Anyone else try the EHX Key 9 ??

Steel guitar amplifiers, effects, etc.

Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn

Post Reply
User avatar
Karen Sarkisian
Posts: 1703
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 7:03 pm
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Contact:

Anyone else try the EHX Key 9 ??

Post by Karen Sarkisian »

I bought one today. Trying to decide whether to keep it or exchange it for a C9 or B9. Gotta play with it some more, mainly got it because I sometimes play with a modern country band that wants a faux keys sound on some tunes. Just wondering if any steel players are using it or if everyones using the B9/C9.
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery
User avatar
Erv Niehaus
Posts: 26797
Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

Karen,
I think if you will do a search here on the Forum you will find some previous discussion on the subject. :D
User avatar
Adam Tracksler
Posts: 522
Joined: 30 Dec 2013 11:11 am
Location: Maine, USA
Contact:

Post by Adam Tracksler »

I had one, loved it, sold it in a weird pedal purge fit. I would like it again.
User avatar
Karen Sarkisian
Posts: 1703
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 7:03 pm
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Contact:

Post by Karen Sarkisian »

Adam did you have the Key 9 or one of the other ones ?
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery
Robert Bunting
Posts: 59
Joined: 18 Sep 2011 8:54 am
Location: New York, USA

Post by Robert Bunting »

Post a video of it Karen!!
User avatar
Adam Tracksler
Posts: 522
Joined: 30 Dec 2013 11:11 am
Location: Maine, USA
Contact:

Post by Adam Tracksler »

Karen Sarkisian wrote:Adam did you have the Key 9 or one of the other ones ?
The key 9.
User avatar
Mark van Allen
Posts: 6378
Joined: 26 Sep 1999 12:01 am
Location: Watkinsville, Ga. USA
Contact:

Post by Mark van Allen »

Hi, Karen, I haven't had a chance to try the Key 9 yet, in fact I'm more interested in the Mel 9 next… but if you're thinking about the various models, here's a link to Tom Bradshaw's sales page for the B9 with some demo tracks I did that may help you decide if that one would be useful. http://www.songwriter.com/bradshaw/organ_simulator.php
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com
www.musicfarmstudio.com
User avatar
Godfrey Arthur
Posts: 2997
Joined: 12 Dec 2012 5:46 pm
Location: 3rd Rock

Post by Godfrey Arthur »

Organ players hate it. They call it the "benign" but that aside, it allows for some fun.
ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7
User avatar
Karen Sarkisian
Posts: 1703
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 7:03 pm
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Contact:

Post by Karen Sarkisian »

I will post some clips soon. I need to get my studio set up for videos, etc. Been playing with the Key 9. also ordered a C9 so I can compare them. One of them will be returned :?
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery
User avatar
Karen Sarkisian
Posts: 1703
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 7:03 pm
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Contact:

Post by Karen Sarkisian »

I got the C9 today. definitely prefer the Key 9 so the C9's going back. Will post Key 9 video this weekend for anyone who is interested. I have found at least a few settings on the Key 9 that I can use in a modern country band without a keyboard. Hoping between this thing and the banjo I can keep working here in Boston where the designated steel gigs seem to have dried up (at least for me they have) :(
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery
Robert Bunting
Posts: 59
Joined: 18 Sep 2011 8:54 am
Location: New York, USA

Any Clips?

Post by Robert Bunting »

Any clips of this pedal with pedal steel?
User avatar
Bobby Snell
Posts: 517
Joined: 28 Jan 1999 1:01 am
Location: Austin, Texas

Post by Bobby Snell »

I'd like to hear some examples, Karen, also!

After resisting the Key-9 temptation for months, I got one last week. The first time I tried it was before Saturday gig (drummer yelled 'Steel drums!' in recognition at one point); I couldn't find anything to use for the show but did some experimenting yesterday.

It has me wondering if a different bar might be called for.

While actual piano sounds escape me, there were some very interesting and different sounds available.

For the record, I have a B-9 and run it into Boss RT-20 swirly box, and can get some simple organ pads that sound good.

