PGS Compressor Smackdown: Keeley Vs. Rothwell Love Squeeze

[WhiskeyTango12]

I like A. They are both nice but I guess it's just what style you prefer. I like a brighter sound, the A takes the cake in that department. My guess is it's the Keeley.

[MrRhcp1998]

andy you are my next favorite guitarist next to john frusciante now

[Guitar1hero23]

Bring the smackdowns Back!!!!

[WhitetailWillie]

Contender A all the way.

[invivum]

There are some missing mid-high harmonics with overdriven Contender A. A is also more squashy on the attacks. B sounds more full and wide and even wider in the OCD; plenty of bottom and top end.

After having listened to Rothwell's and Keeley's own demos: A is Keeley and B is Rothwell.

[Jugglevision]

"A" has to be the keeley. So much more natural sounding

[Xidkwhat2callmyselfX]

I still really don't get what the compressor is used for

I think it sounds better on bypass

[JourneyAnyWay]

@Xidkwhat2callmyselfX

go to the regular pgs demo of the keeley compressor, listen to it with headphones, you will completely understand, I guarantee it.

[Hatafuriyamanokaiju]

Hmmm....listen again...

At first impression,I prefer b,but hard to say if it's because of transparency so much as I just thought I liked the qualities it brought out..

[xxguitarhero48xx]

TWAANG

[koolami268]

Andy, are you going to Demo the Fuchs Royal Plush? How do you feel it stacks up with these two in terms of transparency and sustain?

[QuaaludeMidnight]

Keeley, all the way.

Can't stop, wont stop.

[xRAKDOZx]

CANT STOP!!! liking this demos

[TinManSixtySix]

The Rothwell love-squeezed the Keeley off the board. I was just about buying the Keeley. Thanks for the demo. I wish the analogman were there too, though, as an alternate match.

[collzxc]

hey pgs which is better keeley compressor of the analogman bi comp?

[RLS993]

well now i'm just more confused i like them both for different reasons maybe i should just get both haha

[2ixkarmaxi2]

Did u ever have any problems with the rothwell distorting whilst the compressor knob was past 12o'clock?

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

@2ixkarmaxi2 Nope, we regularly use it for guitar demos with both knobs at around 1 0'clock without distortion. We run in right after the tuner.

[MannyVanHalen]

@ProGuitarShopDemos I think he meant clipping...at least thats what happen to mine at the front, end, and middle of any configuration i have...actually in front of a lovepedal kalamazoo and a ht dual, when i turn my guitar volume all the way down i get the most scarrying hizz you can imagine...not a high gain (metal type) compression...

[KevinCube]

@2ixkarmaxi2 Start powering yours with an 18v supply instead of a 9v. More headroom that way. Cleaner sound.

[RLS993]

B has more bass i'm using a sex drive as well so i think A is better for me.

[12FNDR]

You never said which one is contender A or B....next time just write Rothwell or Keeley and make things easier.

[Aplus89]

Andy Rulezz!!

[metallica12489]

The Big B yo has to be the keeley

[Aplus89]

RHCP like... love that.... Andy what guitar did you use it a strat??

[KevinCube]

B by a landslide.

[153Braeden351]

I think that B is a little more transparent but i actually like A a little more.

[coolmodine]

Interested in whatever will compliment my chicken pickin', and my mid-boost best. Unfortunately the comparison here doesn't give me an idea on either. :-\

[reece55]

B for me, I'm guessing it's the keeley.... A is way too bright IMO

[ASJerrell]

A seemed to accent the treble nicely, but B brought the bass out from the back. So, really I don't know. The distortion with B had more bite. I like to use my compressor as an enhancer type effect, so that's my fav. :)

[topperspoppers]

contender A for me

[Stringprodigy]

The BYOC compressor will kill the Keeley for way less money. I'll have to try out the Rothwell though. Pedals in person never sound exactly the same as you hear in Youtube videos.

[Estebanfuturo]

i would say, keeley for cleans, rothwell for distortion, keeley 4 knob wins.

[58TweedDeluxe]

You can't beat a Les Paul into a Tweed for great drive tone!

But 'A' seemed to represent the licks and riffs more authentically and for me was the one.

[dcologgi]

too much top end twang on the clean

not enough top end on the dirty

A clearly loses

[sotipay]

It's B definitely, more transparent and great sound with the overdrive

[aektzis91]

every girls crazy bout a sharp dressed man!!!

[guitar4life9]

B is much better, it leaves most of the bass. the A was twangier, not necessarily my kind.

