|
Post by Bill on Sept 8, 2006 6:13:02 GMT -7
I took my Stingray to practice Wednesday, and used the new Keeley BD-2 and RC Booster. Overall I was happy, but there was something missing...things were not "flowing" quite like I wanted, close but not quite. Last night I discovered the missing ingredient...the Barber Tone Press! I ran the TP dials for a very liquid, hot signal to the amp, all at 3:00....THEN, by kicking in either the BD-2 or RC it was like, this is exactly what I was striving for! One thing I hate about comps, is when they limit your dynamic range, but I like the way they add some sparkle and general sweetness to your tone. With only the comp on, there is some obvious loss of range, but stepping on the BD-2 seemed to make the dynamic range...as if the comp wasn't there . Wierd, but that's how it stacked up. Same with the RC, just a touch cleaner. If you've ever listened to Pete Anderson on Dwight's "Thousand Miles from Nowhere", that's what my goal was. A very fluid, hot, bright Tele tone with ever so slight drive & sustain. Seems we getting pretty close with the above setup. On another note, after listening to lots of Clarence White lately, I went ahead and ordered a Keeley TR-2 tremolo last night. I've never owned a trem pedal, but did have a Deluxe R and an AC-30 for awhile...and have always missed the tremolo on them. Seems I'm suddenly going from a single little white boost pedal, to an ever expanding pedal board...not sure what to think of that.
|
|
|
Post by Curt on Sept 8, 2006 6:54:59 GMT -7
Sweet bill, I have found the BD-2/RC a killer pair for me with nearly any amp. I also just got a BB that's pretty cool so far. The KT 45 really likes a cheapo Bad Monkey best..go figure??
I too dig trem but have yet to find the one, lemme know how the keeley works for ya, I have a Swamp Thang that's ..ehhhh..OK.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2006 1:14:45 GMT -7
Though I am having to sell my Stingray due to financial reasons, I just tried it out with my Klon and the Stingray's volume set to 12 o'clock and it is unbelievable. I have to say that my first Klon was great but I did not give it enough time and I sold it in a fit of GAS. I regretted it ever since, the same way I am going to regret selling the Stingray; but I have to take care of myself first. When LeftLang's Klon came up for sale I had to snag it and man am I glad I did. I think all I would need for a gig is my amp and the Klon. Maybe a wah pedal since I do like to get funky. Anyway I find any amp I put the Klon in front of gives me such great touch sensitive, dynamic low to medium overdrive that I have become an addict to this pedal. It seriously gave the Maz38 a Dumble like quality. Singing overdrive it the only why I can describe it with the ability to get nasty if you want just by varying your picking technique and your touch. Everyone should give the Klon a shot, but remember it really shines when you turn your amp past 10 o'clock on the dial or at 3.4 to 4 and over. Aruntang, Looks like I am going to have to try Klon.Where can I get one?Are the current production Klon the original Klon,not a reissued.How much does it cost? dock66 Hi Dock, the Klon has not gone through any reissueing or redesign since its inception. The only thing to change has been the 'Centaur' emblem being removed and the word Centaur replacing it. You can reach Bill Finnegan at his website here. www.klon-siberia.com/ You can also find them on Ebay. Sometimes they are a good price and sometimes there are people trying to charge as much as they can. Brand new including shipping you are looking at $390-$400. I think before shipping they are about $329. Sometimes on Ebay you can find them for as low as $320-$340 to as high as $800 usually for one that is an early serial number and has the Centaur Logo. Personally I hear no difference between a Klon which has a Centaur logo or a Klon with just the word imprinted into the casing. Collectors might disagree. Hope this helps.
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Sept 9, 2006 7:31:43 GMT -7
I played my stang ray Thursday night in a very nice club here in Kansas City called Knuckleheads (Harley Davidson reference). In good weather they have a VERY nice outside setting with a raised covered stage, excellent sound man and lights. I had my Air brake on bypass. Plugged into the low input with the volume at noon, tone at about 9:30 and cut at about 9:00. With the guitar volume down a bit I had very good cleans. With the volume up and a compressor set for some compression and some boost I was well into jump blues distortion. I also had my King of Tone pedal set up but the compressor was all I needed. I used the KoT a few times without the compressor and it would have been fine that way also but I didn't need both at once. The compressor I used was my little green Guyatone ST2. I'm starting to like it more than my Keeley.
|
|
tuna
New Member
"Ain't Nothin to it"
Posts: 23
|
Post by tuna on Sept 16, 2006 3:58:50 GMT -7
Bill, how do you like that BD-2? Is that the Keeley modded pedal? Low gain? Also, you may want to try a Fulltone Supa Trem. Outstanding trem pedal. I have one and you are more than welcome to demo it.
