The Keeley Electronics I Get Around is a rotary speaker simulator pedal with built-in overdrive, built to conjure the sound of a Leslie rotating speaker cabinet from a stompbox. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley described it as a "rotary speaker simulator with overdrive" that provides "syrupy swirl and tube-style breakup in equal measure"1. It was released in summer 2024 as an exclusive for the U.S. retailer Sweetwater, timed to coincide with The Beach Boys documentary on Disney+, and it is limited to 1,000 units21.
Where it came from
The I Get Around is part of a collaboration between Keeley, JHS Pedals, and Benson amps dedicated to creating five limited-edition pedals paying tribute to The Beach Boys3. The Keeley and JHS units were each limited to 1,000 pieces1. The pedal takes its inspiration from the Leslie rotary speaker, a cabinet that was never built to be portable: Premier Guitar's review notes that the Leslie 981, one example of the breed, weighs nearly 150 pounds, which is why the rotary speaker pedal exists as an easy-on-the-back alternative for players chasing Leslie-derived guitar sounds3.
The controls
The pedal has three topside dials plus footswitch functions that go beyond them3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Sets the rate of simulated rotation, from .06 Hz to .6 Hz; extra-large knob sized for foot adjustment mid-song3 |
| Blend | Blends the rotary effect with the core guitar sound; effective from about 8 o'clock, and clockwise up to entirely eliminating the guitar sound3 |
| Drive | A subtle overdrive simulating a pushed 6550 and 12UA7 tube; adds grit from about 9 o'clock and rolls off top end past 2 o'clock3 |
| Slow-fast switch | Toggles between two speed settings; held down it stops the rotating speaker effect, which resumes when pressed again3 |
| On/off footswitch | Turns the effect on and off, and also selects true bypass or buffered mode3 |
The speed switch's ramp rate, meaning how quickly the rotation speeds up or slows down between settings, can be customized as well3. MusicRadar describes the same Brake feature as letting you stop the rotary effect on command1.
Speed range and stereo operation
The speed control spans .06 Hz to .6 Hz, with Premier Guitar noting that 1 Hz corresponds to one revolution per second3. The pedal is a stereo design with stereo inputs and outputs13, and Premier Guitar's reviewer called the stereo outs essential for getting the rotary effect across amps run in stereo3.
The I Get Around draws 130 mA from a 9V barrel connector3. That is a heavier draw than many compact pedals, so a supply with adequate per-output current matters.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's review noted the pedal's footprint, observing that at 5" x 4" x 2", the I Get Around is a little larger than the average stompbox3. The same review detailed the speed control's range of .06 Hz to .6 Hz, with 1 Hz being one revolution per second, which covers the rotation rates a player would want for Leslie-style sounds3. On pricing, the Sweetwater listing put the I Get Around at $254.15 USD3.
Related rotary pedals
Players comparing the I Get Against with other rotary simulators on the site may also look at the Strymon Lex, the Electro-Harmonix Lester G Deluxe, the Neo Instruments Ventilator, the Boss RT-20 Rotary Ensemble, and the Tech 21 RotoChoir. The broader category is covered on the Speaker Simulation Pedals page.
Videos
Sweetwater
Brett Kingman
Brett Kingman
Questions
Does the Keeley I Get Around work in mono?
The I Get Around has stereo inputs and outputs, and Premier Guitar's reviewer called the stereo outs essential for getting the full rotary effect through amps run in stereo. The pedal is built as a stereo design, so running it into a single amp gives you only part of what the effect is meant to do. For the complete swirling sound, feed it a stereo rig or stereo rig components.
Is the Keeley I Get Around true bypass?
Yes, and it is selectable. The on/off footswitch also works to choose between true bypass and buffered mode, so you can set the pedal to suit the rest of your board. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted this dual function of the on/off switch in their review of the pedal.
How much current does the Keeley I Get Around draw?
The I Get Around is powered by a 9V barrel connector and draws 130 mA, according to Premier Guitar's review. That is more than many compact pedals draw, so it is worth checking your power supply's per-output budget before adding it to a daisy-chained setup.
What Leslie is the I Get Around modeled on?
The pedal is modeled on the Leslie rotary speaker, and Premier Guitar's review points to the Leslie 981 as an example of the real thing, noting that a 981 weighs nearly 150 pounds. The pedal aims to conjure Leslie-derived guitar sounds without the weight of the original cabinets.
What is the speed range of the Keeley I Get Around?
The speed control's range is .06 Hz to .6 Hz, with Premier Guitar noting that 1 Hz equals one revolution per second. The ramp rate of the speed switch can also be customized, and the extra-large speed knob is sized for foot adjustment while playing.
Is the Keeley I Get Around still available?
The pedal was released in summer 2024 as an exclusive offering for the U.S. retailer Sweetwater, timed to coincide with The Beach Boys documentary on Disney+. It was limited to 1,000 units as part of a five-pedal Beach Boys tribute collaboration between Keeley, JHS Pedals, and Benson amps, so availability depends on remaining stock.
Sources (3)
- “This will take your tone straight back to the days when Good Vibrations and Fun, Fun, Fun ruled the airwaves!”: Sweetwater teams up with JHS Pedals, Benson Amps and Keeley Electronics for The Beach Boys Studio Effects Collection, MusicRadar, 2024-05-14
- Keeley's Mind-Blowing Octa Psi Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2024-09-24
- Keeley I Get Around Review, Premier Guitar, 2024-09-03
