Keeley Mini Katana review

JFET-loaded boost pedal

  • £89
  • €145
  • $119
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The hi-gain switch adds an extra 10dB, which effectively turns the Katana into an overdrive pedal

MusicRadar Verdict

A practical 'more' pedal that you can slip into your signal chain.

Pros

  • +

    Hi-gain and hi-cut switch offer lots of tonal shaping options. Solid build.

Cons

  • -

    Quite expensive for a mini pedal.

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The Mini Katana puts Keeley's dual-class A JFET-equipped Katana clean boost into a mini pedal, while adding a pair of internal DIP switches that can be combined for a choice of four sounds.

"The hi-gain switch adds an extra 10dB, which effectively turns the Katana into an overdrive pedal"

With neither switch engaged, the Katana adds a pleasing hint of extra treble and ran from a unity gain point at about 10 o'clock through to boost levels that took our small Fender amp from clean to full-on raunch, albeit with an inevitable increase in hiss.

The hi-gain switch adds an extra 10dB, which effectively turns the Katana into an overdrive pedal, while a hi-cut switch takes a carefully wielded scalpel to treble frequencies for a more transparent boost, which could be useful if you want to take the edge off bright single coils.

An excellent tone-conditioning boost to take your amp or pedal up a notch.

Trevor Curwen

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.