Klon Centaur

The Klon Centaur, introduced in 1994 by Bill Finnegan, is one of the most influential and sought-after guitar pedals in history. Designed over four years with assistance from MIT engineers, the Klon was created to provide a "transparent overdrive" that enhanced a guitar's natural tone without drastically altering it. This unique approach made it a favorite among professional guitarists and collectors alike.

History and Design

Development: Finnegan developed the pedal to address his dissatisfaction with existing overdrives, such as the midrange-heavy Tube Screamer. The Klon blended clean and overdriven signals using a dual-ganged gain pot, allowing for a dynamic and harmonically rich sound.
Circuitry: The pedal featured germanium diodes for clipping, an IC MAX1044 voltage converter for higher headroom, and a buffered bypass circuit. The circuit board was famously "gooped" with epoxy resin to prevent copying.
Production: Approximately 8,000 units were hand-built by Finnegan between 1994 and 2009. After production ceased, original units became collector's items, often selling for $3,000–$5,000 or more.
Reissue: In 2014, Finnegan released the Klon KTR, which retained the original circuit but used surface-mount technology for mass production.

Popular Settings

Clean Boost: Gain at 9 o'clock, Treble at noon, Output at unity (around 10:30–11 o'clock). This setting enhances clarity without adding noticeable distortion.
Mild Overdrive: Gain at 12 o'clock, Treble at noon or slightly above, Output at 11 o'clock. Ideal for pushing tube amps into natural breakup.
Pushed Overdrive: Gain at 2–3 o'clock, Treble at 1 o'clock, Output at noon. This setting provides more saturation while maintaining transparency.

Notable Players

The Klon Centaur has been used by many iconic guitarists across genres:

John Mayer: Frequently uses it for its transparent boost qualities, especially during his Battle Studies era.
Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa, and Warren Haynes: Praised its ability to enhance amp tones without overpowering them.
Mark Tremonti, Nels Cline (Wilco), and Nick Valensi (The Strokes): Use it for its versatility in live and studio settings.
Other users include Keith Urban, Trey Anastasio (Phish), James Hetfield (Metallica), and Peter Frampton.

Legacy

The Klon Centaur is widely regarded as the gold standard of overdrive pedals. Its transparent sound and scarcity have made it a symbol of boutique pedal design. Despite countless clones and recreations by other manufacturers, the original remains unmatched in its mystique and tonal reputation.