The Keeley Memphis Sun is a Keeley reverb pedal, currently around $152. Close alternatives include the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo and the Strymon blueSky Reverberator. It pairs well with the Fender Deluxe Reverb and the PRS MT 15 V1 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head.
Keeley Memphis Sun
Keeley · pedal
The Keeley Memphis Sun is a lo-fi reverb, echo, and doubler pedal built around the tape-slap aesthetic of classic Sun Records recordings, chasing the warm, degraded, vintage-tape character Sam Phillips captured in 1950s Memphis rather than a pristine, modern reverb or delay sound. It combines short slapback-style echo, a lo-fi doubling effect that thickens the signal like layered vocal or guitar tracking, and a reverb voiced with tape-saturation coloration rather than clean digital clarity. The pedal is aimed at players chasing rockabilly, early rock and roll, and roots-leaning tones that reference that specific Sun Studio sound.
What stands out
“The Keeley Memphis Sun is a lo-fi reverb, echo, and doubler pedal built around the tape-slap aesthetic of classic Sun Records recordings, chasing the warm, degraded, vintage-tape character Sam Phillips captured in 1950s Memphis …”
— from the listing
“The doubling function adds a genuinely useful thickening effect that goes beyond a standard slapback delay, giving single notes and chords a fuller, more layered character reminiscent of vintage double-tracked recordings”
— from the reviews
“Players reach for the Memphis Sun specifically to evoke the classic slapback rockabilly and early rock and roll sound associated with Sun Studio recordings,”
— from the community notes
“The standout caveat is that its intentionally degraded, vintage-voiced character makes it a poor fit for players wanting a clean, pristine modern reverb sound”
— from the community notes
“The pedal is aimed at players chasing rockabilly, early rock and roll, and roots-leaning tones that reference that specific Sun Studio sound”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“The main limitation is the intentionally narrow tonal focus, since players wanting a do-everything reverb pedal covering shimmer, hall, or plate voicings will need a different pedal alongside or”
— from the reviews
- reverb
- slapback
- recording
- rockabilly
- vintage
- delay
- rock
- echo
Good for
- Live
- Studio
- Worship
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the Keeley Memphis Sun is commonly used in
- Country
- Lo-Fi
- Rock
- Rockabilly
- Ambient
- Swing
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Keeley Memphis Sun
Fender Deluxe Reverb
Fender
19% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Where this leans warm, Fender Deluxe Reverb answers back bright
Comes earlier in the signal chain
PRS MT 15 V1 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head
PRS
19% matchPut PRS MT 15 V1 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H layers high gain onto an already mid-forward signal
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Friedman BE-Mini Head in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 for more high gain on top
Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head
Peavey
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Run mid-forward into Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head for more high gain on top
ENGL Marty Friedman Inferno E766
Engl
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put ENGL Marty Friedman Inferno E766 in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward high gain
Pedals that stack with the Keeley Memphis Sun
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
22% matchRun mid-forward into Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz for more high gain on top
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Fjord Fuzz Berserk
Fjord Fuzz
21% matchFjord Fuzz Berserk layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
pedal
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.
Put Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble after Keeley Memphis Sun in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Keeley Memphis Sun
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase
MXR
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.
Run MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase after Keeley Memphis Sun in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Keeley Memphis Sun
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction stacks fuzzy on top of the mid-forward already here
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 in front and the mid-forward tone leans further toward fuzzy
Subdecay F-Bomb
Subdecay
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay F-Bomb layers fuzzy onto an already mid-forward signal
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Warm Audio Jet Phaser in front of Keeley Memphis Sun: modulation lands before the repeats, so the echoes stay defined
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star V3
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
53% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, reverb
EarthQuaker Devices Dispatch Master V2
EarthQuaker Devices
51% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, reverb
Alexander Golden Summer Reverb
Alexander Pedals
50% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, subtle
Electro-Harmonix Oceans Abyss
Electro-Harmonix
49% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, reverb
Mooer Ocean Machine 2 Devin Townsend Signature
Mooer
44% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, reverb
Walrus Audio Mako R1 Reverb MkII
Walrus Audio
42% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, subtle
Similar character
EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo
EarthQuaker Devices
70% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, reverb
Strymon blueSky Reverberator
pedal
47% similarityShared character: subtle, reverb, warm
Empress Reverb
Empress
46% similarityShared character: ambient, subtle, reverb
Laney Black Country Customs Secret Path Reverb
Laney
45% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, reverb
Catalinbread SoftFocus
Catalinbread
43% similarityShared character: recording, delay, ambient
Boss TE-2
Boss
41% similarityShared character: delay, ambient, subtle
See all alternatives to the Keeley Memphis Sun (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Keeley Memphis Sun?+
The closest matches in character are the EarthQuaker Devices Ghost Echo, the Strymon blueSky Reverberator, the Empress Reverb. Budget picks: Keeley Vibe-O-Verb, NuX Damp Reverb. Boutique upgrades: Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star V3, EarthQuaker Devices Dispatch Master V2, Alexander Golden Summer Reverb.
What pairs well with the Keeley Memphis Sun?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Deluxe Reverb, PRS MT 15 V1 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — Where this leans warm, Fender Deluxe Reverb answers back bright.
How much does the Keeley Memphis Sun cost?+
Around $152 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).