Klon Centaur

[Robert]

So I saw Jeff Beck has a Klon Centaur. A quick look on ebay indicates sellers are letting them go for $1.000 - $1,499.99 :socool

Insane.

What's so special about them?

I am bit intrigued now. Are there any good Klon Clones that are very similar sounding for less moolah? Not that I need any more pedals, but curiosity is taking over my sense of judgment.

 

[Spudman]

GAS is a terrible thing, eh?

That is an insane price. I'll bet someone makes something close though.

 

[Eric]

I think DVM has had his and a friend's Klon Clone for sale here before, or at least the latter. I was considering buying it until I realized that I probably wouldn't use it much. Supposedly they do a good job as a boost, or at least that's the word on the street. I'd like to try one someday, but I think they've reached the point where the hype has exceeded the merit of the pedal, though they are supposedly a very good pedal.

 

[duhvoodooman]

The Klon Centaur was a boutique overdrive/boost pedal hand-made by a guy named Bill Finnegan that first appeared in 1994, I think. The circuit design is quite unique compared to most overdrives, and the pedal has a fairly distinctive smooth overdriven tone. The Klon was reputedly equally effective as an overdrive or (with the gain control turned down) as a clean boost. It quickly established a reputation as a very well made and extremely good sounding pedal, and the waiting list grew long and the price rose.

When he was making them, they sold for about $400, I think. He ceased production in December 2009; I'm not aware of the reason why. Anyway, between the reputation it had established and the lack of supply of new ones, the price on used Klons started going up....and up....and UP! It's a good sounding pedal, but only a fool or a rich man would pay $1000+ for one.

Yes, you can get a good Klon clone (widely known as a Klone, ha-ha). I recently built one myself from a new PCB available from GuitarPCB.com, called the MKC-1 Mini-Klon. You can see a couple of photos in THIS POST on the BYOC forums. Coincidentally, I recently posted here on behalf of a fellow moderator over at the BYOC forums who was looking to sell one of those clones. You could have gotten it for a mere $80:

http://www.thefret.net/showthread.php/19148

Robert, I could put you in touch with him if you're interested in buying one. I'm pretty sure he's still making them to order, but I'm guessing that it would run a bit more than $80....

 

[Robert]

Ahh, I missed that deal. So how can I get one now... hehe ?

 

[Neal]

Robert. Have you seen this?

http://vimeo.com/11114758

 

[Robert]

Robert. Have you seen this?

http://vimeo.com/11114758

Yep. Saw that.

 

[Ch0jin]

Madbean used to have Klones too if your keen to DIY. It's like that booteek cousin, the King of Tone. I made one and it's a nice pedal, but there's no chance I'd pay the asking price and wait over a year to have one made. Unless of course I could be bothered using it and then selling it on for a profit as seems to be done a bit.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Madbean used to have Klones too if your keen to DIY.

Not any more. He discontinued his "Sun King" Klon clone.

 

[Robert]

DVM, how does that Klone sound in comparison pedals you have made? Any similarity to ZYS?