Electro-Harmonix KEY9 Electric Piano Machinechat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Users praise the variety of authentic-sounding presets, from Wurli and suitcase Rhodes to mallets, 88, organ, vibes and steel drums. Several say specific settings nailed classic tones well enough to recreate famous song intros.

@mainsblanches8793

Just got this pedal a few weeks ago!!...what can I say, I love it!!...the thing being it as integrated effects like chorus and low octave (num 1), tremolo (num 2), phase (num 3), percs (num 4), combined effects (num 5), Leslie and tremolo (num 6, my favorite, the perfect Caravan sound and so much more), percs and vibrato (num 7), percs, modulation and octaves (num 8) and punchy attack and high octave (num 9)!!...you can mix-in your original guitar sound or use a hot signal with one pickup and have a seperate dry signal or another pickup on your guitar with a dry signal going to a separate input on your amp and blend those two together!!...I mean, that's totaly amazing!!...bring it in lightly or use it full blown, you will be blown away by this pedal that brings inspiration to your playing!!...mix all of that with a delay and reverb and you are on your way to new musical heights!!...launch

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August 23, 2020

@Sancho_Retablez

0:46 1. Dynamo\n1:27 2. Wurli\n2:10 3. Suitcase\n3:17 4. Mallets\n3:47 5. Eighty Eight\n4:29 6. Tri-Glorious\n6:23 7. Vibes\n6:56 8. Organ\n7:46 9. Steel Drums\n9:00 Shut up and take my money.launch

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March 17, 2019

@Abovedarim214

Plays some great jazz lines blending with chords. Dynamo, suitcase, mallets, 88 sound the best imo.launch

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January 21, 2019

@Tubes12AX7k

\"Hearts\" from Yes for the mallets sound.  I may have to pull out Yes 90125 and Big Generator again.launch

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September 9, 2016

Fans of the earlier B9 and C9 pedals say the KEY9 fits naturally into a collection of EHX modulation/emulation pedals known for quality and value. Several plan to buy multiple units in the series.

@sustayne

Attention performing guitarists: these pedals...the whole series, will bring insane new options for your band or group. Start collecting them now, as they won't be made forever. They are all ( I speak from experience here.) just phenomenal pieces of engineering. Prepare to exapnd your capabilities.launch

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February 23, 2022

@joesatch899

Since my first EHX purchase of the Deluxe Memory Man in the early 80's I knew this company was special. These new keyboard units like the C9 and the latest Mel9 are state of the art devices and insane from a value stand point based on how little they cost !!! If they keep this up their engineers are going to be fitted for straight jackets !!! Cant wait for my Mel9 to arrive !!!launch

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April 1, 2016

@guitarkevin

I purchased the B9 Organ Machine when it first came out and was praying that EHX would come out with this pedal, and they did. I love it and it will always remain a part of my rig!!!!!launch

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March 22, 2016

@vurnt22

The B-9 is INSANE-I will be getting The C-9 & Key9\nBill Ruppert is a GENIUS programmer & MIGHTY FINE player!!!launch

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September 23, 2015

Several users say the pedal inspired new playing approaches and musical directions, expanding what they thought was possible on guitar. Reactions range from excitement while watching demos to satisfaction after buying.

@sustayne

Attention performing guitarists: these pedals...the whole series, will bring insane new options for your band or group. Start collecting them now, as they won't be made forever. They are all ( I speak from experience here.) just phenomenal pieces of engineering. Prepare to exapnd your capabilities.launch

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February 23, 2022

@HowardBaileyMusic

Wow! Sounds Amazing. I like the pedal too. I can't believe I haven't heard of it until now. Thanks for the demo.launch

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December 17, 2021

@mainsblanches8793

Just got this pedal a few weeks ago!!...what can I say, I love it!!...the thing being it as integrated effects like chorus and low octave (num 1), tremolo (num 2), phase (num 3), percs (num 4), combined effects (num 5), Leslie and tremolo (num 6, my favorite, the perfect Caravan sound and so much more), percs and vibrato (num 7), percs, modulation and octaves (num 8) and punchy attack and high octave (num 9)!!...you can mix-in your original guitar sound or use a hot signal with one pickup and have a seperate dry signal or another pickup on your guitar with a dry signal going to a separate input on your amp and blend those two together!!...I mean, that's totaly amazing!!...bring it in lightly or use it full blown, you will be blown away by this pedal that brings inspiration to your playing!!...mix all of that with a delay and reverb and you are on your way to new musical heights!!...launch

