The Keeley Hooke Reverb is a digital reverb pedal from Keeley Electronics that combines spring reverb with tremolo and vibrato in one box. MusicRadar called it "an odd beast," and that is a fair description: it packs six modes, three on the front panel and three more hidden behind the back plate, ranging from a straight spring emulation to a fully wet organ-style patch built from octaves12.
The pedal's inspiration is the spring reverb found in vintage Fender amps, and its spring algorithm is based on a digital filter that samples different types of spectral delay filters34. It was made in the USA and launched in 2016 at $179 in the US and £149 in the UK32.
What it does: spring reverb and tremolo
The Hooke is a spring reverb and tremolo combination with several modes56. The three front-panel modes are:
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Spring | Reverb only6 |
| Trem-Verb | Emulation of the Black Face Trem-n-Verb6 |
| Fugue | All-wet spring reverb with octave up and down6 |
Delicious Audio also lists a Long Decay Trem-n-Verb and a Vibro-Spring among the pedal's modes5. The Trem-Verb setting emulates the tremolo-and-reverb pairing of the classic Black Face Fender amps, which is the territory the whole pedal draws from6.
Fugue mode is the unusual one. It is an all-wet spring reverb with octave up and octave down, aimed at organ-esque ambience62. MusicRadar's reviewer was not entirely sold on it, describing the first patch as "a fully wet organ sound made from an octave up and down that feels laggy and a bit out-of-place"1.
Controls
All of the modes are controlled through four knobs2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tone | Shapes the reverb's tone2 |
| Spring | Sets looser or tighter springs2 |
| Reverb | Adjusts reverb length; at zero the tremolo and vibrato run completely dry32 |
| Level | Sets output level32 |
The reverb control doubling as a dry-kill for the modulation side is the practical detail here: turn it to zero and the Hooke works as a straight tremolo or vibrato pedal3.
The hidden modes
Removing the back plate reveals an internal switch that unlocks two further spring reverb patches and a blend of spring and plate reverb1. MusicRadar put it plainly: take the back panel off, flick the onboard bank switch, and three more sounds are available2.
Three of the Hooke's six modes live behind the back plate. Getting to them means unscrewing the pedal and flipping an internal switch, so switching between the two banks mid-gig is not realistic.
What reviewers said
Reviews were broadly positive about the sound, with some reservations about the layout and price14.
MusicRadar's verdict highlighted the tremolo-reverb combination as the pedal's strength, calling the classic spring reverb patch "a solid piece of work" but naming the tremolo-reverb "the star of the show"1. Their overall take:
"A kooky pedal, for sure, but one well worth checking out."
MusicRadar review1
On the downside, MusicRadar noted the pedal is "not the cheapest," and questioned why the hidden internal patches are not accessible from the front panel, given their high quality1.
guitar.com's reviewer, Richard Purvis, focused on the spring realism:
"The spring reverb is admirably close to the real thing, with plenty of rhythmic judder, maybe too much for some tastes"3
Richard Purvis, guitar.com3
That rhythmic judder is the spring-boing character some players love and others find excessive, so it is worth knowing the Hooke leans into it rather than smoothing it away3.
Gearnews' Jef raised the same practical complaint as MusicRadar about the internal switch: "I would have preferred to be able to choose the internal settings without opening up the pedal"4.
Where it sits among Keeley reverbs
The Hooke is one of several reverb pedals in the Keeley range. Players comparing options today can also look at the Keeley Aurora, the Keeley Gold Star, the Keeley Nocturner, the Keeley Electronics Memphis Sun Lo-Fi Echo Reverb Double Tracker and the Keeley Electronics Realizer Reverberator 21st Anniversary. The Hooke's distinguishing feature remains the tremolo and vibrato integration, which most of those pedals do not offer263.
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Questions
How do you access the hidden modes on the Keeley Hooke?
Take the back panel off the pedal and flick the onboard bank switch. That unlocks three additional sounds beyond the three on the front panel, including two further spring reverb patches and a blend of spring and plate reverb. Reviewers liked these hidden patches but wished they were reachable without opening the pedal up.
Is the Keeley Hooke analog or digital?
It is digital. The spring reverb algorithm is based on a digital filter that samples different types of spectral delay filters, and reviewers describe the vintage Fender amp spring reverbs as this digital unit's inspiration. The aim is a realistic spring sound rather than an actual spring tank.
Is the Keeley Hooke true bypass?
Yes, the Hooke Reverb is true bypass, so with the pedal switched off your dry signal passes through without buffering. It runs on a 9V mains supply, which is not supplied with the pedal.
What is Fugue mode on the Keeley Hooke?
Fugue is an all-wet spring reverb with octave up and octave down components, designed for organ-esque ambience. MusicRadar described the first patch as a fully wet organ sound made from an octave up and down, though their reviewer found it felt laggy and a bit out of place on a guitar pedalboard.
Can you use the Hooke as just a tremolo?
Yes. The reverb control adjusts reverb length, and turning it to zero lets you run the tremolo and vibrato effects completely dry. MusicRadar called the tremolo-reverb the star of the show, so it works well as a tremolo pedal in its own right.
Sources (6)
- Keeley Hooke Reverb review, MusicRadar, 2017-10-26
- What the fugue? Keeley Electronics' Hooke Reverb pedal delivers organ reverb tones, MusicRadar, 2016-07-25
- Keeley Engineering Super Phat Mod & Hooke Reverb, guitar.com, 2017-10-04
- Can Keeley's Hooke Reverb pedal put a spring in your step?, www.gearnews.com, 2016-07-26
- Best Reverb Pedals With Tremolo In 2023, Delicious Audio (delicious-audio.com), 2023-05-11
- Keeley Hooke Spring Reverb, Delicious Audio, 2018-03-04
