Ultimate Klon Killer? The Keeley Manis Overdrive Demo with John Bohlinger | First Look
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With switches that add germanium transistors and a bass boost to the classic Klon formula, Keeley delivers a more flexible and often more potent overdrive.
The Keeley Manis uniquely combines both germanium NOS transistors and diodes for more compression and saturation. This evolution is unlike any other mythical Klone! Keeley writes the next chapter in the legend of the mythical Klone pedal with several storied upgrades and features. First up is the germanium diode switch. The essential germanium diodes are at the heart of the myth. By transposing germanium diodes with germanium transistors (Cold War-era devices), we increase the sustain and saturation in the pedal. The Manis can give you a softer attack that sounds more like
a tube amp. Less mid-forward, more tube-amp like. This feels incredible under your fingertips. Wouldn’t you like to hear a little more of the natural low end from your guitar? The bass boost switch pushes the lower half of the mid-focused response by one octave and increases the output by +3dB. It’s the perfect low end recovery for single coil guitars. You can choose True Bypass or Buffered Silent Switching on the fly. The Manis is built like a tank and is the first Klone you can power with 18 volts for increased headroom. The Manis is an evolution of the original circuit.
● The Manis isn’t just a mod: it’s an evolution of the mythical overdrive mid-boost pedal.
● Ge-Trans Switch offers a welcome difference in feel of the circuit with more of a tube-like
saturation and compression.
● The Bass+ Switch – Lowers the frequency response by one octave and then pushes 3dB harder
● True-Bypass or Silent Switching – Whichever works and sounds best in your rig
● Power Protection up to 18 volts for increased headroom – without damaging the charge pump.
Germanium Transistors
Central to the superior tone from the Manis Overdrive is the germanium transistors we select for increased saturation, compression, and sustain. Each transistor is tested for noise and accuracy ensuring you have an incredible tone.
Switchable Low Frequency Cutoff
The Manis Overdrive gives you just the perfect lift in bass response so that your tone is not as mid-focused. Perfect for making single coils fatter, fuller, and more powerful.
Buffered Bypass or True Bypass
The Keeley Manis Overdrive allows you to quickly switch between either mode. Having a great buffer will make your rig sound strong and clear even when the pedal is off. Buffered switching prevents the pops and clicks of true-bypass switching. If you want to turn on true-bypass, simply press and hold the foot switch for two seconds. Holding the switch for two seconds toggle between modes. True Bypass is great if a buffer might affect the tone of a vintage pedal. Enjoy truly silent switching and a better sounding rig
with Keeley’s buffered switching mode.
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0:00 – John Bohlinger Playing Intro
2:22 – John Bohlinger Intro
2:35 – Signal Chain
3:19 – Keeley Manis Design & Specs
4:45 – Keeley Manis GE Transistor Mode + PRS S2 Hollowbody Custom
6:50 – Keeley Manis GE Diode Mode + PRS S2 Hollowbody Custom
7:26 – Keeley Manis Drive Knob
8:33 – Keeley Manis Tone Knob
9:44 – Keeley Manis Bass+ Switch with 1969 Fender Telecaster Thinline
10:58 – Keeley Manis Ge Trans & GE Diode Loop Demo with Telecaster
13:17 – Keeley Manis Buffered Bypass or True Bypass Modes
13:41 – Keeley Manis with 2004 Fender Strat with EMG SL20 Pickups
16:00 – Final Thoughts
16:52 – John Bohlinger Playing Outro
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Originally posted by UC5J-hZ4wNf7OlkzIn49LHoQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvINlT5Sm5c
Shop the Pedal: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/aO4KQZ
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Even though Keeley has built a lot of pedals he is still a phenomenal tone genius that I am always blown away with.
Really enjoyed this review – both John's tasty playing and what may be my next pedal. I think Keeley knocked it out of the park with this one.
Voodoo mojo mysticism to put it honestly and bluntly. I'm a symphonic shred guy but the oddball in that I'm also a scientist in electronics engineering.
Everything I design and build isn't just original but it completely side steps any level of cookbook style designs let alone taking popular work and trying to reinvent it; which don't get me wrong, that works well but is still outdated.
It's like Germanium sounds great and I've used them plenty of times, but if I design something without ANY diodes and you hear it, you'll have preconceived notions that it's this, that or the other when it's none. Just some true overdriven transistors and advanced filter ideology that's never been used before. I get sounds that seem like Germanium diodes and transistors and yet it's just a common BJT and some Schottky diodes with the mind of a symphonic and thrash guitarist behind it.
I'm planning to launch my gear this December and when people open it up to see what I've done, it's going to change a lot of standards permanently.
After looking at thousands of schematics over the last 20+ years, there are so many missed opportunities for reasons I won't get into because they sometimes seem insulting, but ultimately practicality can really bottle neck progress for absurd lengths of time.
Akum's Razer meets the Flux Capacitor.
Can’t you see, can’t you see
What’s the difference between the silver & gold models? (GC Is selling the same pedal but in gold, what gives?)
Sounds great! ????????????
Killer Demo tones John!!! That Keeley can make some great sounding pedals!
I clicked the video just to hear John play.
You magical unicorn Love the shirt ????????????????!!
John, your playing and YouTube game are on ????!! How do y’all do your chapter markers below the video because that’s awesome
I have watched all the videos on the Manis and your is the one that got the most out of it- it is the best demo. Your a surprisingly good guitarst.
love the tone!
Sounds great!
Important question: does this pedal have a charge pump (like most Klon[e]s) that causes heterodyne noise when combined with digital effects such as Strymon’s Timeline?
Is it just me or is the audio distorting on the video when he turns up the transistor? Not the good kind of distortion
I own a couple Keeley overdrive pedals. A Luna and a Red Dirt. Love em both… Especially stacked into an AC30… Pisses off the neighbors, Real ???????????? Good.
Another great demo, John! Awesome TONES! Thanks! ????????
The Behringer is just as good for only a few dollars. Don't waste your money.
Another one????? I stopped at the bad monkey
Nice playing John Bollinger, Kudos
Isn't it really just the Andy Timmons pedal with more mids….think so.roberts getting bored.a klon?
John you kick ass player!!!!!!!
I think the pedal sounds great and I really like Robert Keeley and his products. I'm getting pretty tired of the number of Klon-inspired pedals coming out, but I'm glad Keeley put their own spin on it.
And that's how it's done….now let me get on with that purchase ????????????
The more reviews/demos I see of this pedal, the more I want one!!!
Beautiful playing!!!
Robert Keeley is a MAGAt and so is Brian Wampler.
Sounded great with the EMG Strat…. but not the other two – it was a discredit to the sound those guitars can make…
whaou!!! incredible!!! amazing!! something never made before: an overdrive (of course it is a klon centaur like OD) with nos coldwar germanium component!!!
it's a revolution!!!!! and for only 250 euros!!!!!
i'm going to buy 10 units cause i need it! i need it! i need it!
long live rig rundown!!!
just a question: sometimes are you not bowring to review same kind of pedals again and again and again?
Superb, sweet tones and playing – cheers ????
John is great and playing incredible as always but I can't say the same about that pedal. I mean Klon clones in general.
Digging the transistor
You know how you might pick up a guitar and a wise-ass say keep your day job? You're the opposite, John – quit the rig rundowns and interview stuff and do more videos where you're playing!