Keeley Compressor Plus

I bought this compressor just last week from Thomann and, I used it for the first-time last night at my regular 3-hour gig/4 nights a week here in GC. All I can say to describe it is ?WOW?. I really like the design of the 4-knob compressor (Keeley also have another 2-knob model which I haven?t tried). I've been using another brand name micro compressor for the past year or so and, it?s also good but, this Compressor Plus gives me a lot more control?. over everything! It also has a little toggle switch that changes from single coil to humbucker (that changes the attack and release depending on the guitar you use) but, I have only used it so far on my Strat and it makes the guitar sound great, bright, clean, full, and it doesn?t introduce any noise whatsoever into the signal path. Adjusting the tone knob (bringing it back to about 11 o clock) backs off the treble just enough on the single coil Strat so that it isn?t ?head-cutting? just, a nice bright full and warm sound. The build of the pedal is VERY strong and sturdy?it looks like it could take a lot of punishment!!
I really like this Compressor Plus. It?s my first Keeley pedal and, having seen the great quality of this particular pedal?I am certainly going to check out the rest of their stuff.
Thank you, Keeley, for a really great product and, thank you Thomann for the great service... (this package arrived at my door here in Gran Canaria just 5 days after ordering it) SUPER.

I mostly play Metal and was looking for something to had another dimension or presence to my lead work. At first I thought it could be a compressor, I tried one in a store and it really increased the sustain despite changing the sound's character when used on the FX loop. I researched and listened to lots of demos and I decided to buy this Qeeley, specially because it has a mix and a tone knob. The initial purpose was to use it on the FX loop as a lead coloring tool, but I also wanted to try it in front of the amp with a low mix setting to see if it could improve my sound.

These were my confused thoughts before having it.

When I tried the Qeeley Compressor Plus I really liked the versatility it offered. However I didn't like it on the FX loop because it altered my distortion's character and presence. However I really enjoyed it in front of the amp, with a low mix, the level set in a neutral setting, a bit of sustain and a darker tone it really improved my sound. The initial attack isn't altered, but the notes sustain much longer without any artifacts being heard.

It makes such a big difference without being noticeable what the pedal is doing. If I turned it off and play a chord the higher notes start to die after some seconds and the lower sustain much longer, with the pedal on all the chord sustains much longer and more alive and defined. I have it on all the time without noticing that it is there.

It takes some time and patience to find the right setting, and the manual gives some good starting points, but the end result is worth the effort. Maybe it is a cheat, but I can't live without it now that I discovered it. As to my initial lead tone quest, a EQ solved my needs.

I bought this just over a year ago and I couldn't be happier. I play small and medium gigs/sessions in different settings (jazz, Latin music, hiphop, pop/rock). Versatile and useful.

Most often I keep the "sustain" knob between 09:00 (subtle) and 12:00. The "blend" makes it easy to dial in more or less effect when needed.

Especially over 12:00 on the sustain, both the blend and sustain knobs have an effect on the overall output. Once you get used to this and learn to adjust the "volume" knob accordingly.

Note: When people say this is a "warm" compressor, it's true: Like other analog units, at high sustain/blend settings the sounds gets a pleasing halo of creamy harmonic distortion. Overall this doesn't bother me (I mainly use it at lower settings).
If you are specifically looking for crystal clear, transparent output at high compression settings, this is not the box for you.