The Keeley DCR, announced in September 2019, is a two-channel pedal with a drive on the left side and a Chorus/Flanger or Rotary/Vibrato effect on the other1. It follows the same principle as Keeley's DDR, which combined overdrive, delay and reverb in one enclosure, but here the second half is modulation instead of time-based effects2. The drive channel feeds into the modulation section, which blends into your choice of modulation effect2.
Keeley describes the DCR's drive as a "highly saturated, perfectly compressed, tube-gain tone"2. Delicious Audio called the whole pedal "an easy drop-in for a rhythm or chord work pedal"1, and Gearnews' reviewer wrote that it has "a bit more character" than the DDR3.
What the drive side does
The drive channel is a high-saturation stacked drive with Volume, Drive and Tone controls1. A Style switch toggles between two drive flavors: tube-amp crunch and a lead-channel type with sustain6. Keeley describes the tube-amp crunch mode as a highly saturated drive with plenty of range6.
The two drive profiles work differently. One is full-range and highly saturated, while the other combines a slight shelf filter and a low-pass filter for tube warmth and thickness2.
| Control or switch | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume, Drive, Tone | Level, gain and tonal shaping for the drive channel1 |
| Style switch | Toggles between tube-amp crunch and a lead-channel type with sustain6 |
What the modulation side does
The modulation section offers two types of modulation, selected by a Chorus/Rotary switch6: a chorus/flanger, or a rotary-speaker swirl4. With rotary selected, a secondary switch chooses between Vibra and Les modes to create a vintage organ tone6.
Keeley describes the chorus as thick and doubling, and the flanger's tone as "syrupy"6. The company's rotary speaker tones are known for being lush and EQ'd in a way that captures the magic of 3D mechanical choruses1. Pedal of the Day found you can create "thick, modulated tones, big, lush rotary sounds, powerful organ emulation and much more with these modes"4.
| Modulation mode | Character, per Keeley and reviewers |
|---|---|
| Chorus | Thick and doubling6 |
| Flanger | "Syrupy" tone6 |
| Rotary, Vibra mode | Vintage organ tone6 |
| Rotary, Les mode | Vintage organ tone6 |
Using the two sections together
The DCR has two independent sections, drive and modulation, each toggled by a dedicated footswitch6. The left footswitch activates the chorus/rotary effect and the right footswitch toggles the drive tones on and off3, so you can run either side alone or both at once.
The input and output jacks double as TRS inserts, allowing you to insert any effect between the drive and chorus sections4. Guitar World also notes the TRS effects loop as a way to insert other effects between the drive and modulation5.
The drive channel always feeds into the modulation section in the internal signal chain2, so the order of the two halves is fixed unless you use the TRS insert loop to patch something in between.
DCR versus DDR
The DDR, Keeley's earlier two-in-one, combined overdrive, delay and reverb in one enclosure2. The DCR takes the same two-section idea but replaces the delay and reverb with modulation: chorus/flanger and rotary6. Gearnews' reviewer much preferred the sound and concept of the DCR compared to the previous DDR, finding it had a bit more character overall3.
Delicious Audio also heard a circuit lineage beyond the DDR, writing that the DCR combines the drive and chorus combo experience of the Ibanez Sesh-Man with the thick modulated tone of the old TC line cord choral/flange or the unique tone-stamp of a rotary speaker, in a visual nod to the Ibanez pedal1.
On the board and in the chain
The top-mounted jacks make fitting the DCR onto any pedalboard easy4. The true bypass circuitry keeps your original tone intact even when the effect is bypassed4. The pedal is made in the USA2, and Delicious Audio notes it is designed and manufactured in what the company calls Sub-Tropical Oklahoma1.
Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the build quality "second-to-none", adding that the pedal "will most likely outlast its owner"4.
"As always, the build quality coming from the Keeley Electronics folks is second-to-none, which also means that your DCR will most likely outlast you, providing a lifetime of enjoyment."
Videos
Mike Hermans
Pedal of the Day
Sean Pierce Johnson
Questions
What effects are in the Keeley DCR?
The DCR combines three effects in one pedal: a drive channel, and a modulation section that offers either a chorus/flanger or a rotary speaker swirl. The rotary side has Vibra and Les modes for creating a vintage organ tone. The drive channel feeds into the modulation section, so the two halves work together in one signal chain.
Can you use the drive and modulation sections separately?
Yes. The DCR has two independent sections, drive and modulation, each toggled by its own dedicated footswitch. The left footswitch activates the chorus/rotary effect and the right footswitch toggles the drive on and off, so you can run either side alone or both together.
Is the Keeley DCR true bypass?
Yes. The DCR uses true bypass switching, so your original tone stays intact when the effect is bypassed. Its input and output jacks also double as TRS inserts, letting you patch another effect in between the drive and chorus sections.
What is the difference between the Keeley DCR and DDR?
The DDR combined overdrive, delay and reverb in one enclosure, while the DCR swaps the time-based effects for modulation, combining drive with chorus/flanger and rotary. Gearnews' reviewer preferred the sound and concept of the DCR over the DDR, finding it had a bit more character.
Does the DCR have a real rotary speaker sound?
It is a rotary speaker simulation rather than a real rotating cabinet. Keeley's rotary tones are described as lush and EQ'd to capture the magic of 3D mechanical choruses, with Vibra and Les modes aimed at vintage organ tones. Reviewers found the rotary sounds big and lush.
Sources (6)
- Keeley DCR Drive + Chorus + Rotary, Delicious Audio, 2020-11-04
- Keeley Electronics invites drive, chorus and rotary to the party with the DCR pedal, MusicRadar, 2019-09-03
- Keeley's new DCR pedal gives you Drive, Chorus and Rotary effects, gearnews.com, 2019-09-03
- Keeley Electronics DCR Drive Chorus Rotary, Pedal of the Day, 2020-04-25
- Keeley combines Drive, Chorus and Rotary for versatile new DCR pedal, Guitar World, 2019-09-03
- Keeley’s DCR is a drive, chorus and rotary pedal rolled into one, Guitar.com, 2019-09-04
