DR Z EMS Boosted With Keeley GC2 Compressor Pedal

Quick demo of a Keeley GC-2 Limiting Amplifier Compressor Pedal used as a boost into a Dr Z EMS amplifier.
This compressor pedal has the DBX 160 chip in it, and I first learned about it listening to something Wendy Melvoin (Prince guitarist) did. Made me want to buy it. I have a few DBX 160 rack units (the X, XT, and A) and am a big fan of those for certain things, mainly kick and snare. They have a "snap" to their tone.
Just for fun, but maybe worth sharing. I've sort of found that if I get a sound out of an amp that crunches when I play hard and is pretty clean when I play light, then just smash the front end with something clean, it basically does everything I need to do in a rock context, and it's super simple.
The compressor is pretty much doing nothing except boosting volume. Ratio is almost 1:1, threshold is set to where it never engages unless I really play hard, and output volume is boosted a lot. Kind of like just turning the gain way up on the amp. The modulated delay is from a H9 pedal, basically the stock digital delay patch, and is plugged into the interface and basically doing a wet-dry-wet rig. Otherwise, it's guitar to amp with the Keeley as a boost.
The modulation at the end (the rush thing) is an EH small stone phaser that I think sounds great. Those are $85 new and I have no idea how I didn't find out about this until now. If you don't like a mxr phase 90 (I have 2), try this pedal. There are shades of Rush in it (I always thought that was an old maestro pedal), shades of Trower (always thought that was some odd setting on a vibe pedal), Gilmore is in there, and Frampton is in there too. Super cool pedal and not a lot of money. Highly recommended.
#drz #ems

[@JesseJamsRock]

Killer sound dude! Keep on rocking!!!

[@mikezaite1335]

Sweet boost

[@bob70drum62]

Another very cool video , thank you for sharing , have a nice weekend my friend !

[@AdamGotheridge]

Thank you, and you too!

[@josephpreissing1758]

all things goodness!

[@AdamGotheridge]

Thanks! 🙃

[@cemetarygates2800]

Gary approves.
Good to see ya bud!🤘🎸

[@AdamGotheridge]

Thanks, and nice to hear from you as well!

[@JoePerkinsMusic]

So much want for this amp!! Sounds awesome mate 👍

[@AdamGotheridge]

Thanks Joe! It's an awesome little angry and mean old-school amplifier, and I'm lucky to own one.

[@JoePerkinsMusic]

@@AdamGotheridge On my hit-list for sure!!

[@wooliegeek]

Scorpions is always a good choice for that tone. ❤

[@patmcwilliamsmusic]

Hi Adam, another great video. Love that EMS! I actually recently picked up a 2nd EMS head. This one is a couple years older than the one I already have. Seems the gain structure is slightly different from the 2017 to the 2019. Both sound amazing but the 2017 (in low gain with tube rectifier on) , the gain knob has to be substantially higher to achieve the same amount of drive as the 2019. Just wondering if you know if they have done any tweaks to the circuit over the years. Thanks

[@AdamGotheridge]

I'm 99% sure there were no tweaks. Maybe just different power in the tubes? Maybe the taper of the pots are a little different (I think that's normal for any device). Maybe also that they are a bit like guitars and no 2 are exactly the same? I wouldn't worry about it as long as you like the sound of it. And congrats on #2! It's a pretty cool amp.

[@tolga24]

🤘😎

[@jtbranman]

Great video, really good tone. How would you say that the pedal compares to the rack unit?

[@AdamGotheridge]

They sounds very similar. If you DI a guitar into a mic preamp and into the rack unit, it's basically the same as guitar to pedal to di to mic preamp.

[@jtbranman]

Thank you for letting me know. I appreciate it.

[@okaytastic6691]

Adam. Weird question but I have a Wreck quantum silver, Z Plus, Z Master and CAZ45. My question in 2 pointed, which of those would you let go due to overlap? And do you think the new Z80 or X-ray would be the better addition?

[@AdamGotheridge]

I haven't played 3 of those, but of the 2 soon to be released, I've had my hands on those, and I think both are quite a bit different than what you already own. Both of the new ones squarely being in the Vox tone camp, and both sound wonderful. I think if you wanted to try a new one and have to get rid of something to do that, maybe just get rid of the one you seem to bond the least with?
You have a killer collection already though. 🎸🤔

[@okaytastic6691]

It's hard haha... Thanks for your response :)@@AdamGotheridge

[@AdamGotheridge]

@@okaytastic6691You are most welcome! Good luck with the journey, it's really 1/2 the fun.