It takes three things to be a truly remarkable guitar pedal maker: engineering chops, guitar chops, and the ability to translate between raw circuitry and the tone in your (or someone else's) head. Robert Keeley and his amazing team have these three things and much more, and they're what make Keeley pedals so amazing. Surpassing 16 years in the business and the release of 90 pedals, Robert Keeley Engineering has more than made a name for itself, and their products continue to pass the test of time.
From modifying his father's '70s Peavey Deuce amplifier to overseeing the development of over 90 guitar pedals, Robert Keeley has taken a wild ride through the world of guitar effects. Some of Keeley's earlier designs, such as their original Compressor, multi-effect Dark Side, and shoegaze-inspired Loomer, gained a cult following, paving the way for their most popular pedals today. At the same time, several Keeley pedal mods became legendary among discerning guitarists, including modifications to the BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, and the Dunlop Cry Baby wah.
All told, Keeley's reputation has only grown over the years, starting off as the boutique pedals of choice for artists including Brad Paisley, Peter Frampton, Primus, and many others. Today, Keeley is one of the top guitar effects pedal makers out there, with products such as the Compressor Plus, D&M Drive, Aria Compressor + Drive, and many other first-in-class pedals. The custom shop is still thriving too, with new mods coming out regularly. Many of us at Sweetwater have Keeley modded pedals and absolutely love them, and their stock pedals are staples of our own rigs.
