Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

Lewguitar

Lewguitar

New member
Ok...that first post went south.

Let’s try again.

I’m noticing the prices of used Klon KTR pedals going through the roof.

And new ones don’t seem to be available unless it’s new/old stock...and the prices are $400 and as high as $700.

So whether you love the Klon or not (Jeff Beck is a Klon lover, BTW...) what’s up?

Has Bill stopped making the Klon KTR?

Why all the nutso high prices all of a sudden on Reverb and eBay?

Anyone know?
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

no idea. still cheaper than the klon :D
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

jeremy said:
no idea. still cheaper than the klon :D
Click to expand...

That’s a fact.

I went to Bill’s website and it never loaded. Just stayed black. He must be overwealmed again or something.

All of the online dealers I contacted who list the Klon KTR as being in stock and $279 , are in reality out of stock.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

I see an Archer Ikon in my future.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

Joe Bonamassa is probably hoarding them all. Or eating them.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

Granted I've never tried one... but I don't get all the hoo-hah about this.

I mean, how good could they possibly be?

If I bought one and stomped on the activation switch, would I be seeing Alexander Dumble with an ODS in one hand
and a Big Mac in the other? :naughty:
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

B2D said:
Joe Bonamassa is probably hoarding them all. Or eating them.
Click to expand...

No, because pedals are for people trying to cover up their lack of talent. Eating them would only make him weaker.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

Little Pigbacon said:
I see an Archer Ikon in my future.
Click to expand...

If you can find one, try a Wampler Tumnus too. It's the same basic idea as the Archer, but the lower mids are a bit more full. I was originally shopping for an Archer when I lucked into a bargain on a Tumnus and I couldn't be happier with it.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

I A/B'd the Klon with a Soul Food and Sacred Cow. I could not tell them apart after 10 minutes.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

Ayrton said:
I A/B'd the Klon with a Soul Food and Sacred Cow. I could not tell them apart after 10 minutes.
Click to expand...

I've never tried a Sacred Cow FWIW.

Regarding the Soul Food, it's a great pedal for the price and doesn't sound bad as long as the drive control is kept low enough. At higher drive settings it's pretty harsh and grainy compared to some of the higher end klones.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

dystrust said:
I've never tried a Sacred Cow FWIW.

Regarding the Soul Food, it's a great pedal for the price and doesn't sound bad as long as the drive control is kept low enough. At higher drive settings it's pretty harsh and grainy compared to some of the higher end klones.
Click to expand...

The tone control built into the pedal does a pretty good job at controlling that any time the gain is past 9 o'clock I have to have the tone at the minimum setting.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

I love my Klon KTR. Best overdrive I’ve ever owned. I’d like to have a second one for a back up and I found one.

The Soul Food I owned was really good too...but it’s a rip off of Bill’s work. I gave it to a friend.

The Aluminum Falcons I owned previously were good Klon clones but very slightly grainier and more metallic sounding than the Klon KTR. They’re also a rip off of Bill’s work but Bill was still in hibernation and not making a Klon when I acquired them. Sold them when I got the KTR.

I can get my sound from a Soul Food but the Klon is better. More organic, more flatulent, more growl with the way I pick and play.

When you hear Jeff Beck you’re hearing a Klon...and for my money, Jeff’s as creative, imaginative and as good as they get.

You couldn’t name one other rock guitarist from the 60’s who has continued to grow and expand as a musician the way he has. Whole other level.

And Jeff uses a Klon.

Not saying you have to be as accomplished and out of this world as Jeff Beck to “get” what the Klon is all about, because I’m no Jeff Beck and I get it.

But still...

Let’s just say it comes down to style and not all guitarists have the same style or are going for the same techniques and ways of coaxing their sound out of the guitar.
 
Last edited:
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

Lewguitar said:
The Soul Food I owned was really good too...but it’s a rip off of Bill’s work.
Click to expand...

That's what I like about it. Mr. Matthews made the Soul Food because he was fed up with how hyped up the Klon was. And he put an internal true bypass switch just to spite Bill. AND you get a 9v cable, which is nice for an $80 pedal.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

Found one locally for a fair price. But I’m still curious why they’re out of stock everywhere. Supply and demand? Or has Bill stopped making them? Oh well...I have mine.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

Well, there ya go. I wonder if he deliberately dribbles the production out, and waits for the prices to start climbing. I guess that would be one way to do business. I was always interested to see how close the BYOC clone was, but I wouldn't have an original to compare to.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

Mincer said:
Well, there ya go. I wonder if he deliberately dribbles the production out, and waits for the prices to start climbing. I guess that would be one way to do business. I was always interested to see how close the BYOC clone was, but I wouldn't have an original to compare to.
Click to expand...

Everyone in the know, including Bill, says the KTR is the original and sounds identical.

But whether a player connects with the Klon and “gets what all the fuss is about”, I think totally depends on his or her playing style.

I’m a player who doesn’t shred or practice speed picking and arpeggios and all that, but who instead uses his pick and both hands to squeeze those notes out with my pick, and coax them to sustain with my left hand vibrato.

I’m very influenced by Jeff Beck, Clapton w/Cream, Santana...and BB King. Guys who really shape the note with their hands.

I think the Klon is made to order for guys who play like I do.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

bills never charged crazy prices for his pedals. i know some guys that got their klon for $240 and they ktr was/is $270. its the second hand market that is crazy expensive. the guys that i know that have klons love them and have tried everything and swear they can tell the difference. no one wants to bring a klon to a gig if a cheap and easily replaceable soul food will do the exact same thing. the audience sure doesnt care
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

jeremy said:
bills never charged crazy prices for his pedals. i know some guys that got their klon for $240 and they ktr was/is $270. its the second hand market that is crazy expensive. the guys that i know that have klons love them and have tried everything and swear they can tell the difference. no one wants to bring a klon to a gig if a cheap and easily replaceable soul food will do the exact same thing. the audience sure doesnt care
Click to expand...

I don’t know if I could hear the diff between a Klon and a Soul Food listening to someone else comparing them.

But I was able to hear and feel a diff when I was comparing them.

And that’s what counts.

The Soul Food sounds good tho.

As mentioned, Bill had nothing to do with the high aftermarket prices and all the hype surrounding the Klon.

Nothing.
 
Re: Has Bill Finnegan stopped making Klons again?

I've thought about cashing out of my gold horsey, but I like it and use it. Still, if I could get top dollar......it's tempting when I see them sell for $2500.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top