Klon - Another Klone

D

Darg1911

New member
As an alternative to something like the EHX Soul Food, I thought I would mention a relatively inexpensive "klone" that doesn't get much attention. It's the Tone Bakery Crème Brulee. I've had this pedal for a while now. I had a J. Rockett Archer Ikon, a great Klone, but I didn't get along with the buffer. So, I picked up this cheaper klone and gave it a shot. The Archer left and this one stayed. That's not to say it's a better, or closer, Klone than the Archer. I just think it sounds great and I find the buffer to be transparent.
I've seen the Crème Brulee billed as a creamier sounding klon. That's maybe accurate but it's subtle and I also think that went out the window since I did a small mod, replacing the stock diodes with Russian D9E Germaniums (I socketed them).

I thought this pedal may be interesting to someone looking for a klone that wont break the bank. They are (or were) $99. Probably made in China, it doesn't say. The jacks are board mounted but everything is laid out neatly, soldering looks good, pots are very smooth, and it's quiet. It does the clean boost thing, like a Klon, and as I mentioned, I really like the buffer. I don't have any demos of my own, but I'll post a couple from you tube below.

Here are a few photos of mine ...

TB1_zpsbw9tuwpx.jpg



Here you can see the sockets and two D9E diodes that I installed (D1 and D2, bottom of board, left of center) as well as what looks to be a neat layout. Also, the proper dual ganged gain pot. Also, the manufacturer socketed the Op Amps ...

TB2_zpslkmfpjgw.jpg




Here is a short side by side with a Klon. Also, for anyone interested in searching You Tube for it, I think Pete Thorn did a demo.

 
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Re: Klon - Another Klone

They sure sound close. The Klon seems a little more transparent but I'd have to play those two myself to really know.

The thing with the Klon is that it sounds best through an amp that's turned up loud. and in that situation, a Strat can be made to respond more like a Les Paul.

I never use mine with a guitar with humbuckers. I do love it to fatten up my Strat though.

I've owned a few Klon clones: several excellent Aluminum Falcons from Piedmont and a Soul Food.

Now I have a Klon KTR and it is better. I sold the AF1's I was liking so much and gave the Soul Food to a friend.

The difference between the Klon KTR and the clones I was using is not huge...but the way the sound "feels" is better.
 
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Re: Klon - Another Klone

The side by side demo is just the clean boost. Gain is all the way down on both. But yeah Lew, it's like anything else. If you really want a Klon Centaur (or KTR), buy the Klon.
 
Re: Klon - Another Klone

Gonna got me one ah them there Klown pedals.
 
Re: Klon - Another Klone

Lots of pedals are today!
Now you sit with a heat blower and specialised soldertips.
Funny how an essential Dist+ circuit mixed with a blend got labled as moondust magic :)
 
Re: Klon - Another Klone

Vasshu the humanoid typhoon said:
Lots of pedals are today!
Now you sit with a heat blower and specialised soldertips.
Funny how an essential Dist+ circuit mixed with a blend got labled as moondust magic :)
Click to expand...

I'm sure that lots of pedals are SMT but I haven't seen a "boutique" pedal that was. Maybe it's cockeyed thinking but if a pedal maker is going to charge $200 for a pedal, ($270 in this case), I expect someone to be slaving over a bench with a soldering iron so that at least I can feel better knowing that I'm paying for the labor ... because I already know that I'm paying a fraction of the pedals cost for the parts.
 
Re: Klon - Another Klone

I'm sure that lots of pedals are SMT but I haven't seen a "boutique" pedal that was. Maybe it's cockeyed thinking but if a pedal maker is going to charge $200 for a pedal, ($270 in this case), I expect someone to be slaving over a bench with a soldering iron so that at least I can feel better knowing that I'm paying for the labor ... because I already know that I'm paying a fraction of the pedals cost for the parts.
Click to expand...
? Eh why??
Look at old Maxon pedals, they where made in a solderbath, then a few extra wires and pots that needs handsoldering...and that was in the late 70's it started.
You are buying a Clon ;) Der majick diodes are why yu pay der price...you can clearly see that they are see through ones (transperant sound and all).

The SMD parts are just what you get these days, old plug through components are a thing of the past!
Probally soldered better than most workers can do.
They also come in different grades and quality.

The old stuff is living on borrowed time!
What you are paying for is the cost of alot more than just parts.....
If one should charge for just how much time and such that has been sinked into this stuff.....you will all be running to the hills.

Anyways as said....it is a Clon :)

" Mod here "
lmao.gif
Click to expand...

Haha now that would be something!
 
Re: Klon - Another Klone

Some people just don't "get" the Klon. What it does that other pedals don't do, just goes right passed them.

But the best rock guitarist on the planet, Jeff Beck, sure "gets" it.

And that's the best review you could ask for: when the best rock guitarist on the planet won't take the stage without one.
 
Re: Klon - Another Klone

Jeff could use a dead bird and still sound like something from the #338 Galaxy :)
He uses ordinary gear when you look closely at it....

The Clon is not something magical, it does what it do....it is a drive pedal with an oldschool circuit and a blend of clean signal....it is simple( that is prolly why most like it, no gazzilion filters and such)
In other words it works for him, but then again he had alot of different gear through out the times...he still sounds like himself.

Best is strange term....
He is Jeff Beck, he does what he do...and that is almost never boring.
 
Re: Klon - Another Klone

Vasshu the humanoid typhoon said:
? Eh why??
Look at old Maxon pedals, they where made in a solderbath, then a few extra wires and pots that needs handsoldering...and that was in the late 70's it started.
You are buying a Clon ;) Der majick diodes are why yu pay der price...you can clearly see that they are see through ones (transperant sound and all).

The SMD parts are just what you get these days, old plug through components are a thing of the past!
Probally soldered better than most workers can do.
They also come in different grades and quality.

The old stuff is living on borrowed time!
What you are paying for is the cost of alot more than just parts.....
If one should charge for just how much time and such that has been sinked into this stuff.....you will all be running to the hills.

Anyways as said....it is a Clon :)



Haha now that would be something!
Click to expand...

SMD doesn't seem to be what I get in my universe. Granted that I don't open them all, but the "boutique" pedals (current pedals) I have opened up have been through hole, not surface mount.
 
Re: Klon - Another Klone

And can you hear any difference?
:)
"Boutique" mostly uses old style components because it is easy with a normal solder station.
But times are changeing....SMD have been used in the elektronic business for a very long time now.

It is just this industry that is hanging on to the old stuff.
 
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Re: Klon - Another Klone

Vasshu the humanoid typhoon said:
And can you hear any difference?
:)
"Boutique" mostly uses old style components because it is easy with a normal solder station.
But times are changeing....SMD have been used in the elektronic business for a very long time now.

It is just this industry that is hanging on to the old stuff.
Click to expand...

"It is just this industry that is hanging on to the old stuff"

That may be true but that's not what you posted and not what I responded to.

And, I have no idea whether I could hear any difference. I would need to A-B the same pedal built with the two different technologies.
 
Re: Klon - Another Klone

And 7 years later....
It goes for 399€....
Well it is just electronic parts...surface mounted or hole through....the difference in performance is the same!
They still need to mount the parts you know!
It is just a different way to work.
 
Re: Klon - Another Klone

Honestly, I never investigated the Klon sound. I might like it, who knows. But on every forum there is a thread about the best clone, and then people start bringing in dozens of examples. I ain't got time for that. So, what am I missing?
 
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