The Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2 is a Keeley boost pedal. Close alternatives include the Dr. Scientist Sunny Day and the Fender Engager Boost. It pairs well with the Marshall Origin 20 Combo and the PRS HX 100 Head.
Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2
Keeley · pedal
The Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2 is a precision clean boost pedal from Keeley Electronics providing transparent, high-quality signal level increase with up to 35 dB of available boost. The original Katana was one of Keeley's first and most acclaimed original designs, and the V2 refines the JFET-based circuit with improvements addressing noise floor, headroom, and control range. Used by professional musicians worldwide as a transparent signal level tool for pushing tube amplifiers, raising solo volumes, and conditioning signal chains.
What stands out
“One of the most respected clean boost pedals in the boutique market, providing transparent, high-headroom boost with up to 35 dB available”
— from the community notes
“The Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2 is a precision clean boost pedal from Keeley Electronics providing transparent, high-quality signal level increase with up to 35 dB of available boost”
— from the listing
“The Katana V2 delivers up to 35 dB of transparent clean boost with exceptional headroom and”
— from the reviews
“and the v2 refines the jfet-based circuit with improvements addressing noise floor”
— from the listing
“The JFET circuit preserves the guitar and amp's natural tonal character at all boost levels”
— from the reviews
Trade-offs
“V2 improvements provide measurably lower noise and better headroom over the original”
— from the reviews
“keeley american construction is reliable and consistent”
— from the community notes
- transparent
- boost
- clean boost
- headroom
- jfet
- high headroom
- natural
- up to 35 db
Genres the Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2 is commonly used in
- Electronic
- Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2
Marshall Origin 20 Combo
Marshall
25% matchMarshall Origin 20 Combo leans this high headroom tone toward crunchy, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
PRS HX 100 Head
PRS
25% matchInto a high headroom tone, PRS HX 100 Head brings a pull toward medium gain that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Ceriatone 2202H leans this high headroom tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Engl 120 E610 MK II
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Engl 120 E610 MK II leans this high headroom tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
ENGL Special Edition E670
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a high headroom tone, ENGL Special Edition E670 brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Synergy SL2 Module leans this high headroom tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Hiwatt Crunch 150R 112C
Hiwatt
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a high headroom tone, Hiwatt Crunch 150R 112C brings a pull toward medium gain that's missing
Engl Savage 60 Mark II
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a high headroom tone, Engl Savage 60 Mark II brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Pedals that stack with the Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2
Origin Effects DCX Boost
Origin Effects
19% matchOrigin Effects DCX Boost leans this high headroom tone toward low gain, which it doesn't make on its own
EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas
EarthQuaker Devices
18% matchInto a high headroom tone, EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss BF-2 Flanger
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.
Keep Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2's transparent voice out front: Boss BF-2 Flanger goes after Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2 in the signal chain so its lush voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
Wampler Mini Ego 76 Compressor
Wampler
12% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (high headroom → compressed)
What Wampler Mini Ego 76 Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Strymon BigSky
Strymon
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Strymon BigSky after Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2 in the signal chain, clear of Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2's transparent voice out front: Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay goes after Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2 in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 leans this high headroom tone toward fuzzy, which it doesn't make on its own
Donner Big Mouth Distortion
Donner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Donner Big Mouth Distortion leans this high headroom tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Dr. Scientist Sunny Day
Dr Scientist
67% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, boost, transparent
Fender Engager Boost
Fender
66% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, boost, headroom
JAM Pedals Boomster
Jam Pedals
63% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, boost, transparent
Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost
Keeley
62% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, boost, natural
67Audio Libido
67audio
61% similarityShared character: boost, headroom, transparent
Matthews Effects Aristocrat MOSFET Boost
Matthews Effects
60% similarityShared character: boost, headroom, natural
Jackson Audio Prism Boost, Buffer,
Jackson Audio
60% similarityShared character: boost, transparent
Suhr Koko Boost
Suhr
59% similarityShared character: boost, headroom, transparent
Xotic Effects SSB Super Clean Booster
Xotic
58% similarityShared character: boost, natural, transparent
Catalinbread Epoch Boost Mini
Catalinbread
58% similarityShared character: original, headroom, boost
Friedman Buxom Boost
Friedman
57% similarityShared character: boost, natural, transparent
Xotic BB Preamp Andy Timmons Limited Edition Pedal
Xotic
57% similarityShared character: boost, headroom, transparent
See all alternatives to the Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2?+
The closest matches in character are the Dr. Scientist Sunny Day, the Fender Engager Boost, the JAM Pedals Boomster.
What pairs well with the Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Origin 20 Combo, PRS HX 100 Head, Ceriatone 2202H — Marshall Origin 20 Combo leans this high headroom tone toward crunchy, which it doesn't make on its own.