If I want a Klon....

[mbargav]

So I've been on TGP long enough to finally crack and get one. I know (very generally speaking) the Klon is in the Tube Screamer family of ODs, and I've haven't really tried to incorporate a TS into my playing since age 15 or so. Before dropping $$ on a Klon, I'd like to see if that type of OD is something that'd work for me. Any suggestions for cheaper pedals that get you in the general ballpark with which I could experiment? Maybe the TS808 reissue? Regular TS9?

This is honestly not another Klon troll thread. I really do want to see what the Klon is all about.

Thanks,
Mike

[4nd3h]

Klon clone for the price of a TS808.

[Blakemore Effects]

I've heard the Way Huge Pork Loin can get close at some settings.

[denied]

Tone monk phoenix?

[dlguitar64]

Stigtronics Tone Vitamin

[WolfmansBrother]

I've heard the Way Huge Pork Loin can get close at some settings.

I was going to say the same...

[Ham_fist]

How did the whole "Klon is in the TS family" thing get started? It's not.

[EricPeterson]

The DOD Bifet Preamp is supposed to be Klon like.

[mbargav]

How did the whole "Klon is in the TS family" thing get started? It's not.

Dunno, just what I've always heard. Would you recommend something else?

[denied]

It's not a tubescreamer. Again, if you want to see what it's like without forking over the cash, pick up a klon clone. Or wait until the new klon is released, it shouldn't be that long now.

[aawshred]

maxon od820, SCARY close

[jads57]

Pro Guitar Shop has a video comparing the Klon w/ a Lovepedal Kalamazoo. Seems fairly close from the audio.

[silencer eleven]

IMHO nothing does klon like klon. maybe someone close to you has one you can try out.

Jordan

[denied]

Pro Guitar Shop has a video comparing the Klon w/ a Lovepedal Kalamazoo. Seems fairly close from the audio.


PGS also wants to sell the kalamazoo ;)

[Ham_fist]

Dunno, just what I've always heard. Would you recommend something else?

Stigtronics Tone Vitamin, Tone Monk Phoenix, Soulsonic Illuminated OD are all the Klon circuit. I build one too sometimes that I won't mention here. Check the Retailers Emporium (it's probably about 3 or 4 pages back by now since I haven't bumped it) or PM me if you want to know more.

It's up to you if you want to buy a clone. Some people have serious moral/ethical issues with it and like to chime in on threads like these about what huge scum pedal cloners are. Thankfully for them, they have the easy and effective option of not buying one.

[aawshred]

It's up to you if you want to buy a clone. Some people have serious moral/ethical issues with it and like to chime in on threads like these about what huge scum pedal cloners are. Thankfully for them, they have the easy and effective option of not buying one.


so true. not saying that i support cloning, mainly of the klon, but people shouldn't gripe about it as much.

[ERGExplorer]

If a hypothetical pedal would be reaching the end of any theoretical patent protection (not actually applied for, mind you) soon, would it be ethical to insist that a non-protected circuit should be protected beyond whatever time period the law would have ever provided?

----

I'm waiting to see how the reviews come back on the Phoenix. I've never been that interested in the Klon, and the price definitely tossed it out of any serious consideration, but something which sounds identical for much less? Why wouldn't I try it?

[Blakemore Effects]

I want to build a Klon clone, but only because I don't want to take my real Klon out to shows anymore since it's worth so much. I guess if you plan on eventually buying one from Bill once the new ones come out, there shouldn't be a problem with building one to get the idea of whether or not you like it, or using it to bide you over until he starts selling them again.

[popinvasion]

a good poor mans klon is the menatone red snapper. same flavor very similar not as nice but super close. The pork loin can match the boost function of the klon but nothing else.

[Unadan]

I would have more moral ethical issues buying a clone if the actual Klon was available for purchase.

[deltaslim]

maxon od820, SCARY close

I think the Maxon OD820's clean boost is VERY good, but I don't have my horsey Klon anymore to A/B it against. They're both great as boost pedals that can push the front of an amp and add dimensionality to the sound.

