The Keeley Electronics Monterey Special Custom Germanium is a special edition of the regular Monterey, combining a fuzz channel with a three-mode modulation section covering vibrato, rotary speaker and wah-style effects. Pedal of the Day reviewed it in August 2016, calling it "yet another shining example of the great effects that Keeley Electronics continue to put out"1. Like the rest of the range, it is hand-built and tested in Edmond, Oklahoma1.
The fuzz channel
The fuzz side of the pedal carries Level and Fuzz controls and is designed, in Pedal of the Day's words, to give off "a rich, smooth, full, classic two transistor fuzz tone"1. Although the pedal is billed as a germanium fuzz, the fuzz channel uses modern Fairchild gain transistors, and the reviewer found the resulting tones responsive and dynamic1.
"Equally at home with single coils or humbuckers, this is a nice fuzz, and it sounds even better when mixed with the modulation section."
One practical point for players who have owned older germanium gear: the review notes these fuzz tones "aren't affected by temperature the way past germanium-related pedals have been known to display," which addresses the seasonal drift germanium circuits are known for1.
The three modulation modes
A small, centrally located three-way toggle selects between the pedal's three main modes1.
| Mode | What it does | Key controls |
|---|---|---|
| Kool Vibe | Lush vibrato, very deep and rich, able to reach trippy, psychedelic, phaser-like sounds | Octave adds doubling and synth-like sounds |
| Les Rotary | Leslie rotating speaker emulator, simulating both the lower drum and upper horn sections of the original cabinets, also doing doubling and chorus sounds | Octave controls the volume of the horn or tweeter sounds for mixing |
| Harmonic Wah | Part cocked wah, part auto wah, part tremolo wah | Depth and Rate create envelope filter, harmonic tremolo and more |
Pedal of the Day called Les Rotary "a fantastic Leslie rotating speaker emulator"1, and reserved particular praise for the wah section: "Our favorite mode of the Monterey Special is the Harmonic Wah section, which is like nothing we've seen yet"1.
Expression pedal control
Beyond the panel controls, the Monterey Special Custom has an expression jack. It can be used as a regular foot-controlled wah, and it can also control the Rate of the Kool Vibe or Les Rotary settings, letting a player sweep the speed of those effects by foot1. For players building around expression control, the pedal sits alongside Keeley's other experimental fuzzes such as the Fuzz Bender and the Psi Fuzz, and the broader fuzz and vibrato categories cover the effect types it combines.
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Questions
What are the three modes on the Monterey Special Custom Germanium?
A centrally located three-way toggle selects between Kool Vibe, Les Rotary and Harmonic Wah. Kool Vibe is a lush, deep vibrato that can reach psychedelic, phaser-like sounds. Les Rotary emulates a Leslie rotating speaker, covering both the lower drum and upper horn of the original cabinets. Harmonic Wah blends cocked wah, auto wah and tremolo wah characters, with Depth and Rate shaping envelope filter and harmonic tremolo sounds.
Can an expression pedal be used with the Monterey?
Yes. The pedal has an expression jack that can be used as a regular foot-controlled wah, and it can also control the Rate of the Kool Vibe or Les Rotary settings, so you can sweep the speed of those effects by foot while playing.
Is the germanium fuzz affected by temperature?
According to Pedal of the Day's review, the fuzz tones in the Special Custom are not affected by temperature the way past germanium-related pedals have been known to be. The fuzz channel uses modern Fairchild gain transistors, which the reviewer described as responsive and dynamic.
How is the Monterey Special Custom different from the regular Monterey?
The Special Custom is a special edition version of the regular Monterey, with the germanium voicing as its distinguishing feature. The fuzz channel is designed to produce a rich, smooth, full, classic two-transistor fuzz tone, and the pedal otherwise follows the Monterey formula of fuzz plus a three-mode modulation section.
Where is the Keeley Monterey built?
The pedal is hand-built and tested in Edmond, Oklahoma, by Keeley Electronics.
What does the Octave control do in Kool Vibe mode?
In Kool Vibe mode, the Octave control adds in doubling and synth-like sounds on top of the vibrato. Note that the Octave control works differently in Les Rotary mode, where it sets the volume of the horn or tweeter sounds so you can blend the mix to taste.
Sources (2)
- Keeley Electronics Monterey Special Custom Germanium Pedal of the Day, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2016-08-18
- Keeley Electronics Monterey Special Custom Germanium, Pedal of the Day, 2016-08-13
