Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

[Lewguitar]

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.

Yep. It's also a superb clean boost...with either single coils or humbuckers.

Here's a nice interview with Bill that I posted here several years ago: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/20210-builder-profile-klons-bill-finnegan

 

[ant_riv]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

Is it accurate to say that the differences in these are noticeable when two are A/B'ed, but not as much if one is being used to capture that "Klon-type" of tone?

The reason I ask is that sometimes I obsess over details like this, but when I ask band mates or friends of the band, they don't recognize I made a change, as the overall tone remains very similar and differences in sound are sometimes attributed to the difference in the room we're playing in.

As an FYI, I've been using a Soul Food for about six months, because I had a chance to try one and I really like the saturated sustain I get from it. As a result, when I see posts referencing the SF I check them out and that is how I learned it is a "Klon-type" pedal. So now the gear-obsessed voice in my head wants to try every single version to make sure I have "the best".

The practical voice tells me "once the drummer kicks in, who is going to notice?"

Due to the cost of a real Klon, the practical voice is winning!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

Is it accurate to say that the differences in these are noticeable when two are A/B'ed, but not as much if one is being used to capture that "Klon-type" of tone?

The reason I ask is that sometimes I obsess over details like this, but when I ask band mates or friends of the band, they don't recognize I made a change, as the overall tone remains very similar and differences in sound are sometimes attributed to the difference in the room we're playing in.

As an FYI, I've been using a Soul Food for about six months, because I had a chance to try one and I really like the saturated sustain I get from it. As a result, when I see posts referencing the SF I check them out and that is how I learned it is a "Klon-type" pedal. So now the gear-obsessed voice in my head wants to try every single version to make sure I have "the best".

The practical voice tells me "once the drummer kicks in, who is going to notice?"

Due to the cost of a real Klon, the practical voice is winning!

Good is good. And they all sound really good.

Don't sweat it.

I like the Klon KTR better than the Soul Food or AF-1 and I think at $279 the KTR was worth the extra coin.

But the difference is not huge.

If it's saturation you're after the Soul Food might even be the better choice for you since I found it to be the least transparent and the most dense of the three.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

The Ibanez Tube Screamer - because it does everything I want at a fraction of the price and none of the hype.

 

[marcello252]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

I had for years a Tube Screamer in my pedalboard, I will always love mine and thank him for the hours passed together, but lately the Soul Food kicked it out. It's less compressed and in band situation cuts better through the mix without being muddy, it also sounds good with humbucker AND single coils, where the TS works superb with SC but not so super with HBs...

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

The Ibanez Tube Screamer - because it does everything I want at a fraction of the price and none of the hype.

None of the hype comes from Bill Finnegan. It's all from players who love the pedal.

Not that you did, but I wish people would stop perpetuating the myth that the Klon is similar to a Tubescreamer.

I like Tubescreamers but they don't sound the same as a Klon and don't do what a Klon can do.

The Klon cleans up for chords (not just power V chords but triads) when I turn my guitar's volume control down and the TS doesn't.

The Klon can be used as an always on pedal and the TS really is a stomp on for solos, stomp off for rhythm pedal.

The Klon is also a great clean boost and the TS isn't.

The Klon doesn't lose bass the way a TS does either.

And at $279 the Klon KTR is only $100 more than a new TS808 at $179.

 

[superpete]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

Not that you did, but I wish people would stop perpetuating the myth that the Klon is similar to a Tubescreamer.

I like Tubescreamers but they don't sound the same as a Klon and don't do what a Klon can do.

Exactly. I have a mythical overdrive and a tube screamer. They are nothing alike, nor do I use them for the same purpose.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

Is it accurate to say that the differences in these are noticeable when two are A/B'ed, but not as much if one is being used to capture that "Klon-type" of tone?

...I've been using a Soul Food...now the gear-obsessed voice in my head wants to try every single version to make sure I have "the best".

...Due to the cost of a real Klon, the practical voice is winning!

From my perspective, the jump from a Soul Food to the Tunmus or Archer is instantly noticeable and more than worth the money, as they are each less than $200. Then, I don't consider it worth the month to jump up over $1-2000 for a real Klon. The clones are so good that the real one is now just a luxury item in my opinion for those who have the money. Or an investment, like if you can afford it so you want to play it for awhile and know that it should hold its value as an asset.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

Gear as assets. Wish I had been thinking that way when I sold my original Klon years ago.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

I in no way believe that a TS9 is the same thing as a Klon. Not even close. Not my thing, that's all.

And as Frank said - Klones are Kool. I'm a price performance guy at heart. But IMO - most of what the Klon does is actually handled by a 2 channel tube amp that works right and almost any < 100 boost.

 

[Matt42]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

But IMO - most of what the Klon does is actually handled by a 2 channel tube amp that works right and almost any < 100 boost.

I would disagree with that. Sure there is some common ground, but a true clean boost doesn't give the same range. If you had a clean boost with some EQ, you might get closer, but again, I don't think most would fatten or thicken the tone in quite the same way.

It really all depends on what you are after. I don't really consider $150-$200 to be too expensive for a really nice, solidly built drive pedal.

 

[ant_riv]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

Just got back from rehearsal and I can't imagine being happier with my set-up than I am now.


Which doesn't stop me from wanting to try everything mentioned in this thread!

I suppose the good news is that I do NOT feel the need, and realize there is a difference between want and need!

Never ends ......

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Klon Centaur Copies - What Do You Like and Why?

I had a bunch of stuff hooked up (pedals) last night thru a 4x10 bassman. Got the bassman on the brink of meltdown (still freaking loud) and then started playing with OD pedals and such. I had a Bluesbreaker Snouse clone, a Mythical Overdrive Klone and a Catalinbread valcoder pedal that is supposed to be a valco/supro preamp style distortion (with the tremolo featured turned off). Just played with them side by side, individually. I did this with a different amp a while back and the Snouse won. Last night the MO won the prize. Amp settings stayed the same, guitar (Tele with antiquities in it) stayed the same. Just fiddled with the knobs of each. I had already mailed off the Soul Food to Artie or I'd have compared it as well.

The thing is that all of them sounded good. It was just varying degrees of good. We read they are all "meant to do _____" but they are all boosts/drives if that is how you dial them in. I understand Ace's comment about a tubescreamer. It gets him where he needs to be.