Keeley Electronics Introduces Compressor Plus Germanium

Keeley Electronics has launched the Compressor Plus Germanium pedal, the newest addition to Keeley’s line of iconic compressors. Built around the familiar Level, Tone, Compression, and Blend controls, this new design brings a fresh voice to a pedal that has been evolving for a quarter century.

At the heart of the Compressor Plus Germanium is a crucial germanium transistor. Keeley incorporates germanium into both the audio output section and the compressor’s side-chain feedback, bringing a new character and response to one of the company’s most enduring designs.

The pedal also includes a 2-position switch for adjusting the recovery time when using single coil or humbucking pickups. Recovery time is slower in the Single Coil setting, and faster in the Humbucker setting, allowing ideal feel and responsiveness for any guitar in your arsenal.

Built from start to finish at Keeley Electronics in Oklahoma City, the Compressor Plus Germanium also includes selectable true-bypass or Keeley silent buffered switching, rugged construction, and the classic compressor sound that has made Keeley the go-to choice for guitarists and bassists for a quarter century.

Compressor Plus Germanium features include:

• A Germanium Transistor at the heart of the new compressor circuit
• Germanium-enhanced audio output section for added character and musical response
• Germanium incorporated into the side-chain feedback circuit
• Classic Compressor Plus knobs: Level, Tone, Compression, and Blend control for mixing compressed and dry signals for greater control over feel and dynamics
• 2-position switch to optimize responsiveness and recovery time for single coil or humbucking pickups
• Switchable on the fly between true bypass and buffered bypass
• Operates at 9–18V DC for flexible pedalboard integration
• Designed and manufactured by Keeley Electronics in Oklahoma, USA

The Compressor Plus Germanium arrives as Keeley Electronics celebrates 25 years of building pedals for players who care deeply about sound. It all began in 2001 with Robert Keeley, a workbench, and a humble compressor pedal. What started as a pursuit of better compression became one of the defining products in Keeley’s history and helped establish the company during the early days of the boutique pedal movement.

Over the years, the Keeley Compressor continued to evolve. The original two-knob design gave way to the expanded four-knob Compressor, followed by the Compressor Plus, which brought Tone and Blend controls into the circuit and gave players greater control over sustain, attack, and the natural character of their instrument. By the time the Compressor Plus arrived in 2017, Keeley had built more than 50,000 compressors, making compression not simply part of the company’s history, but a fundamental part of its identity.

It feels only fitting to mark the company’s 25-year milestone by returning to where it all started. The Compressor Plus Germanium honors that beginning while carrying the Keeley Compressor forward for a new generation. Like every Keeley pedal, the Compressor Plus Germanium is designed and manufactured in Oklahoma, USA.

Keeley’s Compressor Plus Germanium carries a street price of $189. For more information visit robertkeeley.com.