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 was looking for a compressor pedal for some time. After watching a series of reviews, demos, videos online I decided to purchase it despite its high price.

Pros:
+ The switch for humbucker and single coil guitars is an interesting feature that affects the sound a lot. For my single coil guitar it works quite well.
+ The sound quality is not mind-blowing but great overall.

Cons:
- Any configuration of the left knobs beyond 12 o'clock is musically impractical. The compressor effect is so strong that is almost useless for any type of music (in my opinion).

Overall, this compressor could and should have been better. The price is too high. I am confident that cheaper options could do the trick as well.

This pedal is an absolute necessity for me.
It enhanced my sound beyond measure, but it comes with a price.
I used to have an mxr studio compressor deluxe between my guitar and pedals and since got rid of it due to it not just feeling right. I tried it after all my pedals and it was just unusable.
I bought the Keely Compressor Plus to put it after all my pedals based on all the reviews and it is really what I was looking for. Pristine sound and handling that really helps my playing. But it does come with a price. The blend is the perfect knob and the tone is also a huge advantage but both the sustain and level do have tricks to them and will take some time dialing in. If you stack pedals as one often does the sustain knob will increase the hiss significantly (even with a noise gate) and that happens also with the level which means you have to compromise it together with the blend knob, making it's versatility quite limited for wanting different sounds and not just enhancing your tone, like i do. Bonus is your delay and reverb trails pop out so you might want to dial them back a bit.
Still on the fence about this one but the sound is still superb.
Thomann as usual imaculate service.

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.