What other Pedals are like a KLON?

[jakeddy]

Bad Bob booster by RGW electronics. Ask Analogman about it.

 

[Florida Sam]

First, all of the sugestions are very good.

I too was/am in the search for a Klon at non-Klon prices. I was able to borrow a friends Klon for a little while and tried the following pedals in my search (as well as some I'm sure I am forgetting).

At the risk of everying dismissing my post after you read this, I have to say the pedal I ended up with and stil use more than any other overdrive is the Zoom PD-01. It gets about 85% to Klonville for only $50.00. You can read my review at HC for more info but the short of it is that this is an INCREDIBLE transparent clean boost, and about the last 1/8th of the drive knob is where the TS type OD starts.

The list of also rans included: Original TS-9, TS-9 RI, TS-9 DX. Maxon OD808, Fulltone Fulldrive II FYSM, Tech 21 XXL, Tech 21 Double Drive, Carl Martin Hot Drive and Boost, Maeshall Bluesbreaker, Boss Blues Driver and again more I've forgotten.

I also use a Zvex Sho, but that is almost always on at the end of the chain.

The Zoom blew me away at its performance, build quality and tone for the money. I also got the HL-01, a much higher gain version with parametric mid control. I liked that pedal so much I immediately sold my Fulltone Disotortion Pro and haven't looked back.

OK, so I said it, I LIKE a Zoom product and am not afraid to admit it!

 

[tall guy]

answer to your problem

http://www.mesaboogie.com/Product_Info/Rackmount-Preamps/V-Twin/a_vtpedal_1.gif

i just got one, sparkiling clean, blues and smokey and kick yer bollocks in crunch all housed in the oine unit which is a proper tube preamp.

answer to your query methinks.

 

[uncle looie]

If you're using the Klon to get overdrive at bedroom volume levels, you probably won't like the sound. That's not what it was designed for. It's intended to drive a tube amp already on the verge of break-up into overdrive. For that purpose, I think it sounds fantastic. I've gigged with one since '97 and it sounds great at stage volume. At living room volume, it sounds like ass.

 

[tall guy]

Yeah looie you word it so well, i had a tape passed to me of you jammin in yer bedroom with your KLON, i alsoi had a tape of when i was pissed and farting like a trooper

Jeez, i couldnt tell the diference !!!!

you are right, it does sound like arse.















:lol2

 

[uncle looie]

Yeah looie you word it so well, i had a tape passed to me of you jammin in yer bedroom with your KLON, i alsoi had a tape of when i was pissed and farting like a trooper

Jeez, i couldnt tell the diference !!!!

you are right, it does sound like arse.

Shouldn't you be busy posting those soundclips, creamy buttery lick man?

 

[kidcheesyriffs]

Banzai Cold Fusion $199
Z Vex SHO (super hard on) $180
Bad Bob $119
Pharaoh Class A $120- $170
Xotic RC Booster $175
Crowthers Audio Hot Cake $149
Fulltone Fat Boost

Depending on your setup, you may want to try a Treble Booster -
Analogman Beano Boost $170
Diaz Texas Ranger $225
Sweet Sounds Sweet Booster $125
Homebrew Germania $90

 

[analogmike]

Hi,

Lots of good 1st hand info here.
Here's what I would add:

Here is a comparison of the Bad Bob to my other favorite Clean Boost pedals:

KLON : The KLON Centaur is not as clear as Bad Bob, it is more compressed, even at minimum gain. Also the KLON is not nearly as loud at it's clean boost setting. The tone difference is really noticeable with the guitar's volume and/or tone turned down a bit - it makes the KLON sound dull in comparison.

Z Vex Super Hard On : This pedal is much cleaner than the BB, if you need just a totally clean booster the SHO is probably better. The Bad Bob has nice grit/drive even at the same volume setting as OFF. But the sound is not very useful at a unity gain setting, so it's not a great buffer pedal like the SHO. At medium boost, the SHO is sharper and cleaner sounding, the Bad Bob is not as bright, has a thicker, richer tone. The SHO is just as loud when turned up all the way, and the two pedals sound more similar when cranked up loud as the amp is really running overloaded by that point. The Bad Bob has a bit less hiss when cranked, I was surprised by this but maybe due to some high end rolloff. The Bad Bob is sort of like a Rangemaster clone (our Beano Boost) but without the tone change and emphasis of certain frequencies.

Hope that helps!

 

[kidcheesyriffs]

Analogmike - The sound files of your Beano Boost sound great!!

 

[LandOJacksO]

I don't use a boost pedal - I honestly haven't found the need for one. I tend to find my lead work is fine without a boost - doesn't get lost in the mix or anything. There isn't any difference in the punch between my rhythm and lead work. Don't know why - and I'm not saying this to 'bignote' myself or anything like that - it just seems to be that way...

