Keeley DS-1 sounds overcompressed

[Screaming Solo]

I love the sound my DS-1 gives for boosting solos, but the compression is just way too much. What's the best way to lower the amount of compression I'm getting?

I modded my DS-1 to Keeley Ultra specs, with the exception of one cap value to decrease the bass output

[5150]

Might want to tinker a bit with the clipping diodes - adding another diode (or pair) to make it more asymmetrical and raise the clipping level might help, so I'd recommend going down to Radio Shack (or Mouser, or Small Bear, as some around here consider Radio Shack to be the Antichrist, Benito Mussolini, and peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth, all at the same time), getting a 69 cent pair of 1n4003 silicon diodes, and adding them to whatever you may have in the clipping section (make sure they're going in the same direction).  This will significantly increase the amount of signal that needs to go through before the signal clips, and this will give you a more open, less compressed sound.

LEDs will also work, as will zeners, rectifiers, schottkys... and on and on.  Might as well pick up a couple toggle switches and start experimenting.  Fortunately, Boss cases aren't too hard to drill through, so toggle away.  Good luck.

Jeff

[Screaming Solo]

thanks alot man, i'm going to have to try that

[mojotron]

The other thing you could try is to lower the values of the caps closer to the input by approximately 10-20% - only the caps that are swapped out in this mod - this restricts the signal that is clipped.

I found that this helps if the sound is too compressed as well as too thick - which I thought the Keely mods sounded like with my other gear.

[RollingElbow]

Where can one find the specs for modding to the Keeley DS-1 Ultra mod anyway?