The Keeley GC-2 is a Keeley compressor pedal, currently around $169.15. Close alternatives include the HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor Retro and the Walrus Audio Deep Six Compressor V3. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Mark I and the Synergy SL2 Module.
Keeley GC-2
Keeley · pedal
The Keeley GC-2 Limiting Amplifier is a studio-grade opto-optical compressor pedal from Keeley Electronics (Edmond, Oklahoma), modeled after the LA-2A style optical compressor limiting amplifier for smooth, transparent gain control and dynamic limiting. The GC-2 provides studio-quality opto compression with Threshold, Output, and Blend controls for natural, musical dynamic control at Keeley boutique quality.
- optical
- studio
- boutique
- transparent
- electronic
- compression
- compressor
- recording
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Keeley GC-2 is commonly used in
- Electronic
- Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country Pop
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Keeley GC-2
Mesa Boogie Mark I
Mesa Boogie
17% matchInto a transparent tone, Mesa Boogie Mark I brings the mid-forward it's missing
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Egnater Tweaker 88 Head gives it low gain to fill it with
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone 2202H's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchRun Friedman Jose LTD into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Warp 7's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Bad Cat Lynx 50
Bad Cat
tonal matchBad Cat Lynx 50's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the Keeley GC-2
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals
19% matchRun JHS Smiley into that transparent platform and it finally gets some fuzzy
EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas
EarthQuaker Devices
19% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas gives it high gain to fill it with
Fender Hammertone Reverb
Fender
7% matchKeep Fender Hammertone Reverb after Keeley GC-2 in the signal chain, clear of Keeley GC-2's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb
Alexander Pedals
7% matchPut Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb after Keeley GC-2 in the signal chain, clear of Keeley GC-2's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchKeeley GC-2 leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Tone City Dry Martini wants
Fender Hammertone Overdrive
Fender
tonal matchInto Keeley GC-2, Fender Hammertone Overdrive is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchRun Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 into that transparent platform and it finally gets some fuzzy
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
tonal matchAshdown Geezer Butler Signature is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Keeley GC-2 gives it exactly that
Cheaper alternatives
Mojo Gear Orange Compressor (Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer Clone)
Mojo Gear
72% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
Providence VLC-1 Velvet Comp
Providence
71% similarityShared character: compressor, studio, transparent
FTelettronica Mars Compressor
Ftelettronica
70% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, transparent
Carl Martin Classic Opto-Compressor
Carl Martin
70% similarityShared character: dynamic_control, compressor, compression
Greer Lamplighter Optical Compressor
Greer
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Albuquerque's Flat line compressor
Albuquerque S
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor Retro
Homebrew
78% similarityShared character: dynamic_control, compressor, compression
Walrus Audio Deep Six Compressor V3
Walrus Audio
72% similarityShared character: compressor, studio, transparent
Suhr Koji Comp
Suhr
69% similarityShared character: compressor, compression, studio
Orange King Komp Compressor
Orange
69% similarityShared character: compressor, studio, transparent
NuX Sculpture
Nux
66% similarityShared character: dynamic_control, compressor, compression
Keeley Classic Keeley Compressor
Keeley
97% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Keeley GC-2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Keeley GC-2?+
The closest matches in character are the HomeBrew Electronics CPR Compressor Retro, the Walrus Audio Deep Six Compressor V3, the Suhr Koji Comp. Budget picks: Mojo Gear Orange Compressor (Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer Clone), Providence VLC-1 Velvet Comp, FTelettronica Mars Compressor. Boutique upgrades: J. Rockett IQ Compressor, Walrus Audio Mira.
What pairs well with the Keeley GC-2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Mark I, Synergy SL2 Module, Friedman BE-Mini Head — Into a transparent tone, Mesa Boogie Mark I brings the mid-forward it's missing.
How much does the Keeley GC-2 cost?+
Around $169.15 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
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