[abarbar06]

i liked A better, sounded more full

[FER14FMA]

oooo can't stop yeah!!!

[befrankis]

i like A more its more twangy

[Markn951]

A was smoother and warmer I think but B was sparklier clearer and most transparent

[bloozboy5]

I'm liking A a little better but I agree with OcarinaJaeger: with the OCD on, I prefer bypass on the compressors.

[Acronso]

A has more of a natural tone

[edadmartin]

round 1 A round 2 and 3 B was better. I think Ill listen on the site if its up , because you tube compresses everything to much to get a clear test I like the Smack downs alot,great info.

[mysocalledchaos]

I actually really like A better

[gilbertgodlyddd]

Had to say becuase of all the compression youtube adds to videos anyway

[DonJannis]

Whats the first song Andys plays? Under the bridge by RHCP?

[ExplodingAstronauts]

@DonJannis  Can't Stop by RHCP

[micantino]

B is very trasparent

[bddb9]

yeah b was definitely win but i thought with the ocd A was better

[Chumleh]

B. B all the way. Smoother, more transparent.

[goldenaxeband]

Í cant hear a huge difference between A and B

[SilverSkyline92]

i used my best headphones, and B sounded more transparent, and better with the OCD

[scribbydibbydoo]

B should def win

[mennoosmusic]

I prefer B, but I have no idea which is which :)

[slowpokerhino]

B is the Keeley. I think...

[nakarama]

A = Keeley

B = Rothwell

I'd go for the Rothwell, the smooth tone does the trick for me :)

[NormanBurns]

A's tone was more transparent, while B's tone was thinner.

[Pinorules]

I think A sounded really thin in the last round.... B FTW!

[Jaredrock1996]

I like B. They are both great tho, id go for which ever is cheaper

[Z0ul0u]

The B channel kinda smoothens the sound I like it a lot.

[ChillBroify]

andy you have taught me more about guitar effects than ill ever need to know but im so thankful of pro guitar shop and their vids and i always like to see what nasty riffs you got goin on in any new vid

[iagobroxado]

I have no idea who is who, cos' I'm not that fan of crompressors, but I would pick "A" for sure. Seems "B" kills the bottom end a bit, and makes the tone a tad more nasal.

[alvarez1284]

I HAVE TO SAY A!!!!

[holuj49]

Gonna have to go with B

[MaxPaws]

Round 1: B is colorless, but I much preferred the cleaner bright tone from A.

Round 2: Tougher call... B is colorless. A is brighter. Preferred B's ability to heavy squeeze.

Round 3: Toughest call. A can probably cut a little better due to brightness, but B has better FULL sound and sustain.

Overall winner: B

[t3r080]

I have to give my vote for contender A too. It sounded better... did exactly what I expect a good compressor to do.

[willievega]

'B' sounded better for the first round,

'A' sounded chimey (better) for the clean INXS funk parts, I think 'B' sounded a tiny bit better for the last bit. It's up in the air.

[Maiden92666]

Red Hot Chili Peppers! :D

B sounds sweet :D!!

[ultimateguitarwizard]

the next test has to be how long they'll sustain a note!

[ultimateguitarwizard]

they both sound better than my boss!

[CrazyDave408]

I like B. Tone didn't change, and I thought it handled the distortion a bit better.

[PYROSF]

A is definetly more transparent, but I like B better.

[spider5001]

I have no idea which is which... but I think I like B better

[nickd444]

A sounds like its adding some kind of high frequency characteristic. sounds great, but i think B sounds more true to the original frequency spectrum.

in other words, i think B is the more 'transparent' sound.

[PHXMASTER]

definatly A

[haimcito]

B wins, more sustain and cleaner

[njdenis1]

bypass=win

[DevinBellROCKS]

I say B wins!

[RaianCPS]

B for sure

[frenzexperiment]

A!!!!

[fakiekid]

B is cleaner

[garydupuis]

Ya know, personally, I like Contender A with both clean and distorted...

[MrBUCKETHEADcover]

B wins

[merrilltim]

I just listen to the blackfinger vd and prefer it over either of these .

[xxc3lld4m4gexx]

B is my pick..but i like a heavier compression...A is much more transparent  not sure which is which..never played with either of these pedals lol

[TheIsaacEaton]

Clean tone gets my vote!

[veers0r]

Hm I think I prefer a with distortion and b clean.

[whydoesitmatter1994]

I like A

[glassslide]

Great job!! I love that format--completely fair--would love to see PGS use this in the future--it is a real service to the GP community.

