Keeley Effects and Everything that has to do with them.

OhThePeacock · #1 09-15-2007, 12:05 PM

Well this is my first post so let me get it out of the way, forgive me if i broke some TB rules in doing so.

With that out of the way, I was trying to find some information on Keeley Compressors and noticed there wasn't much info other than in the compressor megathread so I was wondering if anyone here has had any personal experience with these on bass. I became interested in these recently from a trip to the local music store where I saw one in the display case. I didn't have the oppurtunity to try it out but from what the guy told me it was one of his favorites and I guess Robert Keeley includes a business card with all of his pedals so I figured that he probably puts a lot of time into them. But anyways any information would be appreciated other than the HC reviews which I already read.

Also feel free to discuss the other keeley effects and modded pedals in this thread.

bongomania · #2 09-15-2007, 03:01 PM

Hi, you can read my review of the Keeley comp in the reviews page linked in my sig. It's basically a clone of a circuit that is found in the Ross and MXR Dynacomp compressors, but using better components and a few small tweaks to the values. Although Keeley and Analog Mike were among the first to get famous for cloning the Ross and Dynacomp, there are a lot of people doing it nowadays; I happen to think the one Barge makes is better for bass.

As far as his other mods, I've only heard good things about his work, he definitely knows what he's doing; but again, lots of people are modding these days, so it's not such a hidden art anymore.

OhThePeacock · #3 09-15-2007, 03:24 PM

Thanks for the advice, and great job on the compression reviews. That must've costed tons.

I'm really curious about his Ibanez TS9 and 808 mods, anyone know about those?

pickles · #4 09-15-2007, 04:03 PM

I've got a Keeley RAT on order, and I've got some experience with vintage RATs, so I'll let you know.

OhThePeacock · #5 09-15-2007, 04:06 PM

+Is that RAT the one that is modded to handle bass frequencies better?

pickles · #6 09-15-2007, 06:23 PM

They do a lot of mods including replacing the primary clipping chip so it sounds more like an older RAT. You can read all about it on their site:

http://www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=7

I'm mainly getting it for the chip, the boss power, and the LED.

Amokoma · #7 09-15-2007, 06:43 PM

I've got the Vox 487 Mello Wah mod, the ProCo RAT 3-way Mod, the Line6 DL4 mod and the TS9DX Flexi 4x2 mod.
They're all excellent for guitar and almost as good for bass.

pickles · #8 09-16-2007, 08:07 AM

Did you try the TS-9DX before and after or did you order it modded? If you tried it before and after ... what was the difference on bass?

EricF · #9 09-16-2007, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickles

I've got a Keeley RAT on order, and I've got some experience with vintage RATs, so I'll let you know.

I had a Keeley-modded Rat for a little while. It is supposed to have improved bass response, which may be true compared with a non-modded version. However, I found the bottom end to be so lacking that it was unusable on bass for me. In a blendable bypass loop, it would be great. (IMO, YMMV)

There are other people who like the sound enough to justify the lack of bottom end.

Generally speaking, Keeley's work is very good.

bongomania · #10 09-16-2007, 09:58 AM

Here's something funny: Keeley's fame was for modding, before his compressor hit the big time, and mods are still his game. But he designed the Keeley compressor to be nearly impossible to mod. The solder-side of the circuitboard seems to be glued in place or something.

OhThePeacock · #11 09-16-2007, 11:03 AM

Kind of ironic how someone whos main trade was in modding would make one (or possibly more of them) unmoddable.

pickles · #12 09-16-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

I had a Keeley-modded Rat for a little while. It is supposed to have improved bass response, which may be true compared with a non-modded version. However, I found the bottom end to be so lacking that it was unusable on bass for me. In a blendable bypass loop, it would be great. (IMO, YMMV)

There are other people who like the sound enough to justify the lack of bottom end.

Generally speaking, Keeley's work is very good.

I personally don't like the sound of any distortion on bass unless its blended with clean. I've used a few of the bass-specific effects ... and a great guitar effect in a clean blend loop slams them every time IMO.

The added bass is the one thing on the modded rat I don't really care about (if anything it might get in the way, but I'm glad you say its still thin

)

I bought it for the better chip in the small format box, and the Boss DC power + LED. Its just a much more practical RAT than a vintage one.