Both pedals work best, IME, directly out of guitar before the volume pedal.
User avatar
Karen Sarkisian
Posts: 1703
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 7:03 pm
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Contact:

Post by Karen Sarkisian »

I ended up returning the pedal after bringing it to a rehearsal and realizing it wasnt for me. I think if it was less expensive I probably would have kept it. I returned it and bought a chorus pedal and a fulltone ocd :lol:
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery
User avatar
Erv Niehaus
Posts: 26797
Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

Karen,
I had one too for a while and sent it back. I wanted it for the vibes sound and was disappointed.
Len Amaral
Posts: 4818
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Rehoboth,MA 02769

Post by Len Amaral »

I did a demo on the B9 organ machine. I thought it was a nice unit and a realistic organ sound. EH has interesting pedals and hope they come out with a string machine that does the multi violin pads as that would be useful.

Go to YouTube and type in Leonard Amaral under the search and you will see the demo I did on the EH organ machine.
User avatar
Erv Niehaus
Posts: 26797
Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

Len,
I like the B9 pedal.

BTW: I got your PayPal payment, thanks!! :D
User avatar
Karen Sarkisian
Posts: 1703
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 7:03 pm
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Contact:

Post by Karen Sarkisian »

yeah at some point I will probably pick up the original B9 used if I find a good deal.
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery
User avatar
Jerry Overstreet
Posts: 12622
Joined: 11 Jul 2000 12:01 am
Location: Louisville Ky

Post by Jerry Overstreet »

I watched the EHX demos on all 3 of these. In his accomplished guitar pickin' hands they all sound pretty danged good. Of course their purpose is to lure you into buying the products, so there are some backing tracks etc. in some of them.

I can see how these can really be helpful to ones sound[s] and the bands overall versatility.

As in all these things, it helps if you know something about the instruments you're trying to emulate and how they are supposed to sound. A pretty large learning curve with the manuals and the various knob controls in each mode can take a lot of time....something a lot of players are not willing or don't have the time to invest.

What I like about these so much is that unlike midi, there are no issues with glitches, lost notes, polyphony etc.

I can see daisy chaining the B9 for classic organ tones with the Key9 for the wurlis and other electric piano sounds into the a/b switcher. Also having the devices where you can reach the controls as you play. I thought the Farfisa sound on the C9 was particularly good as well.

Enjoyed your demo too Len.
Last edited by Jerry Overstreet on 20 Sep 2016 10:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Erv Niehaus
Posts: 26797
Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

Karen,
They also make a Leslie pedal called the Lester G, you've got to give that a try also.
I am using that in conjunction with the B9.
User avatar
Karen Sarkisian
Posts: 1703
Joined: 29 Mar 2009 7:03 pm
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Contact:

Post by Karen Sarkisian »

Erv Niehaus wrote:Karen,
They also make a Leslie pedal called the Lester G, you've got to give that a try also.
I am using that in conjunction with the B9.
thanks Erv !
Emmons PP, Mullen G2 and Discovery
User avatar
Jerry Overstreet
Posts: 12622
Joined: 11 Jul 2000 12:01 am
Location: Louisville Ky

Post by Jerry Overstreet »

Erv, you got any examples to share with the B9 and the Lester combo?
User avatar
Erv Niehaus
Posts: 26797
Joined: 10 Aug 2001 12:01 am
Location: Litchfield, MN, USA

Post by Erv Niehaus »

Jerry,
Sorry, but I don't have anything. :(
Erv
User avatar
Bobby Snell
Posts: 517
Joined: 28 Jan 1999 1:01 am
Location: Austin, Texas

Post by Bobby Snell »

It was Len's demo that convinced me to get a B-9!
User avatar
Carl Mesrobian
Posts: 1615
Joined: 9 Sep 2011 7:55 am
Location: Salem, Massachusetts, USA

Post by Carl Mesrobian »

I'm not familiar with the B9, but I have a Pog 2 but don't use it - for now. These are cool gadgets worth investigating, IMO :)

http://www.ehx.com/products/pog2

Here's Doug Beaumier using a POG2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm4lcdLaN54
--carl

"The better it gets, the fewer of us know it." Ray Brown
Post Reply