Confessions of a Klon Centwhore

jimzucco

jimzucco

New member
Well guys, it's 2021 and I JUST found out what a Klon Centaur is, the crushing realization that I can't get one, and that I need to have one so I can get more better at guitar. I was always an amp guy and only recently got into pedals at all. The Arion Tubulator collecting dust in the back of an old Yamaha amp in the closet for the last 15 years had been the extent of my pedal collection until recently.

So anyway I absolutely need a Klon because, well, you know. I decided late last night to use the most effective method of gear shopping I know how to use - you sort that MF by price, low to high, and buy the most expensive you can afford! Using this refined and proven tactic, I ended up with a Soul Food by Electro Harmonix.

My pedal will ship in the next few days and we're probably looking at like, idk, 6-7 days or so that I have to experience buyers remorse and/or look into what I purchased without any consultation or research. Hey, it was a Klon emergency, I'm sure you understand.

So how did I do? I will post my update when I receive the pedal. But really, anyone have a Soul Food, or just general Klon clone opinions? How badly do you need your Klon? Will I be able to toss my tube screamer off the board? Will I put it in front of my chain or in the middle?

Honestly guys, I just had a few hundred bucks to burn and thought I'd grab a couple toys. I am truly making a thread about this to let you all know how gullible I am - and to prime the pumps of excitement while I wait for my pedal to arrive. Any and all Klon discussion welcome. Tell me I'm a dumbass. Tell me I made a great decision. Tell me all about your own impulsivity issues (I happen to be a mental health counselor).
 
The Soul Food is a worthy Klone, for a great price. I don't own a Klon, but have played one, I would direct you to either the RYRA Klone, or the J. Rockett Archer Ikon, BOTH of those pedals sound very close (if not identical) to the Klon Centaur.
 
the soul food is a damn fine overdrive, its kinda klon like but you can tell the difference. the j rocket archer is damn close to a real klon. enjoy your new toy!
 
I'm confused

Something called Soul Food is meant to be a KlonClone???

How the HELL did the manufacturer expect us to deduce that???
 
Adieu said:
I'm confused

Something called Soul Food is meant to be a KlonClone???

How the HELL did the manufacturer expect us to deduce that???
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought the same thing. Besides everyone on the internet just saying it is a Klone, they market it as a "transparent overdrive" which is one of those Klon buzzwords. They do talk all about the Klon on the product page on their website. But it's sure not plainly obvious from looking at it.
 
I A/B'd a dozen clones..... JRocket Archer Ikon was my favorite, and I broke the jack on tour (my fault -not the pedal quality) -called Jay (he answers the phone BTW) and he sent me the parts the next day (would have repaired it if I wanted to send it to him in Colorado). My only point in typing this is if you want to feed the high quality smaller companies who make great pedals and are a wash in a sea of a red ocean market of cheap plastic import pedal models -JRockett is a good one to support and keep alive. But, don't get me wrong -the imports have their important place here too.

The Tumnus mini was my favorite mid priced one, and for inexpensive the -The Soul Food is good too.
 
If you're gonna do something in life and you're serious about it ("I need a Klon so I can get better on guitar") - as much as humanly possibly, go for broke.

If you can't go for broke, then get the next best thing.

Should have got a J. Rockett Archer IKON.

Better to get the more expensive item that actually delivers, versus buying the cheap one that's "OK", getting dissatisfied, selling it, then buying another cheap one that's "OK", getting dissatisfied with that one, selling that one, repeat ad infinitum...
 
While I'm generally of the opinion that, if you want The Thing, you should buy The Thing, rather than The Thing That's Like The Thing*, the Soul Food is a legit good pedal and I've never found price alone to be a great indictor of how much I'd like a given pedal.


*-there have been plenty of Things That Are Like Other Things that have become The Thing that I wanted, but that's neither here nor there.

LLL said:
Better to get the more expensive item that actually delivers, versus buying the cheap one that's "OK", getting dissatisfied, selling it, then buying another cheap one that's "OK", getting dissatisfied with that one, selling that one, repeat ad infinitum...
Click to expand...
 
St_Genesius said:
While I'm generally of the opinion that, if you want The Thing, you should buy The Thing, rather than The Thing That's Like The Thing*, the Soul Food is a legit good pedal and I've never found price alone to be a great indictor of how much I'd like a given pedal.


*-there have been plenty of Things That Are Like Other Things that have become The Thing that I wanted, but that's neither here nor there.
Click to expand...

I get that, but this is sort of a different case. There are Things That Are Like Other Things that sound identical. And it is silly to pay the collector prices these days. It isn't like wanting a Gibson V and 'settling' for the Epi.
 
Another great klone is the Mythical Overdrive from Rimrock. Sounds fabulous.
If you have the budget there's even a fine-tuned Vintage Spec version made with NOS parts.

Two minor considerations to be aware of:
It's slightly larger than an MXR (but the jacks ore top mount which saves some space).
No battery lead; it requires remote power (standard 9V)

Been very happy with mine for a number of years.
 
I think I spoke ineloquently. I guess my main point is that framing the Soul Food as a "cheap, but ok" alternative to, say, a Rockett Archer is, imo, a little off-base. It's straight up good, regardless of the price.

Mincer said:
I get that, but this is sort of a different case. There are Things That Are Like Other Things that sound identical. And it is silly to pay the collector prices these days. It isn't like wanting a Gibson V and 'settling' for the Epi.
Click to expand...
 
St_Genesius said:
Relevant: https://youtu.be/8tjQXTMfxYY
Click to expand...

This video really only proves one sure thing to me -that all of the pedals on the market are very good to great

-I wouldn't get wrapped up in the differences from this video's methodology -because they are not comparing the tone knob or the tone knob at different gain settings which depending on the pedal is always a huge part of dialing in a clone -one pedals "fat" may live at another pedals "honk" on the tone dial and gain dial positions. Also -a more neutral pickup and a HB would be useful -I find the Strat to be distracting in my mind often -because my brain goes into "is this Hendrix tone" mode

but to Andertons point -that would be a long *ss video..

I think a more interesting video would be to try and match these pedals tone to the original Klon at a few different settings -as that would give you relative performance which would be a scientific result with different conclusions -as trying to do an absolute preference of a pedals "best" setting is a highly subjective and personal experience -but also interesting.
 
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