THE GOAT OF MODDED CRUNCH


Meet the KALI® PRE-AMP / DISTORTION – the next evolution in Fortin tone.

Hot off the heels of the game-changing NATAS® and MESHUGGAH pedals, KALI® is the third installment in our preamp series, bringing the fire of our legendary amps straight to your pedalboard.

Inspired by the iconic Fortin® CALI® Amp - born from Mike Fortin’s deep roots in amp modding (and a nod to Jose Arredondo’s revolutionary work), KALI® captures everything from vintage Plexi sparkle all the way to full-throttle modern metal mayhem.

This pedal doesn’t just bring the thunder - it defines it. With switchable gain modes (VINT, SAT, RAW), a three-position bright switch for each gain control, and an active 3-band EQ, KALI® puts a universe of tones at your feet. With the addition of an extra stomp for even more gain, you've got a tool that outclasses every M-style preamp out there.

KALI® - A vintage foundation honoring decades of design with modern enhancement. Be unlimited

Versatility

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

2 Channels

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


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.


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