blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Klon Centaur clones (say that 3 times fast). What are your favorites? Why? What are you using them for?
Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
- Thread starter blueman335
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Matt42
New member
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
I've only got the Soul Food at the moment. It's a Klone-lite IMO. It does some of the stuff a good Klone should, but it's just not the same. I plan on replacing it with either a Wampler Tumnus or a JRAD Archer this summer. I've never played the Tumnus, but I did get a chance to play the Archer a few months back and really liked the tone and the feel through a '68 Custom Princeton. Very responsive and very smooth. The Soul Food isn't as smooth, though it is still very responsive. The Soul Food is a great pedal for the price, and is a good starting point for someone who wants to try a Klon type circuit. Someone on this forum (can't remember who) said a while back that they thought it was a "gateway Klone," and I totally agree.
I currently use the Soul Food to push my new amp. My new amp is a 20w 6v6 amp, kinda tweed-ish in the way it breaks up. I set it pretty hot most of the time and use the Soul Food to kinda kick it in the teeth. With my Super Sonic Twin, I really only use it in front of the Burn channel to get a fat, Warren Haynes kinda tone. He uses a Klon in front of most of his amps, and the Soul Food can get the Burn channel on my Twin into that range pretty easily.
I've only got the Soul Food at the moment. It's a Klone-lite IMO. It does some of the stuff a good Klone should, but it's just not the same. I plan on replacing it with either a Wampler Tumnus or a JRAD Archer this summer. I've never played the Tumnus, but I did get a chance to play the Archer a few months back and really liked the tone and the feel through a '68 Custom Princeton. Very responsive and very smooth. The Soul Food isn't as smooth, though it is still very responsive. The Soul Food is a great pedal for the price, and is a good starting point for someone who wants to try a Klon type circuit. Someone on this forum (can't remember who) said a while back that they thought it was a "gateway Klone," and I totally agree.
I currently use the Soul Food to push my new amp. My new amp is a 20w 6v6 amp, kinda tweed-ish in the way it breaks up. I set it pretty hot most of the time and use the Soul Food to kinda kick it in the teeth. With my Super Sonic Twin, I really only use it in front of the Burn channel to get a fat, Warren Haynes kinda tone. He uses a Klon in front of most of his amps, and the Soul Food can get the Burn channel on my Twin into that range pretty easily.
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
My Piedmont Custom Electronics Aluminum Falcon II is the only Klon(ish) pedal I have owned. I use it to guard the other pedals in the rather large container of pedals in my closet.
I used it for an always on boost that really opened up my amp and made it sound and feel alive. It also cleans up better than any other OD I have used. The only reason it is resting is because I have scaled down to a smaller board and I just can't fit it into the available space. So now my Wampler Ecstasy has the OD duties and does a very good job.
The AF, though, combined with a fuzz, another OD, or a distortion box gives me the thickest tone and the most sustain with the least amount of apparent compression vs any other OD I've owned including the OCD and KOT.
My Piedmont Custom Electronics Aluminum Falcon II is the only Klon(ish) pedal I have owned. I use it to guard the other pedals in the rather large container of pedals in my closet.
I used it for an always on boost that really opened up my amp and made it sound and feel alive. It also cleans up better than any other OD I have used. The only reason it is resting is because I have scaled down to a smaller board and I just can't fit it into the available space. So now my Wampler Ecstasy has the OD duties and does a very good job.
The AF, though, combined with a fuzz, another OD, or a distortion box gives me the thickest tone and the most sustain with the least amount of apparent compression vs any other OD I've owned including the OCD and KOT.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
I had the chance to directly compare a Klon, Archer, Soul Food, and Tumnus. The Tumnus was my winner, the Archer was just as good, it's a toss up. When doing the direct A/B the Soul Food, which is not a bad sounding pedal, just fell totally flat. It didn't have the density in the midrange of the others. It was much smaller sounding.
I use it in front of tubes with the gain set kind of high. I don't use it as an "always on" or a clean boost. Some people like the buffer when it's off, personally I have it in a true bypass loop with a Lil Brute Drive, which does sound better with the Klon buffer after it. In other words I don't want the sound of the buffer permanently in my signal path, but if I open that loop I have the LIl Brute Drive on with the buffer, or only the Tumnus on.
I had the chance to directly compare a Klon, Archer, Soul Food, and Tumnus. The Tumnus was my winner, the Archer was just as good, it's a toss up. When doing the direct A/B the Soul Food, which is not a bad sounding pedal, just fell totally flat. It didn't have the density in the midrange of the others. It was much smaller sounding.
I use it in front of tubes with the gain set kind of high. I don't use it as an "always on" or a clean boost. Some people like the buffer when it's off, personally I have it in a true bypass loop with a Lil Brute Drive, which does sound better with the Klon buffer after it. In other words I don't want the sound of the buffer permanently in my signal path, but if I open that loop I have the LIl Brute Drive on with the buffer, or only the Tumnus on.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
Have you tried any of the modded Soul Foods, like the one JHS does?
Have you tried any of the modded Soul Foods, like the one JHS does?
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
I have not, but it doesn't seem like an advantage. It's hardly a savings over the Archers and Tumnus, and you're still left with other things about the pedal that are still EHX. I'd rather take the purpose-built pedal. And after A/B'ing the Tumnus and Archer to the Klon, they were almost indistinguishable from the Klon. So I can't imagine that the mods make the Soul Food "even more Klonish" than one of those two.
I have not, but it doesn't seem like an advantage. It's hardly a savings over the Archers and Tumnus, and you're still left with other things about the pedal that are still EHX. I'd rather take the purpose-built pedal. And after A/B'ing the Tumnus and Archer to the Klon, they were almost indistinguishable from the Klon. So I can't imagine that the mods make the Soul Food "even more Klonish" than one of those two.
