...the myth, the legend
It's funny. It's funny how "mythical" one particular transparent overdrive circuit has truly become. It's also funny that, at essentially square one, such a transparent overdrive circuit brandished itself with a mythical being, the centaur, as something of a logo. There's mythical tones and sounds, no doubt, but the fact that we don't even need to name the transparent overdrive in question has to be some kind of testament to that circuit's mythical power, wouldn't you think?
Every time we rewrite that myth, we're left with something new. Every time someone steps up to the plate to tell the myth their own way, they inject their own experiences and preferences into it. We're then left with countless new retellings of the transparent overdrive myth. With each retelling giving a new glimpse into what builders and players prioritize, the monomyth of transparent overdrive grows in depth and complexity.
Today, we're talking about a new chapter of the "mythical" overdrive's story. Penned by one of effect pedals' greatest thinkers, Robert Keeley, we're treated to a new take to chew on. It's mythmaking in real time.
This is the Keeley Electronics Manis Overdrive.
Monomyth in Motion
Introducing the Keeley Manis Overdrive
Joseph Campbell's "monomyth" frames a universal pattern of storytelling that transcends time and place and appears in heroic tales in every culture worldwide. Apologies to the non-English majors out there; Campbell was a pretty big deal in the development of what we've come to know today as the "Hero's Journey" and later, stories that have shaped culture – and like actual, tangible, moneymaking culture too; Star Wars, The Lion King...you get the idea. The essence of what Campbell talked about is that the beats of heroic stories are very common and you can find them no matter what culture you're hearing the story from.
As we throw it over to the myth of transparent overdrives, we can find some common storytelling pillars: three control knobs, a tonal palette that spans from a crisp, clean boost to a saturated and compressed drive, friendliness with single-coil and humbucking pickups. We can all but assure that you've seen a pedal or two with these kind of storytelling beats. You might also get some extra flourishes with a gold or silver casing, a landscape-oriented enclosure, perhaps a storybook creature. However that story is framed, it's all in the service of one singular theme: glorious transparent overdrive.
The Keeley Manis Overdrive is an exceptional version of a centaur pedal. Infused with plenty of Keeley know-how and hi-fi design, the Manis Overdrive is a wonderfully fresh centaur overdrive and a worthy candidate for your newest best transparent overdrive pedal. Let's look a little closer.
Manis Mania
Keeley Manis Overdrive Design
With the Keeley Manis, we're treated to a faithful centaur transparent overdrive experience. Working with the interface of the Manis, we're met with a simple three-dial control scheme with two dedicated two-way switches.
You don't need to be always on the cutting edge of effect pedal design to imagine what kind of control scheme Keeley's got in store for the Manis Overdrive. Keeping things streamlined and simple, we have an easy three-dial setup of Tone, Drive, and Level. All operating effectively as you'd expect, the Manis offers up an intuitive dance between these three controls resulting in a vast and varied mix of tones. We'll get to those in a second, but for now, all you need to know is that Keeley has captured the essence of all the best transparent overdrives and the best centaur overdrives.
Alongside these three controls, we have our two two-way switches. On the left side, we have our Bass Boost switch, on the right, our germanium diodes/transistors switch. When venturing outside the confines of a traditional centaur experience, these two switches get some heavy lifting done when expanding the sound and playability of the pedal. With our Bass Boost switch, the Manis accommodates single-coil pickups, filling in some extra bass response by lowering the bass frequency cutoff by an octave. This addition allows for the Manis to play with a fuller, beefier sonic profile.
The germanium diodes/transistors switch additionally offers new tonal routes to take alongside a traditional centaur overdrive experience with the germanium diode option producing a louder, more present voice and the germanium transistor option being more subdued. This all adds up to a mythical overdrive that can meld with any rig and play to any style.
Mythbusting
Keeley Manis Overdrive Tones
Let's home in on some sounds. With Manis, Keeley has effectively captured the mythical transparent overdrive experience to a tee. While this is absolutely the case, taking the Manis for a spin won't just deliver on classic tones you've come to know and love. Keeley has you covered when it comes to new sounds.
At the onset, the Keeley Manis is somewhat bolder than your average mythical overdrive. While other similar overdrives might focus on saturation and articulation solely, Keeley took the liberty to expand upon that sonic formula. The Manis starts with a hefty dose of boost and volume on tap, breathing life into your favorite tube amp. It's no surprise that a mythical overdrive would make for an excellent companion to any tube amp, but let's not leave that fact merely implied. It's a marvel.
In addition to the tonal heavy lifting on display, the Manis, when considering the Bass Boost switch and the germanium diode option, is notably beefier than an average centaur drive. Keeley's choices in thickening the sonic profile of the Manis have certainly resulted in a transparent overdrive that can easily lean more into the overdrive camp of things, and for that we find the Manis particularly unique among similar overdrives. While you can quickly dial in easier tube-like saturation and compression with the Manis, its core characteristics as a transparent overdrive are still completely intact.
However you slice the Manis, you're sure to find a warm, versatile, and expressive drive capable of inspiring your favorite guitar and amp combo at any configuration. The Manis does what these kinds of transparent overdrives do best: elevate your baseline experience and make you sound like you.
Keeley Electronics Manis Overdrive Final Thoughts
For any player in-the-know about overdrives, it should be no mystery as to why the words "Keeley" and "mythical" together in the same sentence would be exciting. Keeley is a pillar in modern effect pedal circles and their take on the mythical transparent overdrive is simply not to be missed. If you're completely new to centaur overdrives, the Manis is a great entry point for discovering your own tastes and operating with a little more versatility than an average transparent overdrive. In a world where the centaur overdrive archetype has been done over and over, Keeley provides us with a good reason to stay invested and excited.
Next time you're looking to turn the page on your own tonal Hero's Journey, Keeley's ready to write another chapter.
