Compressor help! Torn between Keeley and Barber.

[danut]

I just came to the point that I need some compression on my clean/semi-clean arpeggios and strum patterns played on the neck humbucker split, combined with the middle position single coil. (I have an Ibanez RG, with HSH pick-up configuration). They just don't cut through the live mix and I also feel my playing is sloppy and lacks presence.
But here comes my dilemma: since I'll get a compressor, I would like to have it on all the time, which, I'm afraid, would negatively affect the dirty, high gain parts played on the bridge humbucker (SD TB-6 Distortion Trembucker). I wouldn't like extra compression on the high gain stuff, which is already compressed by the nature of distortion. I don't want to turn the compressor on and off each time I switch from dirty to clean/semi-clean, because I hate tap dancing.
So here's my question: out of these two brands (Keeley and Barber), which do you think would better fit my need? I mean, I'd like to find a sweet spot setting where single coil clean stuff benefits from compression yet the bridge humbucker dirty stuff doesn't suffer too much.
Can the Keeley do this if set with level at unity gain and with sustain at, say, 9 to 10 o'clock?
Or is the Barber a better option because of its famous blend control?
Thanks a lot!

[El Jimbo]

I would go for the Barber because of the blend feature you mentioned...by all accounts, it works very well and would probably suit your situation more.

What about a looper pedal so you can switch a number of effects in and out with one stomp? They're not too expensive.

Another option is the Teese FK-1 comp which is nearly identical to the Keeley in curcuit and apparently sounds as good but slightly different...it's a lot cheaper...you could buy a looper with the change.

[TheGrooveking]

Check out the Maxon CP101, it's a great little box!! It doesn't squash your sound but it adds an eveness to your playing and can impart more sustain. A very transparent unit, very easy to use. I used to use a Carl Martin Compressor Limiter, which I feel is one of the best, but you had more of a feeling that it was on, versus the Maxon. The Maxon, you'll play through and at first you'll think, this isn't doing anything, but once you turn it off, you'll quickly say that is the one and turn it back on!!

TheGrooveking

[Ryan]

+1 on the Maxon; I love mine.

[Glowing Tubes]

Had both the Keeley and the Barber,
Both great but prefer the Barber due to the blend feature and the cost isnt bad either.

good luck


richard

[BrianB]

Originally posted by Andersonguy
Had both the Keeley and the Barber,
Both great but prefer the Barber due to the blend feature and the cost isnt bad either.

good luck


richard

+1 Had both, still have the Barber. Really can't go wrong, but I found the Barber to be much more flexible.

[LordRiffenstein]

Own the Barber and absolutely love it, even use it on higher gain settings and it works well. Tried the MAxon and that's a great one as well. Tried the Keeley and it didn't live up to expectations, in fact, it turned into total mud when we used a guitar with hot P90s thru so I wonder how and if it will work with humbuckers.

[Telecaster]

+1 for the Barber.
If you really want a Keeley, get a Teese FK-1 compressor. Same quality, 70 dollars cheaper........................

[danut]

OK guys, thaks for your inputs. I think I'll go with the Barber. Actually, even before posting this thread, I had the feeling that this one would be going to be the most recommended :cool:

[58lespaulman]

I'd go for the Barber, it really is going to be the best for what you want.. Plus I had the Keeley and it does get muddy and it's one of those compressors that you can tell when it's on because it comressese the hell out of your guitar.. I sold my Keeley and now have the Homebrew Comp-Retro, and it's very transparent..

[Phil M]

Originally posted by 58lespaulman
I'd go for the Barber, it really is going to be the best for what you want.. Plus I had the Keeley and it does get muddy and it's one of those compressors that you can tell when it's on because it comressese the hell out of your guitar.. I sold my Keeley and now have the Homebrew Comp-Retro, and it's very transparent..

That wasn't my experience with the Keeley at all (I have an older 2002 version in a brushed metal box with a decal; maybe he changed them a little?). I find it can be set to be incredibly transparent, almost so much so that I can't tell it's on. Once you get the sustain set higher, it'll squish the sound up. Makes a great boost too. I think it's an outstanding pedal, though the facts show that the Barber is much cheaper and a lot of people love it.

[pacomc79]

The keeley is better with single coils, same with the dyna comp/ross and the like.

The Barber is a different idea, even more subtle more of a boost with out so much squeeze. If you are using buckers I'd go with the Barber.

[j631378]

I've been using both a Barber Tone Press and a Demeter Compulator for several months now, hoping to finally make a choice between the two. Although I liked both, I just sold the Barber because it tended to squash my tone. The Demeter is an optical compressor that fills out my basic tone and adds high end sparkle. No other compressor that I've tried does both like that. The Demeter is permanently affixed to my pedal board (At least for now!)

[Jemlite]

It's not on your list but... I've got an Analogman BiComprosser, and it's an f'n blast to play.

I dig a comp as more of an effect than a function. The Bicomp kicks butt. From tons of squish and sustain, to jangly chimey cleans. No mud here.

Since it's 2 comps, you could set one side up for your HB's and the other for your Single Coils.

I can't recommend this pedal enough... and I've never been much of a comp guy.

[danut]

Since it's 2 comps, you could set one side up for your HB's and the other for your Single Coils.

Ok, but that requires tap-dancing, isn't it? Whereas I am especially looking to avoid that ;)

[gkelm]

I think the Keeley & Analogman are a better/closer comparison (had a couple of both)...slight difference, but I thought the AM had a bit more clarity. Ended up with a Bi-Comp...the extra squash side is fun, but I don't really use it much.

