Which Keeley Mod???

Higgs F. Boson · March 25th, 2008, 04:07 PM

I've got a DS-1, Blues Driver, and late-model RAT, all stock. I like em all, but then again they could all probably be improved a little. The Blues Driver and the DS-1 are both really trebly, esp. with a stock Tele, and the RAT really attenuates the bass, and overall I find it just gets lost in the mix at gig volume. It's interesting as a fuzz but not really useable as a general-purpose distortion in a live setting, as is.

Thinking about having one or more modded by Keeley. Anybody have all three of these Keeley-modded? Wondering which one will benefit the most...

reverberocket2 · March 25th, 2008, 04:24 PM

I have a Monte Alums H2O modded BD-2. It's a killer pedal

In my opinion modding a Blues Drive takes it from a pretty good overdrive that's a bit harsh to a great one that is very usable as boost with slight hair or as a crunch sound at both bedroom and stage volumes.

The Monte Alums, Keeley and Indy guitarist Blues Driver mods are all good and pretty similar - listen to clips decide which one will suit you best

hollowman · March 25th, 2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reverberocket2

In my opinion modding a Blues Drive takes it from a pretty good overdrive that's a bit harsh to a great one that is very usable as boost with slight hair or as a crunch sound at both bedroom and stage volumes.

+1

this pedal gets most of the work on my board. very useful, great crunch, you can dial in a variety of tones, very quiet pedal too! I also have the Keeley DS-1 which is better for a distortion, but much better than the stock boss DS-1. depending on your needs, I'd go with the BD.

franchelB · March 25th, 2008, 07:43 PM

I didn't use the "Keeley mod", but I had a friend use "indyguitarist" mod for my Boss DS1...I CANNOT believe how good this DS1 sounds now...IT'S THAT GOOD!

FWIW, I liked the sound of a stock Blues Driver, and the DS1. I just don't care for the RAT. As for my sound, I prefer to have the sound of a DS1.

BellyBoy · March 25th, 2008, 08:11 PM

I have the BD2 Phat Mod and the DS1 Ultra Mod love em both... for humbuckers I prefer the BD2 ..for the tele I really like the DS1 Ultra mod.
Email Keeley and ask questions, they are great about answering questions and giving info that helps... tell them what you are using as far as guitars etc.... they are great at helping out!

hxchip · March 25th, 2008, 11:12 PM

The DS-1 mods sound amazing! I've got one and it totally smokes! My favorite part though is how great of an "edge of breakup" sound I can get by rolling back the gain and increasing the level to match. Very versatile pedal now.

weiner71 · March 25th, 2008, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franchelB

I didn't use the "Keeley mod", but I had a friend use "indyguitarist" mod for my Boss DS1...I CANNOT believe how good this DS1 sounds now...IT'S THAT GOOD!

FWIW, I liked the sound of a stock Blues Driver, and the DS1. I just don't care for the RAT. As for my sound, I prefer to have the sound of a DS1.

I couldn't agree more. I spend $35 on the info from brian (indyguitarist) to mod around 100 different pedals. Less than i would have spent to have one pedal mod'd from keeley. In the version of the indyguitarist catalog that i have there are 2 of he keeley mod's for the blues driver.

Honestly i didn't even know how to solder prior to purchasing the info.

BTW.....I am not affiliated with Brian Wampler or indyguitarist but i did purchase the plexidrive pedal from the and I am currently waiting for it.

Higgs F. Boson · March 26th, 2008, 04:36 PM

Thanks all - I checked out the Monte Allums website and after listening to his mp3's I think I'm going to start there with the RAT mod. $20 - you can't beat that! Plus I enjoy soldering stuff, although I haven't actually done it in awhile...

Al Watsky · March 30th, 2008, 10:12 PM

i have a ds1 and the bd2 both with keeley mods . both sound fine as in real good. old pedals shouldn't be tinkered with , rats from the 80's should be left alone, newer ones ? who cares ? keeley has great service , great product , reasonable prices, fast turnaround.
I couldn't find a thing not to like. doesn't make me a nickel to say so.
have a few other keeley'ed products they all rock hard.

geddyleedog · March 31st, 2008, 06:58 AM

I had a Keeley DS-1 and a Keeley RAT. The DS-1 was fantastic! I did not like the RAT though. To my ears the RAT sounded much better stock and the mods made it really mushy.

