Graduated in electrical engineering from the University of Oklahoma, Robert KEELEY founded his company at home in Oklahoma City in 2001. Initially planning to start manufacturing guitar amplifiers, he quickly realized that this market was saturated and would become even more so in the future. Thus, while teaching at a small technical university and employing some of his best students, he decided to rebuild and modify old effect units, starting with a Ross compressor. At that time, the industry had few major players in handmade effects pedal manufacturing, and his business took off quickly, helped by a reputation for high quality and prestigious clients such as Brad Paisley. Modified versions of the Ibanez TS9 were used by Peter Frampton, Jon Heringtone (Steely Dan), and Ike Willis. Since then, Robert KEELEY has been developing his own effect pedals, while considering that part of his success is due to the careful selection of low tolerance electronic components.