The Ultimate Modded Marshall in a Box: KALI® Preamp & Distortion

Experience the definitive evolution of the "Modified British" sound. The KALI® is the third installment in the legendary Fortin preamp series, engineered to bring the searing heat of our world-renowned modded amps directly to your pedalboard.

The Heritage of the "Jose Mod" - Inspired by the iconic Fortin® CALI® amplifier, the KALI® is a masterclass in amp modding history. Mike Fortin’s design pays direct homage to the revolutionary Jose Arredondo mods that defined the "Brown Sound" and transformed the vintage Plexi into a high-gain monster. Whether you are hunting for classic Plexi sparkle or the brutal, saturated growl of a hot-rodded JCM800, the KALI® delivers.

Unrivaled Tonal Versatility Unlike standard MIAB (Marshall in a Box) pedals that offer a single sound, KALI® provides a universe of modified tones through three switchable gain modes:

- VINT: The classic, touch-responsive "Plexi on 10" experience.
- SAT: The legendary saturation mod—compressed, fluid, and harmonically rich.
- RAW: Unfiltered, modern high-gain aggression for the heaviest stages.

Precision Engineering for the Discerning Player

- Dual Gain Controls: Each featuring a 3-position Bright Switch to dial in the perfect "bite" for any guitar.
- Active 3-Band EQ: Powerful tone-shaping that goes far beyond vintage passive stacks.
- Boost Stomp: An assignable gain stage for instant transition from rhythm to searing lead.

The KALI® is more than a pedal—it’s a vintage foundation honoring decades of British design with Mike Fortin’s modern enhancements. Stop searching for the perfect modded Marshall tone and start playing it.

Be Unlimited. Be KALI®.

2 Channels

Kick in that gain boost to make your tone go straight to the land of chugs!

Versatility

3 gain options, each gain control has a three way bright switch

The finer details...

Controls

On - True bypass, relay based soft footswitch - KALI® will power up in the same state it was powered off.
CH 1/2 -CH 2 adds an extra gain stage (gain control knob 1)
Gain 1 -The amount of additional gain in the gain boost of CH 2 (Red channel) with its own 3-way Bright switch.
Gain 2 - The amount of gain applied to the circuit, with its own 3-way Bright switch.
BASS - Active circuitry, controls how much bass is added, or taken away.
MID - Active circuitry, adjusts how much mid range is present, or taken away.
TREBLE - Active circuitry, controls the High frequencies.
MASTER - This is where the secret sauce is hidden. You have three modes and each one will change the way the pedal feels and reacts to your playing.
VINT: This is where you will find the most "Vintage sound and feel" of the pedal, some brightness is added and a level of compression that makes the pedal feel like a pushed Plexi - think chimey Hendrix all the way to live Kossof, when CH 2 is selected, you can add a modern mod to the circuit, giving you the place where modern gain was born.
RAW: No additional gain stages added, this is the pedal in its most natural state.
SAT: The classic Fortin saturation, at lower levels the volume will drop and the saturation is evident. As you bring the level up, the volume drop is less noticable, but the level of compression will increase, giving you that HUGE 'tube-amp-being-pushed-to-its-limits" feel.

Technical

Built in U.S.A.
Highest grade materials selected for superior sound, response and reliability.
Industry standard DPDT relay true bypass switching.
9vDC center-pin negative (fully regulated) external adapter/power supply only (not included).
Power draw: 115mA @ 9vDC.
Pedal Dimensions (W/D/H): 4.8” x 2.64” x 1.6” (122mm x 67mm x 39.5mm) excluding knobs and switches.
Shipping Weight: 0.4kg
Includes Fortin’s limited 1-year warranty.
Ships globally – all published prices are USD.

Frequently asked Questions

Why is the pedal called KALI® if it was named after the Cali amp?

Our good friends over at Origin Effects already have a line of pedals under the name of Cali. We sought permission from them to call our amp Cali, and they graciously agreed.

Making a Pre-Amp pedal would be too close to their products, so we decided to call the pedal KALI® to ensure there is no confusion between the two.

Is the EQ active or passive?

The EQ is a hugely responsive 3 band active EQ, so you don't just cut frequencies, you can boost them!

Is the pedal the same as the CALI® amp from Fortin?

Mike got as close as he could to the tone, and most importantly, the feel of the amp. If you are to run the KALI® pedal into the power section of a the CALI® amp, or even into the IR section of the NEURAL DSP CALI suite, the tonal differences are extremely hard to hear.

Where are Fortin Pedals made?

All Fortin pedals are made in the U.S.A.