The Keeley Tone Workstation is a multi-effects pedal from Keeley Electronics that combines compression, drive, overdrive, and boost in a single box. Keeley positions it as the first stage of a pedalboard: the front end that shapes your core tone before everything else1. It was announced in January 2016 as the first of four Workstation releases for that year's Winter NAMM show, alongside the Mod Workstation and Delay Workstation2.
Robert Keeley, Chief Engineer at Keeley Electronics, described the design's intent at launch2:
"The design combines many of our most popular tube amplifier tones giving players a huge range of gain stages in a single box format"2
What the Tone Workstation does
The pedal packs four of Keeley's circuits into one enclosure, based on the Keeley Compressor, the Katana Boost, the 1962, and the Red Dirt overdrive2. MusicRadar's reviewer, Trevor Curwen, describes the signal chain: it starts with a version of the Keeley compressor, then runs into a section that can voice either a 1962 British amp-style overdrive or the Katana clean boost, and finishes with the Tube Screamer-styled Red Dirt overdrive3.
Each section has its own job:
| Section | What it is | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Compressor | Classic Keeley Compressor | Builds a thick, fat tone with sustain; attack and release set for humbuckers or single coils1 |
| 1962 / Katana Boost | British amp-style overdrive based on the Blues Breaker amp, with Katana Boost on either side | Adds JFET valve-simulation saturation; a switch selects the Katana Clean push, pure clean tube tone1 |
| Red Dirt | Tube Screamer-derived overdrive | 15 years of Tube Screamer modding in one circuit, with JFET front end, midrange control, and clean or double-gain modes1 |
The compressor section carries Sustain and Level controls, plus a Blend knob. Keeley says the blend control allows Manhattan-style compression, keeping the sound lively and crisp as you blend in your natural guitar tone1. Curwen found the same control works as a mix: rolling it anti-clockwise moves from a 50/50 parallel compression mix to the full-on squash3.
The 1962/Katana section is voiced on the famous Blues Breaker amp, which Keeley says they juiced up with the Katana Boost on either side, adding tube-like saturation1. The Red Dirt section is the higher-gain of the two overdrives: Gearnews reported the JFET-based Red Dirt gives more gain than the 19622. Keeley describes that circuit as capturing every nuance of the guitar's tone and delivering a smoking hot, silky smooth lead tone1.
History and versions: from modded boards to a smaller re-release
The Tone Workstation is not a new idea. Keeley built a small batch of them about ten years before the 2016 version, and those originals have since moved into the hands of famous players and collectors, giving them collector's item status13. The original was a modified board containing Boss BD-2 and Ibanez TS9 modified boards sitting alongside the Keeley Compressor circuit1.
For 2016, Keeley re-engineered the whole thing rather than simply reissuing it. As the maker puts it12:
"For 2016 it's more that a re-release; it's a completely new, re-engineered workstation."1
The 2016 version came in a smaller, pedalboard-friendly enclosure with upgraded tone and features1. It was announced on 21 January 2016 at a $299 RRP, as the first of four Workstation releases for the 2016 Winter NAMM show2.
MusicRadar's overall verdict on the 2016 pedal was positive on value:
"This Workstation offers practicality at a bargain price."3
Curwen noted the huge saving over buying the separate units individually, and that the combined box needs only one power connection3.
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Questions
What pedals are inside the Keeley Tone Workstation?
It combines four Keeley circuits in one enclosure: the classic Keeley Compressor, the 1962 British amp-style overdrive, the Katana clean boost, and the Red Dirt overdrive. The signal chain runs compressor first, then the 1962 or Katana section, then the Red Dirt.
What is the Katana Clean switch on the Tone Workstation?
The second section of the pedal can voice either the 1962 British amp-style overdrive or the Katana clean boost. A switch selects what Keeley calls the famous Katana Clean push, which the maker describes as pure clean tube tone.
What did the original Keeley Tone Workstation contain?
The original, built as a small batch about ten years before the 2016 re-release, was a modified board containing Boss BD-2 and Ibanez TS9 modified boards alongside the Keeley Compressor circuit. Those originals are now collector's items.
Is the Keeley Tone Workstation based on a Tube Screamer?
Its Red Dirt overdrive section is. Keeley describes it as 15 years of modding Tube Screamer pedals distilled into one circuit, with a JFET front end, a midrange control, and the ability to run clean or at double gain.
How much does the Keeley Tone Workstation cost?
At its 2016 launch the Tone Workstation carried a $299 RRP. MusicRadar's reviewer found it offered practicality at a bargain price, with a big saving over buying the separate units and only one power connection needed.
Sources (3)
- Introducing the 2016 Keeley Tone Workstation, Robert Keeley (robertkeeley.com), 2016-01-14
- Keeley Electronics announce new Tone Workstation 4-in-1 pedal, gearnews.com, 2016-01-21
- Keeley Tone Workstation review, MusicRadar, 2017-01-18
