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Keeley Bassist Compressor/Limiter!!!!!

I use mine right after the tuner. It's set for light compression just to even things when needed. When I know I'll play dirty stuff I use it as a booster into my B3K or simply don't use it at all.
The idea of a compressor at the end of the chain doesn't attract me, at least for now.
 
I guess that I'm a little late to the game here (by almost 2 years!), but I'm definitely (and finally) feeling the Keeley Love for this compressor!

i got mine about two weeks ago, after having a failed "dating phase" with an Ampeg Opto-Comp that I bought from Sweetwater to replace a DIY/guitarpcb optical compressor that was beginning to have some weird (and as of yet, undiagnosed) issues. The Ampeg just seemed to darken the tone of everything I threw at it. Luckily, Sweetwater let me send it back!

i had about a week of waiting for Sweetwater to get the Keeley back in stock.

After I got it and plugged it into my chain (simply the Keeley into an Ampeg SCR-DI, SWR ST-800 power amp, and SVT810e for basic evaluation), I was quite literally blown away within the first minute of setting it up. While I'm sure there are better compressors out there (and possibly more expensive), i'm rather sold on this thing! It's now my "basic" compressor for my rig (and I sometimes use up to FOUR different comps, depending on the gig/recording!). Guess it's my "go to" now.

If I had a "wish for" list on this compressor, I would only be wanting for an attack knob on this. When I'm playing without any other instruments, it sometimes feels that it doesn't quite grab the notes quickly enough for my taste. But when the bass is sitting in a mix, that attack setting actually works very well- the bass is very easy to mix in a track (or at the gig). The Keeley attack works there, so maybe I'm just being a little neurotic/picky!
 
While I'm sure there are better compressors out there (and possibly more expensive), i'm rather sold on this thing! It's now my "basic" compressor for my rig (and I sometimes use up to FOUR different comps, depending on the gig/recording!). Guess it's my "go to" now.

Once you move up to the Keeley, there is nothing 'better'...just 'different'!
 
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Once you move up to the Keeley, there is nothing 'better'...just 'different'!
Just "different"...

Agreed!

I have one Optical DOD 280 clone- it adds a bit of grit to the tone and nice leveling... When it works right.

My DIY VCA compressor that is set up to be super squishy/pumpy and bit of a volume boost for slapping and light pick playing (and has a non-defeatable noise gate). Also has a slight treble boost too!

An Orange DIY clone. Why? Just because, well, you gotta have one around, even if you DON'T use it at all (besides, I saw Tony Levin use one in King Crimson back in '08)!

And now the Keeley Bassist, which (as I stated previously) is my "main", "go to" or pretty much "always on" compy. Aside from my "it's not you, it's me" adjustment to the preset attack, is a pretty nice sounding comp!

As one of my guitarist/friends has been fond of saying (about most fast food, but relevant here)- "It doesn't make you feel full, just different!"
 
LOVE mine. I've been using it since it came out. I recently moved it from the end of the chain to the front because my dirt and OD was losing a bit when it was behind them. Curious as to how others are using it in their chain?
A year later, and another response! :woot:

Been using mine for the last month (just got it) and I have it at the front end of my pedal board (or ALMOST at the front, with regards to one bass that I use EQ with BEFORE it).

I like my compressors to respond to the instrument first, thus giving the effects downstream as well as the pre and power amps something to work with.

just seems smoother that way.
 
I’ve never used a compressor pedal, have been in the studio a lot lately and started looking around for one for live gigs.
Can’t easily try the Keeley though can order online. I got to play the latest Darkglass pedal recently in a store and can purchase at a similar price to the Keeley.
I was wondering if anyone could compare the Keeley to the DG hyper luminal and are any of the 3 DG settings similar to the sound of the Keeley as I was reading in another review the Bus setting is similar to the Empress?
Also I need to even the tone of my Stingray 5 b string. Appreciate any insight as really have limited experience with comp. I am asking because the Keeley gets great reviews but there are no comparisons made between these 2 and they’re the ones within my budget.
 
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I’ve never used a compressor pedal, have been in the studio a lot lately and started looking around for one for live gigs.
Can’t easily try the Keeley though can order online. I got to play the latest Darkglass pedal recently in a store and can purchase at a similar price to the Keeley.
I was wondering if anyone could compare the Keeley to the DG hyper luminal and are any of the 3 DG settings similar to the sound of the Keeley as I was reading in another review the Bus setting is similar to the Empress?
Also I need to even the tone of my Stingray 5 b string. Appreciate any insight as really have limited experience with comp. I am asking because the Keeley gets great reviews but there are no comparisons made between these 2 and they’re the ones within my budget.

I'm going to be honest here. The Darkglass is a great pedal, but if you've never used a compressor before you should get the Keeley. You can't mess it up and it's very clear to understand what it's doing. I used the Darkglass for a while and ended up back with the Keeley because I never stopped adjusting the Darkglass. It has three different compressors built in, each with 4 different 'voices' (or 5 in some cases), plus the time and blend knob...and that's before you get into the software where you can adjust the high pass filter, attack, release, and other stuff...although you don't HAVE to mess with the software.

I really really like the Darkglass but one day I realized something....I spent hours upon hours trying to make it sound like my Keeley Bassist. So I just went back to the Keeley Bassist.

But that being said, the Darkglass does a ton of stuff that the Keeley doesn't do. But that may not be a good thing for a first time user.
 
I used the Darkglass for a while and ended up back with the Keeley because I never stopped adjusting the Darkglass
THIS.
I didn't even try the DG compressor because I already knew what would happen. I just know myself, nothing against DG or their pedals.
The Keeley is super easy to do and it sounds like your bass, but compressed.
The only compressor I kept apart from the Keeley is The Accountant by Fairfield Circuitry. You can imagine why: just ONE knob and two toggle switches.
 
I'm going to be honest here. The Darkglass is a great pedal, but if you've never used a compressor before you should get the Keeley. You can't mess it up and it's very clear to understand what it's doing. I used the Darkglass for a while and ended up back with the Keeley because I never stopped adjusting the Darkglass. It has three different compressors built in, each with 4 different 'voices' (or 5 in some cases), plus the time and blend knob...and that's before you get into the software where you can adjust the high pass filter, attack, release, and other stuff...although you don't HAVE to mess with the software.

I really really like the Darkglass but one day I realized something....I spent hours upon hours trying to make it sound like my Keeley Bassist. So I just went back to the Keeley Bassist.

But that being said, the Darkglass does a ton of stuff that the Keeley doesn't do. But that may not be a good thing for a first time user.
Did exactly the same thing. I was intrigued by the DG compressor, especially after owning the Super Symmetry version (wasn’t a big fan of the older model). Ultimately, I was fiddling with the knobs and playing far less. The Keeley is just very good and user friendly. I own two now...one for my practice board and my my main board.