Guitar World Verdict
Robert Keeley has taken the basic Klon architecture and come up with something with much more versatility in a pedalboard-friendly package. There’s that traditional Klon voice, but there’s also another version with more gain in a pedal that has plenty of adaptability to various amp and guitar combinations.
Pros
- +
Compact size
- +
Accurate Klon sounds
- +
Transistor mode for more saturation
- +
Extra bass if needed
Cons
- -
Nothing
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What is it?
Once a particular drive pedal has been established as an icon of guitar tone, it’s inevitable that other manufacturers will spawn copies and evolved versions.
While we’re still witnessing new variations on the Tube Screamer and Bluesbreaker, it seems like the Klon Centaur has been in the ascendant these last few years, spawning the alliterative ‘Klon Klone’ as a whole new genre.
Of course, an exact clone isn’t necessarily what’s on offer, bearing in mind the difficulty in matching precisely the so-called ‘magic’ diodes of an original.
So what we have instead are variations on the theme, and the most interesting of those are the ones that can match the original sound but increase the versatility by adding new features. The Keeley Manis falls firmly into that latter camp: a Klon-type pedal with a twist, adding an inspired option of using transistors as an alternative to the stock clipping diodes.
Specs
- PRICE: £209
- ORIGIN: USA
- TYPE: Voltage-doubled hard clipping clean boost pedal
- FEATURES: Selectable True/Buffered Bypass
- CONTROLS: Tone, Drive Level, Bass+/Stock switch, Ge Trans/Ge Diode switch, bypass footswitch
- CONNECTIONS: Standard input, standard output
- POWER: 9V-18V DC adaptor (not supplied) 15mA
- DIMENSIONS: 70 (w) x 127 (d) x 67mm (h)
- CONTACT: Keeley Electronics
Usability and sounds
Sporting the expected Tone, Level and Drive three-knob configuration, the Manis has a pair of two-way toggle switches for a total of four sonic combinations.
One switches between the germanium diodes and transistors, while the other brings in a bass boost with an extra 3dB of low-end that adds girth to the sound and is a particularly potent resource if you’d like something a bit beefier from your single coils.
Both switches down (diodes and no extra bass) is the setting for the sound of an original Klon and, to our ears, nails it.
The Volume knob has loads in reserve if needed, but from about 10 o’clock and with a little on the Drive knob you find the signature cleanish boost with midrange enhancement that many will use this pedal for. Further advancement of the Drive knob yields some very natural open-sounding driven tones.
Switching to the transistor mode there’s more of a valve-like feel as those driven tones become a little more saturated and compressed. This is very natural overdrive that’s more squashy under the fingertips and lends itself to playing styles that would benefit from a richer sound.
Verdict
Verdict: ★★★★★
Guitar World verdict: Robert Keeley has taken the basic Klon architecture and come up with something with much more versatility in a pedalboard-friendly package. There’s that traditional Klon voice, but there’s also another version with more gain in a pedal that has plenty of adaptability to various amp and guitar combinations.
Hands-on videos
Keeley Electronics
AndyDemoes
Brett Kingman
- “Has J. Rockett built the ultimate Klon clone?: J. Rockett Archer Select review
- This article first appeared in Guitarist. Subscribe and save.
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