Keeley Tone Workstation

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Keeley Tone Workstation

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Description & Specs

Keeley Tone Workstation

From Keeley:

Ten years ago we invented and built a small batch of the Tone Workstation, which then moved into the hands of famous players and collectors. John Mayer recently took two of the originals out on the Dead & Company tour. For 2016 it’s more than a re-release; it’s a completely new, re-engineered workstation. The Keeley team of engineers and designers have upgraded the tone, enhanced the features, and reduced the size to now fit on anyone’s board.

Introducing the Tone Workstation

The front end of your signal chain–this is where your tone develops. The first stage of amplification is critical for a sound that has clarity and delivers expressive tone. Compression, Drive, Overdrive, Boost: you get it all here. The Tone Workstation is designed to be the first stage in your pedal board. It may even be the only pedal you bring to a gig. And we designed it that way.

Starting with the classic Keeley Compressor, you can build a nice, thick tone full of sustain. Adjust the Sustain control for increased compression or squeeze. As you add sustain, your notes will ring out longer. The Blend control allows for a Manhattan-style compression, keeping the sound lively and crisp as you blend in your natural guitar tone. The Blend control is perfect for adding a little bit of bite back in with high output pickups or humbuckers. In addition, the Treble Boost switch can be engaged to further increase the treble and sparkle into the signal when using lots of compression. When the Blend is set completely CCW, you get only compressed signal out. Then, as you turn up the Blend, you blend in more and more of your original signal, all the way to a 50/50 ratio. The attack and release times are pre-set in this compressor and are set for use with humbuckers or single coils.

Next up is the 1962/Katana Boost section, because the Keeley Workstation gives you plenty of options for your core tone. With the 62/Katana channel, you can select a sound with just the right amount of break up. Or use it in Boost mode, for that clean, pushed amp-style overdrive. First, the 1962 is our British amp-style overdrive, which is full and even sounding with a moderate amount of crunch. Based on the famous Blues Breaker, the 1962 stage has been amplified by our Katana Boost on either side, adding tube-like saturation with our JFET valve simulation. But, decide you just want the famous Katana Clean push? No worries. Just a flick of the switch and you have it: pure clean, tube tone. In the Katana Mode, only the volume works; the Tone and Drive are disabled. It’s a clean sound people say you just can’t turn off.

Last in the chain is our renowned Red Dirt overdrive. You get 15 years of modding tube screamers distilled into one toneful circuit. Also featuring our JFET front end, the Red Dirt has the perfect amount of crucial midrange coupled with the option to go all the way from clean and clear to super-saturated gain, times two! The Red Dirt circuit captures every nuance of your guitar’s tone and delivers a classic, smoking hot, silky smooth lead tone.

Dimensions are 4.7 Inches wide x 3.72 Inches tall. Standard 9V Neg-Tip Power Supply and under 50mA.

The Tone Workstation–reinvented, re-engineered, re-released for 2016–is the final word on your front end. In 2026, you’ll wished you’d grabbed two.

You read that right! Any orders over $75 ship for free!*

The CME Difference:  CME's mission is to make sure your shipment will arrive quickly, carefully, and correctly. We realize that the online ordering of guitars and instruments, in general, can be a nerve-racking experience. We are here to put your mind at ease and make your transaction smooth and enjoyable! As musicians ourselves, we want to make sure everything gets to you the way it should, every time.

Most orders ship the same or next day:  
We greatly appreciate your patience, and are working hard to fulfill all requests as quickly as possible, while practicing recommended safety guidelines.

Our Bottom line: We care! This is something we take very seriously, because it's what you deserve. Our shipping, sales, and customer service teams are always striving to create the best experience for you. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, we want to know.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to support@chicagomusicexchange.com, or call us directly at 773-525-7773.

*Special exceptions do apply.

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If we are not available, our commitment is to get back to you no later than the next day.


US & International: +1 (773) 525-7773


Fax: 773-525-2775



LOCATION 

3316 N Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60657


We're right off the CTA Brown Line 'Paulina' Stop Just North of Belmont and just West of Ashland.

We’re all musicians here at Chicago Music Exchange and we want you to love the gear you get from us. We understand that sometimes you get a piece of gear that doesn’t work out for you. That’s why we offer an easy return policy to take the stress out of purchasing from us.

If you decide you'd like to return an item, please contact your Sales Rep, chat us, or give us a call.

If you placed your order on Amazon or eBay, we advise issuing the return request from your account on the platform of purchase - our Customer Service team will process a refund upon receipt of the item(s).

Most new items may be returned within 30 days of delivery and most vintage & used items may be returned within 3 days of delivery for a full refund, exchange, or store credit. Please pack the product safely for the journey back to us. If the product was shipped for free, the charge will be deducted from refund, unless the reason for the return is outside normal circumstances.

Please contact us as soon as possible if your order was received incorrectly, damaged, or defective. Most times we will give you an RA number (Return Authorization). Why is that number important? This will allow us to speed up the process of the return.

We reserve the right to charge a restocking fee based on the return condition. Some items we just can’t take back for returns, due to a one time function like strings or drums heads and other times it’s not sanitary to do so with microphones or harmonicas. If you aren’t sure if what you bought falls into a category like this, call us (773) 525-7773!

We strive to get your return processed quickly. Most of the time we have it done within two business days. Funds going back to credit cards usually takes two to four business days. CME strives to make sure all customers are happy with their experience. It is our priority to provide great service along with great gear. We always want to be helpful, and open to your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts! If you have any questions, we’re here for you!

Feel free to email us at customerservice@chicagomusicexchange.com or give us a call at (773) 525-7773.