The Keeley Sojourner Fuzz Verb is a fuzz and reverb in one dual pedal, announced in April 2015. Guitar Interactive Magazine called it "a shoe gaze dream pedal," and the format is aimed at players who want a thick fuzz feeding an atmospheric reverb without two separate boxes on the board1. It sits in Keeley's fuzz line alongside pedals like the Keeley Loomer, which pairs fuzz with reverb in a similar spirit, and the wider family of Fuzz Pedals and Reverb Pedals.
The fuzz side
The fuzz circuit is Keeley's Psi Fuzz, described in the announcement as "a highly modified take on the Op Amp Pi." It is a layered op amp based fuzz with the added warmth of a vintage germanium transistor output stage1. Keeley describes the sound as thick, full range fuzz with enhanced midrange presence, tight bass, and an overall polish and compression1. The Op Amp Pi lineage also runs through later Keeley fuzzes such as the Keeley Moon Op Amp Fuzz.
The reverb side
The reverb side runs new algorithms including reverse and shimmer reverb. Its three controls are decay, blend and warmth, which Keeley says let you "choose between long, expansive, ambient times or to create a subtle new space around your sound"1.
| Side | Circuit | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Fuzz | Psi Fuzz, a modified Op Amp Pi with germanium output stage | Thick, full range, enhanced mids, tight bass, compressed1 |
| Reverb | Reverse and shimmer algorithms | Long ambient spaces or subtle room around the sound1 |
The insert jack
Between the two sides sits an insert jack. As Keeley put it in the announcement, "We've also provided an insert jack, allowing the insertion of additional effects in between." In practice that means you can drop another pedal, such as a delay or a filter, into the chain after the fuzz but before the reverb, shaping the fuzzed signal before the reverb washes over it1.
Build and support
The pedal is housed in a rugged enclosure and is hand-built in the USA, using what the announcement calls the finest components and construction techniques. It carries a 2-year limited lifetime warranty with Keeley customer support1.
Videos
The Pedal Press
Questions
Is the Keeley Sojourner Fuzz Verb true bypass?
Yes. Guitar Interactive Magazine's announcement of the pedal states that it includes true bypass switching, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal untouched when it is switched off.
What reverb modes does the Sojourner have?
The reverb side of the Sojourner runs new algorithms including reverse and shimmer reverb. Its decay, blend and warmth controls let you choose between long, expansive, ambient times or a subtle new space around your sound.
What is the insert jack on the Sojourner for?
The insert jack sits between the fuzz and reverb sides of the pedal. It lets you place additional effects in that gap, so for example a delay or modulation pedal could act on the fuzzed signal before it hits the reverb.
Who designed the Keeley Sojourner Fuzz Verb?
Chief engineer Robert Keeley put his team to the task of creating the pedal, according to the announcement. The fuzz side is Keeley's Psi Fuzz, a highly modified take on the Op Amp Pi circuit.
Where is the Sojourner Fuzz Verb made?
The Sojourner Fuzz Verb is hand-built in the USA, using what the announcement describes as fine components and construction techniques. It carries a 2-year limited lifetime warranty with Keeley customer support.
Sources (1)
- Keeley Announces the Sojourner Fuzz Verb, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2015-04-23