Tommy
|
|
|
Post by guitarstan on Sept 16, 2006 7:15:41 GMT -7
Hey Billy,
Now you got my curiosity up with the BD-2, I have the same question as "tuna"...is yours the Keeley modded version?
|
|
|
Post by hdahs143 on Sept 16, 2006 7:21:35 GMT -7
I took my Stingray to practice Wednesday, and used the new Keeley BD-2 and RC Booster. Not trying to answer for Bill, but since I knew, I figured I wouldn't keep ya'll in the dark Harold
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Sept 16, 2006 7:24:58 GMT -7
I was talking about the Analogman King of Tone, Madison and Curt were talking about the modded BD2. I only tried a stock BD2 for about 30 seconds and thought it a vile piece of trash. Recently I play the Keeley modded BD2 and it's GOOD! I thought it might need a compressor to push it just a bit to sound more like a loud amp. The tone control is a bit limited in range. That design with a separate bass and treble would be outstanding. Curt and Madison are getting that coupling it with the RC booster. The Monte Allums mods are supposed to be better than the Keeley mods but you'd never know unless you a/b'd them.
|
|
|
Post by guitarstan on Sept 16, 2006 7:46:21 GMT -7
Madison, where is your comp in the signal chain relative to your OD's or BD-2, before or after?
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Sept 16, 2006 8:30:58 GMT -7
Bill, how do you like that BD-2? Is that the Keeley modded pedal? Low gain? Also, you may want to try a Fulltone Supa Trem. Outstanding trem pedal. I have one and you are more than welcome to demo it. Tommy Hey Tommy, yes it's the Keeley BD-2, I like it very much...so long as the drive knob doesn't go above 10:00. Over that it gets harsh...but at 10 or below it sounds and feels great. I'm running the comp hot, so I can't dial in much gain anyway. Mostly, I step on the RC Booster which adds a touch of gain, lots of volume, and is transparent. The BD-2 adds thickness, more hair, and is also fairly transparent. It's really nice having the two options...I don't want anymore than that. The trem didn't work out. I sent it back and have a Keeley comp on the way. I had one before, but didn't like it with the RxES...but then I suddenly realized I didn't like ANY comp with the ES. The Stingray is another matter, so I'm giving the Keeley comp another try, even though the Barber Tone Press is all I could ask for in a compressor. Btw, I just returned from DT's house, Wow! I had to walk past $100k in Harley's in the Ga-raj, then went into a room with Dr Z's, Fenders, and Marshall's everywhere! All beautiful redwood front Z's, except for the Stingray. Didn't make it any further, but evidently I just saw the "tip of the iceberg". The dude is doing something right!
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Sept 16, 2006 8:34:19 GMT -7
Madison, where is your comp in the signal chain relative to your OD's or BD-2, before or after? guitarstan, I've always put a compressor right after the tuner...basically first. After that I have the BD-2, and finish up with the RC Booster. I think that is standard procedure, but whatever the case, it sounds best early in the chain to my ears.
|
|
|
Post by guitarstan on Sept 16, 2006 11:13:35 GMT -7
madison, reason I asked is because Keeley recommends placing his comp after OD or boosters which is different than other comps. Check this out www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=14Let me know what you think... Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by billyguitar on Sept 16, 2006 13:58:36 GMT -7
I understand his point but it still sounds unnatural to me for the comp to be after the o/d.
|
|
|
Post by Bill on Sept 16, 2006 14:03:23 GMT -7
madison, reason I asked is because Keeley recommends placing his comp after OD or boosters which is different than other comps. Check this out www.robertkeeley.com/product.php?id=14Let me know what you think... Thanks! Glad you asked...the Keeley comp arrived a couple hours ago! Talk about service...the day I shipped the TR-2 back, he sent out the compressor...didn't even wait for the tremolo to arrive at his shop, Keeley is some of the best service I've ever seen. Back to your question: I immediately read Robert's notes about placing the comp after the BD-2, and before the RC Booster. What happens is, by doing it Robert's way, it is great for "in the house" playing. Sounds and responds okay, but the comp is killing the dynamics of the BD-2. It would never work for me this way in a band enviornment, but may be an option for noodling or recording in the house. Going back to putting the compressor FIRST, I was much happier...lots more volume and dynamic range with the OD AND boost. Also I went in and changed the attack trim to better fit my style, and to get closer to mimicing the Barber. Soooooo, I *think* this pedal will be top 'o the pyramid in a long long list of compressors...but as always, until I try it with a band around me, I'll hold that decision for a while! One thing is fairly certain at this point: The combo of Keeley comp + BD-2 is a killer team...Robert must have spent some time on this...clearly is a better matchup than Barber + BD-2. FWIW, I've pretty much settled on Level at noon, Sustain at 3:00...obviously like a little country squish in my diet! And this is with the Stingray.
|
|
|
Post by guitarstan on Sept 16, 2006 15:13:38 GMT -7
I see I am going to have to get me a BD-2 w/Keeley mod followed by experimentation. Thanks for your input +karma for ya...
|
|