Btw, I thought "B" was the clear winner.

[Sukainami]

In my opinion, A has the most transparency on the clean settings, while B added the best transparent sustain with distortion. I guess this decision would depend on the player's rig and his style, but don't they all?

[MAlshoaiby]

Great way to demo pedals. This way the customer's going to rely on their ears and not preconceived biases towards hyped up pedals.

Awesome job PGS!

[kungpow79]

B wins

[mickyhodge]

B is awesome, sounded great I reckon it would be the simpler rothwell pedal, less controls to change the actual sound

though I do like both if I'm truly honest

[Dennemark]

I prefer B.

[hobbitknuckles]

B sounds fantastic. No change in tone at all. Diggin how transparent it is. That is extremely rare in any pedal.

[delayfordays]

B sounds like a compressor should. Smooth and transparent. A sounds like a treble booster. B gets my vote.

[tjrd12]

A gets my vote!

[joty676]

i like A more it sound brighter

[Adji87]

I liked A better. I don;t know which is which, I think B was maybe a bit more transparent but I liked the top-end control on A.

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

He was never gone.

[ToffeeConor]

Nice comeback

[kirkhammett1993]

whats the song at 0:49

please somebody tell me:D

[aaciseric]

Can't stop - RHCP.

Another great review. Good job PGS.

[prostekukac2]

Cant stop, red hot

[cmrcs]

I felt like they both coloured the sound slightly although B less than A. Overall though I would pick A.

[stujomo]

No Idea who is who but I like compressor A.

[justakas]

i would pick B

[tremalow]

B did sound the most transparent, but i like the A better, its a crazy world

[hyperboogie]

B has a faster attack (more of a country style comp) but kills some of they higher order harmonics in the sound (or what to my ears sounds like the top sizzle)

A has a slower attack but keeps the tone better. It sounds a little more organic. I like A better

[Zztop128]

B is the most transparent one

[babyslapmafro]

B gets my vote

[hebijebi03]

I think A sounded better as an actual compressor but b sounded more transparent. It just depends on what you like, I use compression as an effect so it not being transparent is fine with me but for people who like to use the compressor to fill out an overall sound b would probably be the better choice. I think that A might be the Keeley though....i can tell though that's not the consensus here in the comments though lol

[carlosdlguerra]

B was the most tranparent on clean, and if they say the keeley is the most tranparent then B is the keeley but i prefered A to the most funky things

NED ANOTHER DEMO

[gothkid141]

i like the B more it sounds better and adds more sustain

[IronDoll2]

A better.

[ZeFredster]

Well can't decide between A or B so will have to get both then =)

[achaarpickler]

B was mathematically inconclusive organically but A was positionally accurate when judging with a confrontational perspective. Honest.........

[GavinSutherland]

B for me

[ChristianBundgaard]

A is the best!

[JerkyTreat]

This cowpoke thinks the Keeley sounds better. Can't comment on transparency, etc. I just think it sounds better to my ears. I do really enjoy watching Andy play. Thanks PGS.

[joemiracle220]

B is the keeley for sure,

[lukesteele1]

If you have a good setup you dont need compression as you get enough sustain anyway from your gear.

[8bigtubes]

I don't know which pedal was which but I do know that on the clean tone, Compressor A added quite a noticeable amount of high end. B was the more transparent of the 2.

On the OCD demo, both pedals sucked IMO. No comp on OD for me.

[capodastaro]

Both sound nice but to be honest I'd take my Boss CS-3 over any other compressor I've tried.

May not be the best, but perfect for what I need.

[tjsr21]

think im a b man.

[babymicrobe]

I like A better.

[zzappino]

x me is A

[melsamjay]

A wins for me.., but like others here, bypass in overdive mode sounded a lot better..

[ExperimentalHaven]

Can't stop ;)

[bloodySunday77]

Ιt's not fair to put the 4 knob Keeley up against the Rothwell. It should have been the 2 knob model, since the Rothwell can't match the tweakability of the Keeley. The Keeley in this way can also be dialed to sound better due to the extra knob options available.

[ProGuitarShopDemos]

The 4 knob and 2 knob are the same circuit. Keeley just put the 2 internal controls on the outside for ease of use. Same pedal.

[bloodySunday77]

You are right, but when the knobs are inside they are there in a "set and forget" fashion because they are not directly acccessible. Does the Rothwell have any extra knobs inside to tweak it further, and if yes, were they used for this video?

