The Keeley KA-Orange is a Keeley distortion pedal, currently around $199. Close alternatives include the Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz and the Catalinbread Katzenkonig. It pairs well with the Hiwatt DR103H and the Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head.
Keeley KA-Orange
Keeley · pedal
The Keeley KA-Orange is a combination distortion pedal from Keeley Electronics combining the Angry Charlie JCM800-inspired high-gain distortion and Orange amplifier-inspired overdrive character in a compact format. The dual British gain voices provide JCM800-style aggressive saturation and warm Orange-inspired density in a single enclosure suited to players who work within the British amp character spectrum.
What stands out
“Suited to players who work within the British high-gain spectrum”
— from the community notes
“The dual British gain voices provide JCM800-style aggressive saturation and warm Orange-inspired density in a single enclosure suited to players who work within the British amp character spectrum”
— from the listing
“The Angry mode is aggressive and cutting; the Orange mode is warmer and rounder”
— from the reviews
“The Keeley KA-Orange is a combination distortion pedal from Keeley Electronics combining the Angry Charlie JCM800-inspired high-gain distortion and Orange amplifier-inspired overdrive character in a compact format”
— from the listing
“Stacking produces dense harmonically complex British saturation”
— from the reviews
Trade-offs
“keeley american construction is consistent”
— from the community notes
- british
- high gain
- aggressive
- saturation
- complex
- distortion
- harmonically complex
- stacking
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Keeley KA-Orange is commonly used in
- Electronic
- Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Keeley KA-Orange
Hiwatt DR103H
Hiwatt
28% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Hiwatt DR103H pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head
amplifier
28% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Stack Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head on top and a high gain tone tightens toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Gallien-Krueger MB210-II
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Gallien-Krueger MB210-II and it comes out closer to tight
Pedals that stack with the Keeley KA-Orange
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
17% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → clean boost)
Stack Z.Vex Super Hard On on top and a high gain tone tightens toward clean boost
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Soldano SLO
Soldano
17% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Soldano SLO takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio
Crazy Tube Circuits
16% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Crazy Tube Circuits Golden Ratio's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Boss CE-2W Chorus Waza Craft
Boss
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → modulated)
Keep Boss CE-2W Chorus Waza Craft after Keeley KA-Orange in the signal chain, clear of Keeley KA-Orange's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay
TC Electronic
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
TC Electronic Triple Flashback Delay's tight voice goes after Keeley KA-Orange in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Keeley KA-Orange's own high gain character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Cusack Music Reverb SME
Cusack Music
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → ambient)
Keep Cusack Music Reverb SME after Keeley KA-Orange in the signal chain, clear of Keeley KA-Orange's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Matthews Effects The Pocket Drive Overdrive Boost
Matthews Effects
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Stack Matthews Effects The Pocket Drive Overdrive Boost on top and a high gain tone tightens toward clean boost
EarthQuaker Devices Swiss Things
EarthQuaker Devices
Cheaper alternatives
SONICAKE Shark
Sonicake
60% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing, high gain settings
Wampler Mofetta
Wampler
57% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Caline CP-14 English Man Distortion
Caline
53% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Black Country Customs Monolith
Black Country Customs
49% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing, high gain settings
Warm Audio ODD Box V1
Warm Audio
49% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing, high gain settings
EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker
EarthQuaker Devices
47% similarityShared character: distortion
Boutique & premium upgrades
Roger Mayer Spitfire Distortion
Roger Mayer
51% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing
Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp
Friedman
50% similarityShared character: aggressive playing, high gain settings
Blackstar DEPT10DDS Dept.10 Dual Distortion
Blackstar
47% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing, high gain settings
ThorpyFX Warthog Distortion
ThorpyFX
91% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz
Keeley
73% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing, high gain settings
Catalinbread Katzenkonig
Catalinbread
55% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing, high gain settings
Mesa Boogie Highwire
Mesa Boogie
54% similaritySimilar role and voicing
MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive
MXR
52% similarityShared character: distortion, aggressive playing, high gain settings
JHS Pedals Kilt V2
JHS Pedals
51% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Dophix Dante
Dophix
49% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
See all alternatives to the Keeley KA-Orange (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Keeley KA-Orange?+
The closest matches in character are the Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz, the Catalinbread Katzenkonig, the Mesa Boogie Highwire. Budget picks: SONICAKE Shark, Wampler Mofetta, Caline CP-14 English Man Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Roger Mayer Spitfire Distortion, Friedman IR-J Jake E. Lee Preamp, Blackstar DEPT10DDS Dept.10 Dual Distortion.
What pairs well with the Keeley KA-Orange?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Hiwatt DR103H, Marshall Silver Jubilee 25/55 100W Amp Head, EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo — Hiwatt DR103H pushes a high gain tone toward tight.
How much does the Keeley KA-Orange cost?+
Around $199 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).