Electro-Harmonix
KEY9 Electric Piano Machine
Best pedal for guitarists seeking authentic electric piano tones.
This versatile pedal transforms your guitar or keyboard into a convincing emulation of classic electric pianos, including Rhodes and Wurlitzer sounds. It also offers lively recreations of vibes, mallets, an organ, and even steel drums. With 9 distinct presets, you can achieve iconic sounds from music history or craft your own unique keyboard rig. The pedal features intuitive controls for DRY and KEY volume, along with preset-specific adjustments for a wide range of sonic possibilities. It boasts fast and flawless tracking, ensuring your performance is accurately translated.
$259.50
Owner Satisfaction
4.4
/ 5
Category Rank
871
/ 1235
#871 in Effects Processors
Price vs Category Average
-42%
Below average
Number of Presets
9
Who it's for
- Guitarists seeking diverse vintage keyboard textures for their sonic arsenal
- Musicians wanting to add keyboard voices without learning a new instrument
- Creative players looking to expand their sound and songwriting possibilities
Who should skip it
- Purists expecting perfect replication and dynamic control of a physical keyboard
- Sound designers who demand extensive parameter control and customizability
- Keyboard players or producers needing authentic, highly detailed virtual instruments
Performance breakdown
Tracking speed
Near-instant response ensures your playing feels natural and lag-free.
Sonic versatility
Nine distinct presets cover a wide range of classic keyboard textures.
Ease of use
Intuitive knob layout makes dialing in professional tones incredibly straightforward.
Emulation accuracy
Captures the character of Rhodes and Wurlitzers with impressive harmonic detail.
Integration capability
Lacks MIDI and expression inputs, limiting advanced rig control options.
Build quality
Rugged stompbox construction designed to withstand years of heavy gigging.
Key Specs
Number of Presets
9
Controls
DRY volume, KEY volume, CTRL 1, CTRL 2
Power Supply Type
AC Adapter
Effect Types
Electric Piano Emulation, Vibes, Mallets, Organ, Steel Drums
Processing Type
Digital
Form Factor
Stompbox Pedal
Signal Path Type
Digital
True Bypass
false
Know before you buy
Yes, the KEY9 is designed to work with both guitars and keyboards. It tracks polyphonic signals well, allowing you to process chords and melodies from various sources.
The pedal features dedicated DRY and KEY volume knobs, allowing you to blend your original clean guitar tone with the processed electric piano sound. This is useful for layering textures or keeping your natural attack audible.
Yes, the pedal comes with its own dedicated AC adapter. It is recommended to use the included power supply to ensure consistent performance and avoid noise issues.
These knobs are preset-specific, meaning their function changes depending on which of the nine sounds you have selected. They typically control parameters like modulation speed, depth, or tone shaping to help you dial in the character of the specific instrument emulation.
No, the KEY9 does not feature true bypass. It uses a buffered bypass circuit, which is standard for this type of digital processing pedal to maintain signal integrity.
The KEY9 does not have an expression pedal input. All modulation adjustments are handled manually via the CTRL knobs on the face of the pedal.
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Ready to buy?
$260