Perhaps a reference to the mythological three-headed beast or, intended to represent the power and characteristics of water, in either way one is so inclined to think of it, by providing the traditional effects of Reverb & Tremolo/Vibrato, the Keeley Hydra serves as a fantastic pedal to perfectly finish off one’s pedalboard.
[Quick Conclusions First]
For those that like to skip to the end, I’ve made this very easy …
The core functions and control mechanics are the strengths of this pedal; three absolutely solid reverb algorithms, three unique modulation options, three presets, expandable control options, and other meaningful utility features are all included. Encased in a standard sized enclosure, there are a multitude of onboard controls allowing one to quickly dial in desired settings while providing carefully chosen assignments for secondary controls (as needed), all facilitating a healthy sense of steadiness as one sets off on their exploration.
For those giving careful consideration to the Hydra, there are a few constructive critiques I walked away with after a few weeks of use. One or two of the ‘bonus’ features relating to the reverb effects were a bit underwhelming (to be explained more later) and, in having bigger hands, the top set of controls and switch placement can make things feel a bit cramped when needing to make quick adjustments. To the first concern, this is certainly a matter of taste and, when one considers it more of an add-on than that of a core function, it should not be assigned that much weight when determining the overall value of the pedal. To the second point, when providing this many on-board controls on a pedal of this size, I think the Keeley team provided a very effective and efficient layout that retains a clean design aesthetic.
[Context & Disclaimer]
To say these past twelve months were strange and chaotic would be the understatement of the year. Between the pandemic and our national elections, one could be forgiven if they found it difficult to keep up with anything else much less the latest news and updates from the music industry. With little ability to do much else at times, many turned to our instruments and these forums as a welcomed escape. That said, it remains completely understandable if various product announcements and related launches slipped past one’s radar.
I think I was mid doom-scrolling on the phone or, perhaps just browsing the forums one day when, out of the blue, the Keeley Hydra made its existence known, instantly catching my attention. I remember quickly jumping into some initial research, excitement and interest piqued, before being promptly dragged away by the distractions of life, not to think of it again for another month or two.
Of no surprise to forum veterans, I happened across one of the countless threads asking for alternatives to the Strymon Flint, the unofficial standard-bearer of trem/verb combo pedals. It was then that the Keeley Hydra came racing back to mind. I proceeded to watch the usual youtube videos but, in not having played the pedal personally, I only felt comfortable in raising awareness of the Hydra as a possible choice in forum discussions.
Given the popularity of this discussion, I reached out to the fine folks at Keeley to inquire if they might have some interest in a forum-based user review to include some element of ‘ compare & contrast’ to the Strymon Flint. After thoughtful discussion they kindly agreed to provide a demo unit with no preset expectations or explicit obligations (read: this was my idea and I’m not being paid.) Also, they were given no advanced viewing and will be reading this at the very same time as all of you if not after.
[Reverb & Tremolo, the Classic Pairing]
Well documented as to ‘the why’ and history, Reverb and Tremolo have commonly been included as a classic pairing of effects on guitar amplifiers from the early days of electric guitars. The Keeley Hydra sets aim to recreate this magic combo while providing modern day features and expanded functionality. After two weeks of thorough exploration and enjoyment thereof, I can easily and honestly say that the Hydra absolutely hits the mark.
Important side note: this is not Keely’s first pedal to deliver this combination of effects; the company still offers the Verb o Trem. It is however, a more complete solution offering greater independence of controls and usage of said effects.
On receiving the pedal, I purposefully opened the box and added it to the board without pre-reading the instructions (usually not a good idea); this, wanting to get a good feel for the intuitiveness of the control scheme and ease of navigation between settings. The momentary toggle switch quickly caught me by surprise but everything else was rather straightforward and well labeled. The use of a dual-purpose dial/push control at the center position is appreciated for its central location to the other controls, allowing for easy adjustment of secondary settings while not overcrowding the overall face/layout of the pedal. Perhaps something others would have quickly figured out, my first peek into the manual was in effort to learn how one switches between the modulation types – expectantly, it was simple enough.
Considering a holistic view of the control mechanics, I found Keeley to have established a healthy balance of primary and secondary controls and, of equal importance, properly prioritized and assigned the controls for optimal/ease of use and access accordingly. To this point, all but the Reverb Modifier [Mix Knob] and Modulation Selection [Option Switch] have been assigned to more utility-esqe functions: trem sync, trem level, effect order, and wet/dry configuration.