[peterg8681]

I definately prefer B.  Not sure which one it is. I think it might be the Keeley.

[eugeene42]

my opinion is: i have absolutely no idea.

[coolguitars]

B it is for me. How come you didn't feature the Diamond Compressor???

[DemoColorScheme]

Is that a new Keeley C4? I've never seen that housing!

[TheTazMonkey]

A sounds way better to me...

[ZER0G12]

I think that A is the Keeley, which also receives my vote!

With the overdrive, I didn't really like either of the compressors, the bypass sounded much better on its own.

[hallaelementary]

Bypass wins especially with the overdrive. Compression I can live without.

[ebeatworld]

I like A. Way more alive.

[bolomsa]

Keeley A - Keeley dude !!!

[MarkBrim]

BBBBBBB, but a sounds good too. B ftw

[beefyoriginal]

B sounds better to me, but I have no idea which one is which. I own the keeley and HOPE it's B!

[moucon]

B was MUCH better clean.. less screwing with the attack. A was better with the overdrive - it did tighten it up (which doesn't make any sense) , but it was close. So I guess it's a toss-up. Add a noisy bar and nobody will know the difference :-)

[surfco]

For me, the winner is contender A

[erandolapedorra]

Love the smack's

[20108024]

A seems to be a bit tighter, B is very loose and works very nicely clean.

It seems that A has more of a squash thing going on during that comparison.

And through the overdrive, B sounded the best again.

However, A would probably sound nice through high gain since it tightens up the sound

[shine777]

i'm a big no holds barred fan of Keeley so Keeley wins for me...

[Alexsy82]

B is much, much better.

[libertyfalls]

I like A better... B I think is a bit more transparent but I like the "sparkle" that A gets. It almost makes B sound darker by comparison.

[popomczowzow]

And B was MUCH better

[HotshotAtheist]

B is by far more transparent than A in my opinion, however; B sounds more squashed on its maximum compression. Then again, A sounds very good with overdrive.

I'M SO CONFLICTED

Well, not really, I don't like compressors along with overdrive, since most of the overdrive tones I use tend to add a touch of compression anyway.

[AxeStudio]

I own a Keely 4 Knob Comp and I think A is it. There are many attributes that you can compare but at the end of the day, what's most important is what sounds best to your own ear.

[guitarslasher3100]

B is rothwell and A is keeley

B is way more transparent and sounded better in the overdrive setting but it seemed to squash it more in the squash test

A seemed to add a low end and take out some mids which I didn't dig. It also didn't add that same singing sustain that the other did

All in all I say B = the win

[domdabombabc]

B sounds better to me, both are good but A sounds like it adds brightness to the tone.

[speakercoilmusic]

Oh, I haven't tried either pedal so I can't tell who is who... But as I said "B" is MUCH more transparent.

[speakercoilmusic]

"B" is the winner of these two. I am running through a Denon amp into a set of Kenleigh Speakers. So I am listening on some good stuff. "A" you can immediately tell is compressed and I hear a lot of pumping and breathing. "B" is much smoother, you can still tell it is there but it is smoother with less pumping and breathing. I would like to see this kind of smack down with the Pigtronix Philosopher's tone.

[benzakonium]

Totally agree... the winner of these should go head to head with the Philosopher's Tone

[hobbitknuckles]

I agree with jakethequake. B is the clear winner. B is way more transparent and smooth.  A sounds like it is adding quite a bit of high end, maybe even some dirt.

[paolitas7]

great work!!

[jakethequake91]

I've never really liked the Keeley, and I really don't like contender A, so I gotta figure keeley=A, and rothwell=b

Either way, B won in this comparison, hands down, even if I was wrong in my guesses

[redshark1105]

I liked A with strat and B with LP

[777jordan]

B Ftw - rothwell?

[DavidRck]

Dont fake the funk

[delayfordays]

Just gave it a good long listen. B is way more transparent.

[MoneyPieBoy]

B is very transparent. In My opinion:

B is the Rothwell

A is the Keeley

[xtexanx]

I like both pedals for different for different settings, i would probably just buy both

[christopho95]

I like B

[hobbitknuckles]

Yeah. B is more transparent. A doesn't sound like the original signal.

[delayfordays]

B sounds way more smooth. A seems to add a bit of high end and grit.

[whaiyun]

wow this is hard to tell.

[AbeBiro]

'A' sounded much more alive

[topicrass]

@AbeBiro

hear the first round with the strat how Bright is teh sound when the compressors is On