Robert Keeley Keeley Compressor Review

History:

Purchase: After much research and disappointment with AKAI, Boss, and Guyatone units( all thin-sounding and noisy ) I found some rave reviews of the Keeley unit so I went to his website (www.robertkeeley.com) and liked what I read. I contacted Robert via email and asked a few questions and then I took the plunge to the tune of about $200

What I Like About This Unit: It is exquisitely designed and built and yields far more than the other units I've tried. It actually enlivens rather than restricts tone and, being true bypass, if I want to click it off it doesn't suck my tone. However, I almost always leave it ON because it adds so much even at very subtle settings. If I push it I can get the molten sustain of the 60s guitar heroes at bedroom volume with a lot of pleasing harmonics. A must for legato players!

What I Do NOT Like About The Robert Keeley Keeley Compressor: I like everything about it and it does not have a bunch of useless and confusing knobs to fool you into thinking you are actually shaping your sound. It's got Level and Sustain and that's it. The power jack has been placed on the side rather than the front of the unit as Robert says this reduces noise. Never seen anyone else bother, but he does.

Keeley Compressor Quality: Premium grade switches/components, heavy cast box with small footprint (about DynaComp size), blue jewel LED and barrel-jacked for powering by Valvulator/Juice Box, etc.This would clearly survive a direct hit.

Summary: Robert is a degreed electrical engineer and tone freak. I wish all makers cared as much about build quality AND exhibited the same humble and helpful kind of customer care Robert does. The unit is not cheap but then 3 Boss comps do not equal one Keeley, if you get my point. There is no substitute for quality.These units will be sought after and reverently written about 20 years from now while commanding ridiculous prices, I am convinced.

Rating of this product: 5

This Robert Keeley Guitar Effects Review Submitted By: Dan in Santa Cruz

Date: 2002-06-12