapeau bas!
I'm recognizing some Hanoi Rocks.
Killer intro!
Oh! Darling
I've got one. It's nice.
Nice b-bender work!
6:18 SICK
What about using one in the effects loop?
Great video, but what's up with that guitar 👀😂 those address stickers and color 😥
I didnt know Timothy olyphant played guitar
Love this eraserhead hair
Nice.
this cat's no Johnny Hiland LOL!
Naw. Just one of the most respected musicians in Nashville
John!
Timothy olyphant?
finally something good
B BENDER!!!
The compression is great, but I cannot work with the pronounced midboost, esp on clean tones. There's no getting around it unfortunately. Deal breaker for me.
I forgot why I came to this video. Just got lost in the guitar
Do that that get yo black ass home for Christmas song?
Intro 😀😀😀
When you hit a bunch of fast notes you don't hear any sustain nor can you measure it. Next review maybe spend more time demonstrating the pedal and less time ripping a bunch of notes, or least let the notes ring so we can hear the effect.
Killer b-bender Oh Darlin
The lighting here is terrible and it hurts the eyes. Great demo though
Awesome!! Sounds good
IG: imperucca
Next time you may want to tune up the guitar first.
this joker always reminds me of that tom cruise on coke interview
joão wwhhhaaa?
There's gotta be one.
it's called fuckin enthusiasm, who's forcing you to watch?