The Keeley KO-ALS is a distortion pedal with a purpose beyond tone: Keeley Electronics built it in 2014 to raise donations for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease1. It was announced as a joint collaboration between Robert Keeley and Peter Gusmano, and it is based on the Keeley Stahlhammer, Keeley's high-gain distortion circuit1. Only 100 units were made2.
Why it was made
Keeley Electronics announced the pedal in August 2014 as a fundraiser for ALS research. Premier Guitar's announcement stated that "it is building the KO-ALS distortion effect pedal to raise donations for ALS," and that "a donation of $30 will be made from each pedal purchase"1. The pedal went on sale on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at noon Central Time for $1791.
Circuit and controls
The KO-ALS takes the Keeley Stahlhammer as its starting point. Modifications to the circuit allow for a dual EQ system, which is why the pedal carries separate bass, mids and treble controls alongside the usual distortion and level knobs1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Distortion | Sets the amount of distortion |
| Level | Sets the output volume |
| Bass | Low EQ |
| Mids | Middle EQ |
| Treble | High EQ |
The five-knob layout comes from the dual EQ modification to the Stahlhammer circuit1.
Build and availability
The KO-ALS is a 100% hand-built pedal, made in the USA. Premier Guitar described it as housed in a beautifully powder-coated and rugged enclosure, built using the finest components and construction techniques1. Guitar Interactive Magazine noted that it features a 2-year limited lifetime warranty with world-class Keeley customer support2. Keeley is the Oklahoma-based builder behind pedals such as the Keeley El Rey Dorado and the Keeley Filaments High Gain Distortion3.
The KO-ALS was a limited edition of 100 units, announced in 20142. It is not part of Keeley's current lineup, and later Keeley distortion pedals such as the Keeley Angry Orange and Keeley Super Rodent come from different circuit families.
For more on the effect type, see Distortion Pedals.
Questions
Is the Keeley KO-ALS true bypass?
Yes. According to the Premier Guitar announcement, the KO-ALS includes true bypass switching, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes to the amplifier without going through the distortion circuit.
How much of the price goes to Project ALS?
A donation of $30 was made from each pedal purchase, according to Premier Guitar. The pedal sold for $179 at launch in August 2014, and the pedal was built specifically to raise donations for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
What is the Keeley KO-ALS based on?
The KO-ALS is based on the Keeley Stahlhammer, Keeley's high-gain distortion circuit. Modifications to that circuit allow for a dual EQ system, and the pedal carries controls for distortion, level, bass, mids and treble.
How many KO-ALS pedals were made?
The pedal was limited to 100 units, according to Guitar Interactive Magazine. It was announced as a 100% hand-built pedal, so the run was small even by limited-edition standards.
Where is the Keeley KO-ALS built?
The KO-ALS is hand-built in the USA by Keeley Electronics, the Oklahoma-based builder. Premier Guitar's announcement described it as built using the finest components and construction techniques.
Sources (3)
- Keeley Electronics Releases KO-ALS Distortion Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2014-08-29
- Keeley Electronics Release KO-ALS Distortion Effects Pedal, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2014-09-02
- New Pedal: Keeley Super AT Mod Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2023-05-12