I also have a Barber, which overall I think I might like better than the AM...partly because I'm not a huge fan of squashy tone. And if it's something you want to leave on all the time, I'd say Barber. That said, you may have trouble getting the effect you want with the same settings on clean AND dirty tones.
Greg

[Jemlite]

Originally posted by danut
Ok, but that requires tap-dancing, isn't it? Whereas I am especially looking to avoid that ;)

AAAhaaaaaa.

[dankayaker]

I know you said between the Keeley and Barber, but I've had both (and they are both very nice) but to me the best sounding compressor I've ever used is the HBE Comp Retro.

[58lespaulman]

Homebrew Comp-Retro is my favorite also.. I've tried the Keeley and it changes your tone too much.. I want to try the barber though...

[smallbutmighty]

I've got a Barber coming tomorrow that I'm hoping will be the end of the search for me. I came darn close to getting the Homebrew, but I couldn't get over one thing (and it's the same beef I had w/ the Mosferatu): It's oriented the long way (landscape), and then has the jacks on the sides to boot. It's a total space hog! You'ld think if builders wanted to orient their pedals that way they'd at least put the jacks on the back!
Nitpicky, I know.

A

[danut]

^

[JUS1BEER]

Go with the Barber tone press.....I have had one now for three weeks, about four gigs, and could not be happier. Very subtle sounding peddle. The blend control is very useful, you can squish the sound or just add a hint of sparkle. Very good clean/dirty(with distortion) sustain. I forget and leave it on sometime and it is not a problem. I use it with humbuckers and it does not muddy up the tone, great peddle, go for it. Allen

[danut]

Go with the Barber tone press.....I have had one now for three weeks, about four gigs, and could not be happier. Very subtle sounding peddle. The blend control is very useful, you can squish the sound or just add a hint of sparkle. Very good clean/dirty(with distortion) sustain. I forget and leave it on sometime and it is not a problem. I use it with humbuckers and it does not muddy up the tone, great peddle, go for it. Allen

How do you have the Tone Press set?
Thanks!

[danut]

Well, one last bump :cool:

[LordRiffenstein]

I have mine set with volume around 1:30 and blend and sustain around 11:00. Works well for boost and slight comp.

[ryanspeer]

I've had both for use with my Taylor acoustic and it's actually kind of a hard decision to make when comparing against the NEW Keeley Comp (with internal - or external - attack adjustment). The Keeley certainly allows for more subtle compression, but the Keeley also sweetens up the tone somethin' fierce. It can still be pretty prone to feedback (again, with an acoustic), but there really isn't much at all that I DISlike about the NEW Keeley Comp. It's a tad hard to dial in a constant subtle compression because even with the attack maxed out, it still "swells" towards the end, but in many instances, that can be a really killer tool. Certainly not a big enough issue for me to not like it at all.

I ended up keeping the Barber simply because a buddy of mine who offered to help install laminate hardwood flooring thorughout my whole home for free had been lusting away for a Keeley Comp for quite a while. Giving mine to him was the least I could do to say thanks. Once money allows I wouldn't mind getting another at all.

In complete honesty, I'd probably keep the Barber for my acoustic, and get the Keeley for my electric rig (once I can piece tha tall together). They're both total champs in their own right.

[jonny guitar]

The only problem I had with the Keeley was using acoustics but now he has a blend knob so that has been rectified. "From my cold dead hands" is how I describe my Keeley comp. I love how it fattens my sound without altering it and I use it at varying levels for everything from country to jazz because it enhances my sound.

Without starting a war, I certainly think you should check into things before believing that the Teese RMC comp is the same quality as the Keeley before you believe it. I have a Teese Picture Wah and love it but the FK-1 is no Keeley.

It is all about tone and Keeley delivers more TONE.

[ryanspeer]

Originally posted by jonny guitar
The only problem I had with the Keeley was using acoustics but now he has a blend knob so that has been rectified. I believe you mean "attack" and not "blend".

[jonny guitar]

Originally posted by ryanspeer
I believe you mean "attack" and not "blend".

Whoops...thanks for the correction. It certainly isn't a blend knob.

[mentoneman]

barber

.

[hazysonic]

surprised nobody mentioned fmr audio's RNC. I've heard great things about it from ears I trust, but haven't tried it yet myself. It's definitely a transparent compressor and the quality you get for the price is killer.

Maybe the half-rack format steers away guitarists?

[Seegs]

surprised nobody mentioned fmr audio's RNC. I've heard great things about it from ears I trust,but haven't tried it yet myself. It's definitely a transparent compressor and the quality you get for the price is killer.

Maybe the half-rack format steers away guitarists?

if you havn't heard it how do you know it's definitely a transparent comp.?

I have one and prefer my BJF Pale/Pine Green Compressor or an Okko Coca Comp. with an E/A guitar going directly through it...I've used the FMR in the insert of my mixer and the FX S/R of my acoustic amp with good results but didn't care for it with my guitar signal going directly through it...

Chow,
Seegs

[Lucidology]

Check out the Maxon CP101, it's a great little box!! It doesn't squash your sound but it adds an eveness to your playing and can impart more sustain. A very transparent unit, very easy to use. I used to use a Carl Martin Compressor Limiter, which I feel is one of the best, but you had more of a feeling that it was on, versus the Maxon. The Maxon, you'll play through and at first you'll think, this isn't doing anything, but once you turn it off, you'll quickly say that is the one and turn it back on!!

TheGrooveking

+1 on the Maxon; I love mine.

I'm with yous guys ...;)

[serviviente7]

Well I do not know about the barber. Never had one. I did had a kelly and I later purchased a cmatmods. To make a long story short I sold the kelly, not because it was bad because indeed is very good but because the cmatmods is more transparent. I have it on ALL of the time at low settings and i love it.

[thewex]

barber is subtle compression, and i love it! kinda always wanted to try the bi-comp though.