But as an OD, Maxon is way better than the Klon. Of that, I'm sure.

[GAT]

I still have my horsey gold Klon, nothing can do what it does. I've tried too!

[Ekluksdahl]

Buy a JHS pedals clone of a Klon and save some some $$. I think there is a YouTube vid of a side by side comparison..... They sound the exact same to my ears...

[mbargav]

No moral objection against clones, but knowing myself, if I got one, I'll end up getting the real thing in a few weeks anyway. That's what I did with the Dano TOD & Zink Bit of Honey.

Thanks for all your suggestions so far. Maxon OD820 sounds very interesting.

[mbargav]

Or wait until the new klon is released, it shouldn't be that long now.

Hah, I told myself this for most of 2010. I've given up hope and would rather just buy the old one.

[zztomato]

I have a Klone. It's a very cool pedal and, so far, my favourite OD/boost that I've ever had. However, according to other descriptions from real Klon owners, I think my clone is missing something. So, I too will be buying a real one when they come out in the new box.
That said, I think there are probably a number of good pedals that do a similar thing. Good od pedals, in my opinion, do well in the midrange. I think it's the hardest area of the spectrum to make sound good. That's what the Klon and pedals like the KOT do best.

[fr8_trane]

I would have more moral ethical issues buying a clone if the actual Klon was available for purchase.

Do you have the same ethical qualms about buying a TS clone even though it is still available from the original manufacturer. How about buying a clone of a modded TS clone? Fuzz face clone, big muff clone.....

What about about buying a fender deluxe reverb clone (many to choose from)... Or a marshall plexi clone (again many to choose from)? Or a Stratocaster clone, Les paul clone, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, ad infinitum.

Oh and the gist I got from the endless parade of clone threads is that simple circuits that use transistors, diodes, resitors and capacitors (excluding the flux variety) are not patent-able. Mainly because every conceivable way to put those components together was figured out 40 years ago. Its kinda like music - you got yer 12 basic tones but the variations can be endless yet the theory behind the music has been well established for a LONG time.

I'm not trying to pick a fight or turn this into another mega thread about the ethics of cloning. Just trying to point out that ethics is a REALLY grey area and there's more than a bit of hypocrisy that goes with it.

[Les Paul Guy]

I've heard the Way Huge Pork Loin can get close at some settings.

Had a Pork Loin - it did do the "boost" really well but I had to get rid of it because it was so noisy. YMMV.

[embrionic]

banzai cold fusion here... and had a pork loin as well. Have tracked several players in the studio with Klons. the pork loin is a cool pedal but it did not sound like a Klon at all to me, any more than any other pedal that could do a clean boost would. The banzai on the other hand, is very close on most settings. YMMV.

[denied]

Hah, I told myself this for most of 2010. I've given up hope and would rather just buy the old one.

Well at this point, a number of sources have confirmed that Bill is finished with the circuit, and is just finalizing the design/sourcing parts. Not to mentioned there is a video of the final circuit in use, and it sounds awesome. If you want to go ahead and pay a ridiculous price for an old one, be my guest

[mbargav]

Well at this point, a number of sources have confirmed that Bill is finished with the circuit, and is just finalizing the design/sourcing parts.

This is what throws me off. Why did the circuit need finishing at all?

[denied]

This has been gone over quite a few times. To bring the circuit down to a smaller size, you can't just shrink everything.

Also, my understanding is that a large part of that initial year was spent filling outstanding orders from people on the list, before he started work on the new one.

[tibbon]

Pro Guitar Shop has a video comparing the Klon w/ a Lovepedal Kalamazoo. Seems fairly close from the audio.

They aren't the same at all. Also see my overdrive video where 34 of the 35 pedals we did can all be made to sound semi-similar. Believe me, if you had me sit down and try to blindly guess which one there was the Klon, I'd get it wrong. And I was the one who recorded it!

I've spent a great deal of time with the Kalamazoo and all of the Klons, not the same pedal. Very different.

