KSR Ceres

KSR CERES 3 Channel High Gain Preamp

The CERES preamp, contains KSR’s signature tones from three of our full-size tube amplifiers – the Ares, the Artemis/Gemini, and the Colossus.

Ultimately, the CERES preamp distills our KSR sound into a small package, it features many of the same functions present on all our amps — such as the Mode, Feel, and Bright switches. Moreover, this pedal provides the ultimate mobile tone versatility from weekend gigs to fly rigs. It also delivers the KSR signature sound to any board or interface for live and studio applications.

Main Features:

• 3 Channel preamp effects pedal
• Designed to offer the high-gain tones of KSR’s Ares, Artemis/Gemini, and Colossus full-size amps
• Active 3-Band EQ – for detailed tone-scuplting
• Designed to work as Preamp into an amps effects loop return or in front of an amp
• Bright, Feel and Mode switches to mirror the functionality of KSR amps
• Unique backlit KSR logo status indicator – clearly indicates pedals channel and bypass settings at a glance
• 3.5 mm TRS control input for external switching via e.g. KSR EX5
• Top-Mounted jacks and selectable True/Buffered/Clean Bypass Switching
• Manufactured in USA
• Powered by opt. 9V DC PSU (centre -, 2.1 mm, 200 mA max. current draw)

Top mounted jacks allow for easy integration into your existing pedal board. Unique to our pedal operation, we include 3 bypass modes — True Bypass, Buffered Bypass, and Clean Bypass. In True and Buffered bypass the pedal operates as expected, no tonal coloration. The Clean Bypass mode enables the top row of Tone and Volume knobs accessing the Clean channel. These various Bypass Modes allow for integration into any style of rig — from driving a power amp directly (Clean mode), hitting a clean amp down the chain on your pedal board (True Bypass mode), or at the start of your pedal board, driving your other pedals into a clean amp (Buffered mode).

Both of Cere’s distortion channels have the same switches and controls, and work in the same manner. However, Rhythm is inherently tighter and more aggressive than the Lead channel. Lead is more compressed and smoother and fatter overall. The Clean channel is not designed to get the “pushed” sound with the Level increased, rather it is designed to stay clean. The gain controls in all channels feature the same range from clean to saturated signals and operate as close as possible to the full size KSR amps. They function without any unwanted top-end artifacts typically associated with solid-state circuits. The CERES EQ options then make for a highly versatile Pre-Amp pedal giving you as much control.

The operating method the CERES was designed to work best with, is to run it into the input of the effects loop return of any amplifier head or directly into a power amp, but it will also work just as well when run into a clean channel with some EQ tweaking. The CERES includes two integrated footswitch buttons to activate the 3 channels. The left button toggles between Bypass and Rhythm/Lead. The right button toggles between Rhythm and Lead. With the Bypass Mode switch set to Clean, bypassing the pedal actually activates the Clean channel. We are proudly manufacturing this pedal completely in our Cincinnati facility. CNC machining, powder coating, laser etching, circuit board assembly are all performed under our roof — no outsourcing.