It’s here that I will highlight my first bit of constructive critique; the option switch is placed so very close to the middle control that, for someone with bigger hands and clumsy thumbs, it feels a tad cramped. If the switch and labels were all shifted down by just three or four centimeters, I believe it would provide one just the right amount of space to comfortably navigate said controls.
Before moving on from control mechanics, I’ll take this opportunity to highlight the ease of use and navigation of the preset system – simple enough even when switching by foot.
[Reflections on the Reverbs]
While there is certainly a subjective element inherent to such reviews, I confidently put forth that the reverb algorithms found on the Hyrda are of absolute solid quality. As I quite enjoyed the chamber reverb on the 30ms Double Tracker and, very often recommend the Aurora, it is safe to say that the team at Keeley continues to move forward in the right directions here.
Specific to the spring algorithm, there are debates to be found ad nauseam as to the level of authenticity and successful emulation, certainly the Source Audio True Spring is a crowd favorite and, as this continues to remain a matter of opinion, I will simply share that after spending hours, days, weeks, and months hands-on with countless reverb pedals, the Hydra spring algorithm excels; finding great comfort in spanning the range between amp and outboard-style implementations. With the settings increased, there is certainly a surf vibe to be enjoyed.
The Plate and Room algorithms provide a nice range of projected size and, to each, one can easily hear the nuanced traits of the medium (i.e. I get a visceral sense of response from the vibrating metal plate or, feel the reverberations off the surrounding walls providing hints as their material composition.) From my explorations over these past few weeks, I would suggest that for the larger room sizes to be found here, the effect is more cathedral-esqe than hall, and/or chamber-like in medium sized spaces; this, as I the reflections/trails provide a more articulate simulated response (like waves bouncing off tile surfaces) as compared to the diffusion that would occur with softer materials present.
Thanks to easily accessible secondary controls, the Keeley offers a customized attribute for each algorithm: Spring = age/vitality of the physical springs (e.g. punchy vs diffused), Plate = added Shimmer, and Room = size of space (this in addition to the dwell). It is here where put forth my second constructive critique: the shimmer effect, as implemented, left me a bit underwhelmed. Used with nuanced settings, it adds some very nice complimentary tones to the natural reflections of the plate. With more intense settings, and as the control is limited to dialing in an cascading octave-up shimmer, I found that it can play a touch of tug-of-war against the natural decay of the plate, especially when the higher frequencies are dampened via the tone control (read: a darker plate fades quicker vs. the rising shimmer tones). Just a suggestion that no one asked for, it would have been ideal if the shimmer control was neutral at the noon position with, in turning clockwise one was provided an octave-up shimmer and, adjusting clockwise from center provided an octave-down shimmer — with intensity ramped thereof. When considering this thought and keeping a healthy perspective, I’m discussing a bonus feature that may or may not see great usage to begin with (i.e. one’s motivations for purchasing the Hydra are probably never going to be focused on its shimmer feature).
[Diversity of Modulation]
Keeping this section succinct, the key takeaway here is that the Hydra offers three very complimentary and diverse selections of modulation appropriate for use towards the end of one’s effect chain to include: tremolo, harmonic tremolo, and vibrato. If ever to have been included on a classic amp, one will find it here …. well, for the most part at least (read: I am thinking of the chorus included on the Roland JC-120). The standard controls are provided in addition to a secondary level control to compensate for any perceived drop in volume with the effect engaged. Additionally, the order of the modulation and reverbs can be easily switched. I successfully dialed in a whole host of standard tones often associated with said effects.
[Concluding Thoughts]
I’ve already shared my conclusions at the start of this review but will take this opportunity to reiterate my opinion that the Keeley Hydra is an exceptional pedal that successfully brings together the classic effects of Reverb and Tremolo/Vibrato to include helpful pre-amp utility/routing functions. As with all of my reviews, I will keep tabs on the ensuing discussion and answer questions as best possible. As more time is spent with the pedal, I will make a point of updating this review if my thoughts were to change or there is something new to add.
As I have said many times before, guitar pedals and effects are not a one-size fit all sort of products, what I might enjoy and works well for my needs may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Accordingly, I try to focus on things like feature sets, control mechanics, etc. vs that of making bold proclamations like “this is the best, most authentic reverb ever”. Be sure to have fun and enjoy the journey! Thanks again to the Keeley Team for indulging me in this project and providing a demo unit to complete the exercise.