You won't be sorry with the Monte Allums modded RAT. I absolutely love mine! Having said that, I remember I went back and replaced one of the stock resistors that was replaced with a new one in the mod. I wish I could remember which one it was and why I did it, but I can't recall it.

What's awesome about the Monte Allums mod is that he tells you what each replacement part does. So for instance, you might put in a resistor, he tells you what that resistor is doing (maybe more bass or distortion). Well, once you're done modding, and you listen to the pedal and you think it has too much bass or distortion, you can go back and just put the old part back in.

March 25th, 2008, 04:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Higgs F. Boson TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Age: 34 Posts: 69	Which Keeley Mod??? I've got a DS-1, Blues Driver, and late-model RAT, all stock. I like em all, but then again they could all probably be improved a little. The Blues Driver and the DS-1 are both really trebly, esp. with a stock Tele, and the RAT really attenuates the bass, and overall I find it just gets lost in the mix at gig volume. It's interesting as a fuzz but not really useable as a general-purpose distortion in a live setting, as is. Thinking about having one or more modded by Keeley. Anybody have all three of these Keeley-modded? Wondering which one will benefit the most...

March 25th, 2008, 07:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
franchelB Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Irving, United States of Texas! Age: 43 Posts: 1,862	I didn't use the "Keeley mod", but I had a friend use "indyguitarist" mod for my Boss DS1...I CANNOT believe how good this DS1 sounds now...IT'S THAT GOOD! FWIW, I liked the sound of a stock Blues Driver, and the DS1. I just don't care for the RAT. As for my sound, I prefer to have the sound of a DS1. __________________ Feel free to visit my homepage! http://www.myspace.com/francisbalagtas

March 25th, 2008, 08:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
BellyBoy Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chula Vista, Ca Age: 48 Posts: 577	I have the BD2 Phat Mod and the DS1 Ultra Mod love em both... for humbuckers I prefer the BD2 ..for the tele I really like the DS1 Ultra mod. Email Keeley and ask questions, they are great about answering questions and giving info that helps... tell them what you are using as far as guitars etc.... they are great at helping out! __________________ http://www.johnnymannion.com http://www.myspace.com/johnnymannionband

March 31st, 2008, 06:58 AM	#10 (permalink)
geddyleedog Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 583	I had a Keeley DS-1 and a Keeley RAT. The DS-1 was fantastic! I did not like the RAT though. To my ears the RAT sounded much better stock and the mods made it really mushy. You won't be sorry with the Monte Allums modded RAT. I absolutely love mine! Having said that, I remember I went back and replaced one of the stock resistors that was replaced with a new one in the mod. I wish I could remember which one it was and why I did it, but I can't recall it. What's awesome about the Monte Allums mod is that he tells you what each replacement part does. So for instance, you might put in a resistor, he tells you what that resistor is doing (maybe more bass or distortion). Well, once you're done modding, and you listen to the pedal and you think it has too much bass or distortion, you can go back and just put the old part back in. __________________ (.o)==:::

March 25th, 2008, 04:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
reverberocket2 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 355	I have a Monte Alums H2O modded BD-2. It's a killer pedal In my opinion modding a Blues Drive takes it from a pretty good overdrive that's a bit harsh to a great one that is very usable as boost with slight hair or as a crunch sound at both bedroom and stage volumes. The Monte Alums, Keeley and Indy guitarist Blues Driver mods are all good and pretty similar - listen to clips decide which one will suit you best

March 25th, 2008, 11:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
hxchip TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lilburn, GA Age: 23 Posts: 32	The DS-1 mods sound amazing! I've got one and it totally smokes! My favorite part though is how great of an "edge of breakup" sound I can get by rolling back the gain and increasing the level to match. Very versatile pedal now.

March 26th, 2008, 04:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
Higgs F. Boson TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Age: 34 Posts: 69	Thanks all - I checked out the Monte Allums website and after listening to his mp3's I think I'm going to start there with the RAT mod. $20 - you can't beat that! Plus I enjoy soldering stuff, although I haven't actually done it in awhile...

March 30th, 2008, 10:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Al Watsky TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New Jersey Age: 56 Posts: 92	i have a ds1 and the bd2 both with keeley mods . both sound fine as in real good. old pedals shouldn't be tinkered with , rats from the 80's should be left alone, newer ones ? who cares ? keeley has great service , great product , reasonable prices, fast turnaround. I couldn't find a thing not to like. doesn't make me a nickel to say so. have a few other keeley'ed products they all rock hard.