I'd say if you want a Klon- just wait a little. I have no idea how long, but it isn't too too far off.

[denied]

Didn't they used to go for 300ish?

[tibbon]

how much will the new klon cost?

Price, launch date and waiting list have not been announced yet. Its widely assumed that it will be in the ballpark price of the old one.

[wizard333]

maxon od820, SCARY close


:agree


Also agree with the poster who said the OD820 serves as an OD better.

[Les Paul Guy]

Its widely assumed that it will be in the ballpark price of the old one.

Which would be another great reason to save $200 and buy a Timmy!

[mbargav]

Which would be another great reason to save $200 and buy a Timmy!

Had one. Very cool pedal and does exactly what it promises, but didn't work for me.

[GAT]

Shameless spam, but I have two gold Klons and I'll be selling the non-horsey one in the Emporium soon. I'm keeping one, but having two is overkill.

[Les Paul Guy]

so a new one will be around $400?

From what I've gathered, the old ones were going for low $300's new when Bill stopped production. For me I think $250 will be the tipping point - at or under and I'll get in line right away, any more and it's just not worth it on my budget. YMMV.

[2HBStrat]

How did the whole "Klon is in the TS family" thing get started? It's not.

True. Two different animals. My experience with a borrowed Klon is that if you like the sound you get with your guitar and amp but just want more, or more OOMPH then the Klon will do that very well. The TS family colors tone and adds the infamous mid hump. It's a good sound, too. A Digitech Bad Monkey may be the lowest prices TS type, although I prefer the SparkleDrive.

[GAT]

Where the Klon shines is in a live situation. It really adds beef to your sound whereas other pedals almost seem to take away dynamics and make the sound smaller.

[tibbon]

Which would be another great reason to save $200 and buy a Timmy!

I personally feel the combination (alternate or stacking) or the Tim and Klon is about as good as I've heard.

I've already got space reserved on my board for the new Klon and can't wait. Don't ask me how much room, because I'm not telling the dimensions :)

[Dev...in]

I built my own. It was fun and not too expensive. There is no way in hell i will ever pay more than $300 for a pedal. Ive purchased two kits, the first one was B.S. The second attempt sounds better than ballpark. I wont talk about it cause my posts get wiped when i do. The issue is one of supply and demand; I really wanted one and there was no supply.... There isnt an ethical dilemma cause im not going to sell it ever. I would by a new one if they EVER come out, but something tells me I would be at the back of an enormous line.

[bicktrav]

I was lucky enough to get my Klon a week or two before they went out of production. I paid $346; I'm assuming the new one will carry a similar tag.

As far as the TS comparisons are concerned, I've AB'd my Klon against a vintage 808, and they are very different pedals. Both outstanding in their own right (though I prefer the Klon), but tonally they do not occupy the same space. The TS sounds like a TS, while the Klon sounds like a beefed up version of whichever guitar and amp it's paired with.

If I were you, I'd wait for the new Klon to come out rather than buy a used one or a clone. I really don't think it will be too long now.

[tibbon]

There isnt an ethical dilemma cause im not going to sell it ever. I would by a new one if they EVER come out, but something tells me I would be at the back of an enormous line.

The new one will come out, don't worry.

[hazel-rah]

The ts9 and 808 ri's aren't even somewhat similar; for that matter, neither is the od820 (a "bigger" headroom version of a tubescreamer).

I use an original 808 on my board, and I used it in conjunction w/ a Klon for about six years. Both pedals are great, but their sonic similarity is pretty much non-existent.

The od820 is a "better" od if you prefer the sound of a tubescreamer (the od820 is great pedal---I've owned three of them), but they sound different...and they're SUPPOSED to sound different. And some of you even like the 820 as a boost, but I think that it's wretched in that application: all of the nasally ts EQ with none of the nice texture or harmonics---but I would be hard-pressed to find a guitar sound that I like less than the sound of a tubescreamer as a clean boost...just nasty sounding!