Matt42
New member
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
If I do end up sending my Soul Food to JHS for modding, I think I'll have to look at is a totally different type of pedal. From what I've read, it seems like the modded SF can do the Klon thing better than the un-modded SF. They put two different type of clipping diodes in it, one of which is more accurate to the Klon and one which is not. It seems like a really versatile pedal after the mods! But in the long run, I think you are right on the money about it not being worth if you are going for a really true Klon sound. You'd be better off with an Archer/Tumnus or something else.
If I do end up sending my Soul Food to JHS for modding, I think I'll have to look at is a totally different type of pedal. From what I've read, it seems like the modded SF can do the Klon thing better than the un-modded SF. They put two different type of clipping diodes in it, one of which is more accurate to the Klon and one which is not. It seems like a really versatile pedal after the mods! But in the long run, I think you are right on the money about it not being worth if you are going for a really true Klon sound. You'd be better off with an Archer/Tumnus or something else.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
Does this help?
There's not really one Klon(e) sound because some people use them as cleanish boosts, others as dirty boosts, some use them as the distorted tone into a clean amp, and the treble knob is very responsive.
Does this help?
There's not really one Klon(e) sound because some people use them as cleanish boosts, others as dirty boosts, some use them as the distorted tone into a clean amp, and the treble knob is very responsive.
Diego
New member
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
It does help. Thanks Frank!
Not really what I aspire to (I'm a modern "Marshall toneprint" kind of guy, think of Mastodon) but there's some wonderful sounds there.
I'd love one of those for my recurrent Ritchie Blackmore benders.
It does help. Thanks Frank!
Not really what I aspire to (I'm a modern "Marshall toneprint" kind of guy, think of Mastodon) but there's some wonderful sounds there.
I'd love one of those for my recurrent Ritchie Blackmore benders.
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
They do sound very similar, but the mystique about these things goes right over my head. It sounds like good player & a great amp can get a sound really close to that. Certainly many players make them sound amazing, but there are lots of players without them who also sound amazing.:dunno:
They do sound very similar, but the mystique about these things goes right over my head. It sounds like good player & a great amp can get a sound really close to that. Certainly many players make them sound amazing, but there are lots of players without them who also sound amazing.:dunno:
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
I've been fortunate enough to try this pedal and I was seriously impressed by it.
I've been fortunate enough to try this pedal and I was seriously impressed by it.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
The quote you said this about mentions two pedals...
The quote you said this about mentions two pedals...
Johnny the Kid
Shaunofthedeadologist
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
My bad, I stopped reading after the J Rocket Archer. ADD I guess.
My bad, I stopped reading after the J Rocket Archer. ADD I guess.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
My favorite clone is the Klon KTR.
I've owned three PCE Aluminum Falcon 1's, one Soul Food and one Klon KTR.
I find the Klon KTR to be smoother sounding and more tubular/vocal sounding than the AF-1 and Soul Food.
I don't mean tubular like a 12ax7 or EL34 tube. I mean like a hollow tube.
The Soul Food sounded very good, but compared to the AF-1 and KTR it had less of a sense of spaciousness. It sounded flatter and more dense. Not as much "air" or "space" in the tone.
So of the three I'd put the KTR at the top, next the AF-1 and then the Soul Food.
My advice? Get a Klon KTR. It's nice knowing you have the best and the money goes to the designer Bill Finnegan rather than someone ripping him off for his hard work.
My favorite clone is the Klon KTR.
I've owned three PCE Aluminum Falcon 1's, one Soul Food and one Klon KTR.
I find the Klon KTR to be smoother sounding and more tubular/vocal sounding than the AF-1 and Soul Food.
I don't mean tubular like a 12ax7 or EL34 tube. I mean like a hollow tube.
The Soul Food sounded very good, but compared to the AF-1 and KTR it had less of a sense of spaciousness. It sounded flatter and more dense. Not as much "air" or "space" in the tone.
So of the three I'd put the KTR at the top, next the AF-1 and then the Soul Food.
My advice? Get a Klon KTR. It's nice knowing you have the best and the money goes to the designer Bill Finnegan rather than someone ripping him off for his hard work.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
Blueman, I should add that although the Klon works fine with humbuckers, IMO, what it does best is add gain to and fatten up a Strat pickup so that it sounds big, bold and gainy, and overdrives your amp like a humbucker or super hot humbucker...or beyond.
Since you don't like Strats I'm not sure you'll get the most out of a Klon with your Epiphones.
Blueman, I should add that although the Klon works fine with humbuckers, IMO, what it does best is add gain to and fatten up a Strat pickup so that it sounds big, bold and gainy, and overdrives your amp like a humbucker or super hot humbucker...or beyond.
Since you don't like Strats I'm not sure you'll get the most out of a Klon with your Epiphones.
superpete
Active member
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
That might have been me. I a/b'ed a soul food, a rimrock mythical overdrive, and an archer with a gold klon, and I ended up buying the mythical overdrive. It's the best.
That might have been me. I a/b'ed a soul food, a rimrock mythical overdrive, and an archer with a gold klon, and I ended up buying the mythical overdrive. It's the best.
Matt42
New member
Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?
I've seen/heard them used quite effectively with humbuckers. Warren Haynes and Jason Isbell both use an original Klon primarily with humbuckers. One of my favorite uses is the way Warren Haynes uses a Klon to fatten up his already driven tone.
They are extremely versatile drives.
I've seen/heard them used quite effectively with humbuckers. Warren Haynes and Jason Isbell both use an original Klon primarily with humbuckers. One of my favorite uses is the way Warren Haynes uses a Klon to fatten up his already driven tone.
They are extremely versatile drives.
