The Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost is a Keeley boost pedal. Close alternatives include the Mesa Boogie Tone Burst Boost and the Mad Professor Loud N Proud. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Mark I and the Laney GH100L.
Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost
Keeley · pedal
The Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost is a clean boost pedal from Keeley Electronics designed to provide transparent, high-quality signal level increase without coloring the guitar's natural tone or the amp's character. The JFET-based circuit delivers clean, transparent boost with minimal noise and signal degradation, suited to pushing tube amplifiers into natural breakup or raising solo levels without changing the underlying tone. One of Keeley's foundational utility pedal designs.
What stands out
“The Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost is a clean boost pedal from Keeley Electronics designed to provide transparent, high-quality signal level increase”
— from the listing
“The JFET-based circuit delivers clean, transparent boost with , suited to pushing tube amplifiers into natural breakup or raising solo levels”
— from the listing
“Used for pushing tube amps into natural breakup or raising solo levels in live contexts”
— from the community notes
“Keeley American construction is consistent and reliable”
— from the community notes
“A clean boost from Keeley that provides transparent signal level increase”
— from the community notes
- clean boost
- transparent
- boost
- natural breakup
- jfet
- natural
- breakup
- tube amps
Genres the Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost is commonly used in
- Electronic
- Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost
Mesa Boogie Mark I
Mesa Boogie
19% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Mesa Boogie Mark I leans this transparent tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Laney GH100L
Laney
19% matchLaney GH100L leans this transparent tone toward low gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head leans this transparent tone toward low gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Ceriatone 2202H brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Bad Cat Lynx 50
Bad Cat
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Bad Cat Lynx 50 brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Pedals that stack with the Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
17% matchInto a transparent tone, Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature brings a pull toward low gain that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2
Electro-Harmonix
17% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Into a transparent tone, Electro-Harmonix 1973 Violet Ram's Head Big Muff Pi V2 brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Mu-Tron Bi-Phase
Mu Tron
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 Mu-Tron Bi-Phase after Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost in the signal chain, clear of Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Xotic SP Compressor
Xotic
11% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
Xotic SP Compressor leans toward smooth, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb
Alexander Pedals
7% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb's ambient voice goes after Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost's own clean boost character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Hammertone Reverb
Fender
7% 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 KTM-B Time Machine Boost's clean boost voice out front: Fender Hammertone Reverb goes after Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost in the signal chain so its lush 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
Into a transparent tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Donner Big Mouth Distortion
Donner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Donner Big Mouth Distortion brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Mesa Boogie Tone Burst Boost
Mesa Boogie
64% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, boost, transparent
Mad Professor Loud N Proud
Mad Professor
62% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, power tubes, boost
Electro-Harmonix LPB-1
Electro-Harmonix
62% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, boost, natural
JAM Pedals Boomster
Jam Pedals
62% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, boost, transparent
MXR Booster
MXR
62% similarityShared character: power tubes, boost, transparent
Keeley Katana Clean Boost V2
Keeley
62% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, boost, natural
Zvex Super Duper 2 in 1
Zvex
61% similarityShared character: power tubes, boost, transparent
Fender Engager Boost
Fender
61% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, boost, transparent
Danelectro CEO
Danelectro
60% similarityShared character: boost, transparent
Jackson Audio Prism Boost, Buffer,
Jackson Audio
59% similarityShared character: boost, transparent
J. Rockett Steampunk Boost/Buffer
J Rockett
59% similarityShared character: 60 watt all tube combo amplifier, power tubes, boost
Rodenberg M2-Clean Boost
Rodenberg
59% similarityShared character: boost, natural, transparent
See all alternatives to the Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost?+
The closest matches in character are the Mesa Boogie Tone Burst Boost, the Mad Professor Loud N Proud, the Electro-Harmonix LPB-1.
What pairs well with the Keeley KTM-B Time Machine Boost?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Mark I, Laney GH100L, Synergy SL2 Module — Mesa Boogie Mark I leans this transparent tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own.