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August 23, 2020

@OZHKAR1

at first I thought who cares about a piano effect, and after seeing the whole video this is by far the best demo review and one of the most interesting pedals! so much optionslaunch

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July 8, 2018

Multiple gigging guitarists describe using the KEY9 to cover keyboard parts in trios, jazz/funk sets, and solo rigs, with one saying bandmates thought a real keyboardist was playing. It's valued for filling out a band's sound when a keyboard player isn't in the budget.

@dougadixon1

Great demo. I'm a keyboard player that also plays guitar and the key in using this properly is to play it like a keyboard. It's the same when a keyboard play wants to sound like a guitar you have to play it with the dynamics of a guitar. Well done with this demo.launch

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December 21, 2015

@customstrat

3 gigs under my belt with this, people asked me who played keys. Could not believe it was a guitar!launch

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December 15, 2015

@customstrat

Just played a live gig with this thing. Fabulous! EHX really have pulled out all the 'organ' stops with this. B9, C9 and KEY9 really are the tools we have been looking for. Midi - you just lost the war! You will need a noise gate, but once again EHX has an answer for that as well with the Silencer. Top products, top guys, top sounds. I've never sounded better!launch

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November 16, 2015

@babarain99

Fantastic lovely pedal ! Its a dream pedal for me ! I've always wanted to gig with my dad with some kind of a keyboard, this pedal can help me do that ! :)launch

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November 11, 2015

Commenters highlight that the pedal reshapes the live guitar signal via clever DSP rather than samples or MIDI, and still tracks fast playing well. Some call it the best tracking they've encountered versus MIDI-based competitors.

@carlofrancisco5256

It's crazy how EHX has sorted out the tracking issue while the other industry biggies still rely on MIDIlaunch

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March 8, 2023

@Samana009

If the pedal tracking can keep up with Tom Quayle, It is already the best tracking in the world.launch

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March 28, 2020

@zfehnel

These pedals are absolutely UNREAL. I honestly can't believe my ears.\n\nSaying \"Fantastic Job EHX\" feels like an understatement. But that's all I've got.\n\nP.S. - Nice Kemper. :Dlaunch

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September 28, 2016

@deldia

As far as I can tell this is definitely not sample based. The sound you hear really is your original guitar signal but morphed by some clever digital signal processing techniques. You can prove this by scratching the string with your pick and seeing what comes out. When the DSP senses attack I think it reshapes it. It's certainly clever.launch

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September 5, 2016

Users like being able to mix in original guitar tone alongside the emulated keyboard sound, or route separate dry and wet signals to different amp inputs. This flexibility supports layering with loopers and other pedals.

@mainsblanches8793

Just got this pedal a few weeks ago!!...what can I say, I love it!!...the thing being it as integrated effects like chorus and low octave (num 1), tremolo (num 2), phase (num 3), percs (num 4), combined effects (num 5), Leslie and tremolo (num 6, my favorite, the perfect Caravan sound and so much more), percs and vibrato (num 7), percs, modulation and octaves (num 8) and punchy attack and high octave (num 9)!!...you can mix-in your original guitar sound or use a hot signal with one pickup and have a seperate dry signal or another pickup on your guitar with a dry signal going to a separate input on your amp and blend those two together!!...I mean, that's totaly amazing!!...bring it in lightly or use it full blown, you will be blown away by this pedal that brings inspiration to your playing!!...mix all of that with a delay and reverb and you are on your way to new musical heights!!...launch

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August 23, 2020

@Rootwitch06

Mine arrives tomorrow... I typically play with keyboard players when the budget allows, but this is great for those gigs that are only budgeted for a 3-piece. Add a little flare to old school songs. I also plan to use it during solo gigs with my RC-300 sampler. I use the RC's octave effect to loop bass, and either loop my own percussion or use the built in drum machine, and loop some backing guitar - This pedal will be great for adding some keys too. \n\nThanks for the demo. Nice to hear a demo where a guitarist treats it as a real keyboard, and not as a keyboard-guitar effect for solos...launch

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October 7, 2015