The Keeley Monterey Rotary Fuzz Vibe is a compact stompbox from Keeley that puts independent fuzz and modulation sections in one enclosure1. The modulation side produces rotary-speaker tones, and the pedal also carries fuzz and octave up/down circuitry, which makes it considerably more than a straightforward rotary emulator2. It was released in March 2016, almost 50 years after the 1967 Monterey Pop festival it is named after13.
The pedal is part of Keeley's Workstation series1. The first batch of 125 pedals sold out before the end of March 2016, with Keeley taking pre-orders for the next batch at an RRP of USD $299.00 plus tax and shipping3.
Two pedals in one box
The Monterey features two independent footswitches: one for the fuzz, the other for the modulation1. That means you can leave the fuzz off and use the rotary, vibe or wah on its own, run the fuzz alone, or stack the two. MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen summed up the appeal as "Large sound variation in a compact pedal; Hendrix-esque tones; independent switching for fuzz and modulation."1
Guitar Interactive Magazine described the fuzz channel's design goal:
"The fuzz channel has been designed to give you a rich, full, classic two-transistor fuzz sound that is accurate yet has a touch of smoothness added."
At the heart of the fuzz are vintage Fairchild Semiconductor transistors. These moderate-gain transistors are used rather than a germanium fuzz circuit4. MusicRadar describes the fuzz as silicon transistor-based1.
The controls
The six knobs on the front panel are labeled Level, Level (two level controls, one for each section), Octave, Fuzz, Depth and Rate3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level (fuzz) | Sets the fuzz section's output level1 |
| Fuzz | Sets the fuzz amount3 |
| Octave | Blends the octave up/down effect; can be used on its own or with the fuzz1 |
| Depth | Sets modulation depth; also shapes behavior in wah mode3 |
| Rate | Sets modulation speed, or is overridden by an expression pedal1 |
| Level (modulation) | Sets the modulation section's output level3 |
With the Depth knob turned right down, the Octave effect can be used on its own or with the fuzz1.
Rotary, vibe and wah modes
The modulation section offers a choice of three effects, rotary, vibe or wah, selected by a small three-way toggle switch13. Gearnews lists the three positions as Vibe, Leslie and Wah3.
Rotary gives what Curwen calls "a tasty approximation of a rotary speaker," with Depth and Rate setting the basic effect, or an expression pedal controlling the rate1. At minimum depth you get a cab with no rotation, so the facility can be used as a footswitchable tonal shift1.
Vibe may not use the optical circuitry of an original Uni-Vibe, but according to MusicRadar it gives a really accurate reproduction of the Uni-Vibe sound, with an expression pedal controlling speed vintage-style1.
Wah works two ways. Nudge the Depth knob up and you get an auto wah effect that responds dynamically to pick attack1. Past the 12 o'clock point on the Depth knob you get what Keeley calls "Harmonic Wah," which Curwen found is more tremolo than wah, close to vintage Fender "brownface" harmonic tremolo1.
Expression pedal and effect order
An expression pedal connected to the EXP input on the back controls the Rate of the rotary and vibe settings, and the frequencies in the wah setting4. In wah mode the expression pedal takes over from the Rate knob entirely, letting you sweep the frequencies for traditional foot-controlled wah1. Any expression pedal controller works4.
An internal switch sets the effect order, so the modulation can run before or after the fuzz1. Guitar Interactive notes the two channels can be configured to give five different sounds in total4.
Graphics and build
The Monterey comes in 12 different hand-made graphic designs, selected at random, so a buyer cannot choose a specific pattern34. All pedals are true bypass and hand-made in the USA by Keeley3.
The Monterey is not battery powered. You will need a standard 9V 100mA supply with a negative tip4.
Videos
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Questions
Can you change the order of the fuzz and the modulation on the Keeley Monterey?
Yes. An internal switch sets the effect order, so the modulation can run before or after the fuzz. The two sections also have their own footswitches, so each can be switched on and off independently while you play.
Does the Keeley Monterey take a battery?
No. The Monterey is not battery powered. It needs a standard 9V power supply delivering 100mA with a negative tip, the same arrangement as most modern 9V pedals.
Is the Keeley Monterey true bypass?
Yes. Gearnews reported that all the pedals in this hand-made Keeley run are true bypass, so with both sections switched off the signal passes through without buffering.
What expression pedal works with the Keeley Monterey?
Any standard expression pedal controller works. Plugged into the EXP input it controls the Rate of the rotary and vibe settings, and in wah mode it sweeps the frequencies directly, giving traditional foot-controlled wah behavior.
Can you choose the graphic on a Keeley Monterey?
No. The Monterey comes in 12 different hand-made graphic designs, but they are selected at random, so a buyer cannot choose a specific pattern.
Sources (4)
- Keeley Monterey Rotary Fuzz Vibe review, MusicRadar, 2016-08-14
- Best Rotary Pedals & Leslie Simulators In 2023: Compare Price And Features, Delicious Audio, 2023-02-13
- Keeley Monterey pedal, gearnews.com, 2016-03-27
- The Keeley Monterey An Axis For A Bold New Tone, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2016-03-31
