The Keeley Magnetic Echo is a Keeley delay pedal, currently around $127.49. Close alternatives include the J. Rockett Immortal Echo and the J. Rockett Clockwork Echo. It pairs well with the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp and the Fender Deluxe Reverb.
Keeley Magnetic Echo
Keeley · pedal
The Keeley Magnetic Echo is a modulated tape-style delay that simulates warm tube tape echo using a lo-fi delay voice, gently filtered repeats, and subtle modulation. It produces a warm, smooth sound with no glassy digital edge, sitting less in-your-face than typical digital delays while staying guitar-friendly. Controls for Time, Regen, and Level set the delay, with delay times spanning roughly 40 to 600 milliseconds, while dedicated Wow and Flutter Depth and Rate controls add authentic tape pitch movement for vintage or unique textures. It suits players after classic tape echo warmth for slapback, rhythmic repeats, and ambient trails. In shoot-outs its repeats are praised as sounding closer to real tape, with more sophisticated modulation than rivals.
What stands out
“The Keeley Magnetic Echo is a modulated tape-style delay that simulates warm tube tape echo using a lo-fi delay voice, gently filtered repeats, and subtle modulation”
— from the listing
“The Magnetic Echo nails warm, organic tape-echo character, using filtered repeats and tasteful modulation to”
— from the reviews
“It suits players after classic tape echo warmth for slapback, rhythmic repeats, and ambient trails”
— from the listing
“while dedicated wow and flutter depth and rate controls add authentic tape pitch movement for vintage or unique textures”
— from the listing
“In shoot-outs its repeats are praised as sounding closer to real tape, with more sophisticated modulation than rivals”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“The main caveat is that its deliberately lo-fi, filtered voice trades pristine clarity and long, crystalline repeats for vintage character, so players wanting clean digital delay may find it too dark”
— from the community notes
- modulation
- delay
- tape echo
- warmth
- ambient
- pitch
- slapback
- vintage
Good for
- Live
- Studio
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the Keeley Magnetic Echo is commonly used in
- Blues
- Ambient
- Indie
- Lo Fi
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rockabilly
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Post Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Keeley Magnetic Echo
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox
29% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
Run Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Fender Deluxe Reverb
Fender
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
Where this leans dark, Fender Deluxe Reverb answers back bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
24% 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)
Put Keeley Magnetic Echo in Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head's effects loop, clear of Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp
Mesa Boogie
18% 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 Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp's high gain voice out front: Keeley Magnetic Echo goes in Mesa/Boogie Studio Preamp's effects loop so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Bad Cat *PRE Order* Hot Cat Head
Bad Cat
14% 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 Magnetic Echo in Bad Cat *PRE Order* Hot Cat Head's effects loop, clear of Bad Cat *PRE Order* Hot Cat Head's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head
Marshall
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Laney Richter
Laney
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Laney Richter leans bright right where the dark tone needs it
Mesa Boogie Subway D-350
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Run Mesa Boogie Subway D-350 after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Pedals that stack with the Keeley Magnetic Echo
Tech 21 SansAmp
Tech 21
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
Run Tech 21 SansAmp after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
Catalinbread Galileo's bright balances out the dark tone
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Mooer 008
Mooer
22% 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 Mooer 008's pristine voice out front: Keeley Magnetic Echo goes after Mooer 008 in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Lillian
Walrus Audio
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Walrus Audio Lillian's bright voice goes after Keeley Magnetic Echo in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Keeley Magnetic Echo's own modulated character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Wylde Audio Cry Baby Wah
Wylde Audio
21% 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 Keeley Magnetic Echo after Wylde Audio Cry Baby Wah in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Wylde Audio Cry Baby Wah
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter
Maestro
19% 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 Magnetic Echo's modulated voice out front: Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter goes after Keeley Magnetic Echo in the signal chain so its lush voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR WA38
MXR
18% 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 MXR WA38's bright voice out front: Keeley Magnetic Echo goes after MXR WA38 in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Beetronics Royal Jelly
Beetronics
15% 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 Keeley Magnetic Echo after Beetronics Royal Jelly in the signal chain, clear of Beetronics Royal Jelly's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Cheaper alternatives
JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay
JHS Pedals
65% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, modulation
Electro-Harmonix Pico ReRun
Electro-Harmonix
65% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, warm
Visual Sound GarageTone Axle Grease
Visual Sound
65% similarityShared character: dark, dry signal, delay
JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Tape Delay
JHS Pedals
64% similarityShared character: delay, dark, ambient
Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2
Alexander Pedals
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Hammertone Delay
Fender
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Strymon El Capistan
Strymon
68% similarityShared character: delay, dark, ambient
Strymon EC-1
Strymon
66% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, warm
Keeley Eccos Tape Flanged Delay
Keeley
65% similarityShared character: delay, dry signal, dark
Boss RE-2 Space Echo
Boss
64% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, modulation
Fairfield Circuitry Meet Maude
Fairfield Circuitry
64% similarityShared character: delay, dry signal, dark
Alexander Pedals Oblivion Vintage Delay
Alexander Pedals
63% similarityShared character: dark, delay, ambient
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
J. Rockett Immortal Echo
J Rockett
74% similarityShared character: delay, dry signal, ambient
J. Rockett Clockwork Echo
J Rockett
66% similarityShared character: dry signal, dark, delay
Keeley Caverns V2
Keeley
65% similarityShared character: delay, dry signal, dark
Dunlop MXR M299 Carbon Copy Mini
Dunlop
65% similarityShared character: delay, dry signal, dark
Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
65% similarityShared character: dark, delay, ambient
MXR Analog Delay
MXR
64% similarityShared character: dry signal, dark, delay
See all alternatives to the Keeley Magnetic Echo (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Keeley Magnetic Echo?+
The closest matches in character are the J. Rockett Immortal Echo, the J. Rockett Clockwork Echo, the Keeley Caverns V2. Budget picks: JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay, Electro-Harmonix Pico ReRun, Visual Sound GarageTone Axle Grease. Boutique upgrades: Strymon El Capistan, Strymon EC-1, Keeley Eccos Tape Flanged Delay.
What pairs well with the Keeley Magnetic Echo?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, Fender Deluxe Reverb, Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head — Run Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp after it and the dark edge settles into something more bright.
How much does the Keeley Magnetic Echo cost?+
Around $127.49 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).