So, since I DON"T use them, I might be able to look at this issue from a different perspective. I was wondering - wouldn't the perfect clean boost be a graphic equaliser pedel (like a Boss) set with a flat EQ so it doesn't change the tone from the amp at all and just the master signal pushed higher? I mean, it has a + or - 15dB boost doesn't it? You can just turn that on and off, keep your tone identical and just boost your signal by up to 15dB. Surely that must be the easiest and best (and probably cheapest) way to get a clean boost?

As I said though, I've never used one, so I'd be interested in opinions. Just seems logical, but if you guys have tried it, then let me know the downside...

Yes it works great in the effects loop . Best boost I've ever used as far as being able to get a clean boost for leads , or even shape your tone . But perfect for leads

 

[LandOJacksO]

Best way to use a GE-7 , in the effects loop . Crazy how much of a clean boost it gives , and you can bump the mids a little bit or scoop or use it to shape your tone. The only down side is you have to run two more cables to the loop , but it works amazingly good

 

[WytLytnyn]

I've also got the Wampler Tumnus which is a very nice transparent overdrive pedal that is supposedly modeled on the Klon. Its loud as hell and I occassionally use it to slam the front end of my old Fenders. It will bring out a nice creamy overdrive in a class A amp that really reacts to volume/tone and changes character due to its touch sensitivity to playing dynamics. Adds nice "bloom" (but not too much color) to sustained notes but this might be due to any tube components downstream in the signal chain.

Per the previous note about the Mesa V-Twin (I've had one for 20 years): It does really well as a boost when you use the "clean" channel which utilizes both 12AX7's in the pedal, but it does add a lot of "thickness" (in terms of mid/bass) if that's what makes you happy. I like this very much but really use the "Blues" channel the most. It takes some finessing but if you can balance out the gain and output vs your tube amp's volume/tone/output, you can find some incredible tones in there.....but it takes time to dial in. The V-Twin really does incredibly well with clean amps like Fenders. I've tried them with other high gain amps and it was less than impressive.

My favorite way to use the Tumnus is to stack it in front of the Mesa V-Twin (using the blue channel, not red) or a Blues driver. It seems to dance pretty well with those guys but, conversely, will turn a "distortion" pedal into a fizzy, nest of angry bees. If this is what you want, go for it. You know what my preferences are.

 

[RocknRollShakeUp]

For light overdrive or boost I really dig the Greer Lightspeed. Very harmonically rich and pleasant gain from very light to medium, plenty extra loudness if you need it and it is a cliche these days but it is also very “transparent” as it doesn’t load extra mids or bass into your signal, retaining and even adding clarity and definition to one’s tone. It works great as an always on pedal too. There is a schnobel YouTube video comparing it to an original Klon.

 

[jrgtr42]

Nice resurrection of a 15 year old thread....
I wonder if the OP now wishes he'd splurged on a Klon back then, considering what they're going for now that would be a heck on an investment.
I had a chance to but a couple around 99 - 2000 or so, when they were still $250. Was a lot for a distortion box at the time. I tried a friend's, but it didn't give me the heavy distortion I thought I wanted. Kinda wish I'd played with it more, and experimented with the pedals I had with it.
Not to mention if I knew then what I know now, and not just what they go for now; my whole style of playing has changed over the years and I think something like that would fit in nicely.

 

[P.Walker]

as for straight up circuit klones
- the reissued red klon
- soul food
- archer silver/gold
- rimrock MO

If any of those don't do it for you, then it's not just not for you.

Not my style either but it has it's uses.

 

[Hot_Snake]

If I'm right, without being a clone of the Klon, the Saucy Box by Way Huge uses the same idea as the Klon to mix the clean / dirty signal with the gain knob ...
The Saucy Box is a killer pedal for a fair price !

 

[renderit]

as for straight up circuit klones
- the reissued red klon
- soul food
- archer silver/gold
- rimrock MO

If any of those don't do it for you, then it's not just not for you.

Not my style either but it has it's uses.

I'd maybe switch 2 & 3 but that's just me. I don't regularly use these anymore.

 

[TM1]

So what are Klon's up to now? I have RYRA "The Klone". Sounds as good as the Klon to me and certainly loads cheaper!

 

[P.Walker]

I'd maybe switch 2 & 3 but that's just me. I don't regularly use these anymore.

Honestly, same here. Archer silver came the closest for me but the originals are all slightly different. It's the dual gang pot and the internal charge pump along with the buffer that really makes the difference in tone and how well it plays with other things in the chain. Didn't like my foxrox tzf2 or strymon stuff. Soul food on TB was fine.

Didn't find it that appealing to work around it but I do concede it has its uses.

 

[P.Walker]

So what are Klon's up to now? I have RYRA "The Klone". Sounds as good as the Klon to me and certainly loads cheaper!

locally I see them selling (but believe me they're not flying off the used shelves) around $2k. The circuit is no secret, has not been in decades.

I do understand why folks will spend the money for an original though.