Keyztone's EXchanger Pro is an even smarter, more Evolved and Advanced Analog Pickup Modeller and Enhancer

Keyztone’s EXchanger Analog Pickup Modellers are based on the science of the key Resonant Frequencies of Pickups - and how you can manipulate your own guitar’s pickup/s’ output to more closely match the character of entirely different styles and types of pickups - so that single-coils can get thicker and heavier, and humbuckers can get brighter and more sparkly - as you wish.

You can also use the EXchanger to simply and subtly enhance the character of your favourite pickup rather than model an entirely different one. This technique has reached its peak in the EXchanger Pro Edition - which is more refined and authentic than ever before and now comes in a compact 1590B-size enclosure. We lose the former pedal’s second footswitch which allowed you to step through the different profiles - while there were no presets on that model and no MIDI connectivity - where the new EXchanger Pro has both - I do kind of miss the ability to foot-switch between modes - while I guess those that really care about that can use MIDI / a MIDI Switcher to do the same.

The former model was significantly larger and its 3 controls weren’t quite as impactful - a Dark to Bright EQ, Level Adjust, and an On/Off Bright Boost Switch. The more evolved device lets you Tweak both core Resonant Frequency as well as the Q Bandwidth - which is a really smart and elegant way to adjust your pickup character - and wholly in keeping with that electro-magnetic science. On the newer device you can also select and fix your input pickup type - Single Coil or Humbucker - and then save a Pickup Profile alongside F & Q Resonant Values, and preferred output Level. 

The device is a joy to deploy and totally does what I need it to do - which is to turn my main and principal dual humbucker guitar into a Strat or a Tele when I most need those flavours - for certain funky Nile Rodgers style strumming say or to get the most out of a particular fuzz type.

Going from Humbucker to Single Coil types is particularly impressive from my perspective - while adjusting within humbucker types is more nuanced. It still takes a wee while to get to grips with the feel and impact of the controls - and your should note that the final Level segment CW - engages a further boost - so you can simply use this pedal for a solo boost should you need to - it does that pretty well too! Mostly though. it allows you to get more flavours out of your one or two favourite guitars - such that said effortless playability can be easily turned to further styles.

For me this technology gets better and better every year, and it’s much closer / more authentic for me than doing coil-splits or similar. There are some really very complicated Pickup Modellers out there - while this one is expansive - as well as being incredibly easy to use. It won’t suit everyone, and some purists might get pernickety about some tiny nuance that only people with super-sonic hearing can discern. For most of us this technology is pretty darn great - and it really works!

I’ve been an advocate of Keyztone’s devices almost from the start - and have near enough always had one of these pedals on the board - first the original EXchanger, then the Rekoil Mini White (Humbucker to Single Coil) which was mostly pretty good, but really needed 1 more control - and now this EXchanger Pro which is a further massive step forwards - with still more refinement and nuance.