Klon Centaur, KTR, Centura, and Archer - side by side!
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- čas přidán 28. 01. 2018
- Since we happened to have a couple different generations of the Klon Centaur the shop (as well as a KTR and some clones), we figured it would be fun to plug em all in, set them to unity and hear the differences!
This is by no means a scientific test - these are all owned by employees and friends of the shop, we just thought it would be fun to document them side by side while we had the option to do so!
Music: Supermother "Haunt Me (Instrumental)" - Hudba
Crazy to find this video! I used to go into emerald city regularly. I came in one day and this exact guy (Trever) told me if I was just gonna come "mess around with gear" I needed to leave! The irony is I came that day to buy the deluxe Id been testing... I bought it somewhere else. I guess now hes just online messing around with gear...
He has a tiny schmeckle
I've been told that in a store here in denmark as well.. the store went bankrupt under a year later.. but i do feel them. if people come in and use their gear and it gets wear etc and then go home and order online. must be very frustrating, but i guess they shouldn't have a physical store then or maybe be nicer to the customers
Yeah I'm always a bit put off any time a guitar shop has a bunch of big "PLEASE ASK FOR HELP" signs. I can only interpret that as "don't even think about taking one of these down and actually playing it." People can shit on Guitar Center all they want, but for all the bad things you can say about that company I've at least never gotten accosted just for trying to try out a piece of gear there.
@@marcusfsproductions I honestly think the issue is local stores usually don't have exactly what you want, you just go to get an idea of what you're looking at might sound somewhat similar to so you can make a more educated decision
@@SpencerP96 Totally untrue. No 2 guitars are identical. Buy the one that sounds and feels right and inspires your best playing.
The pedals all sound good. For me, the star of this video is the '67 Deluxe!
It's all about the Deluxe. They all added way too much mids and it sounds really muffled compared to the open beautiful sound of Tele into Deluxe directly.
Couldn't agree more. The pairing of that Tele & the '67 is amazing for his playing style, especially.
@@tremolo664 That's a Klon for ya; stong on the mids.
Totally. He's also left handed.
Wow for sure. It sounds blissful.
Holy crap that amp sounds amazing. Thank you for having a wonderful amp to demo these wonderful circuits with
One of the best comparison videos bout there! All straight ahead at 12:00 and some solid consistent playing. Shows the subtle differences between even when the pots are set the same. Thanks
I remember hearing Bill in an interview somewhere talk about how the Gold vs Silver was nonsense as they weren't different versions of the pedal, just different housings he had. He said they were all made exactly the same and the difference people were hearing was due to the slight variation of the components.
Those slight variations in components are what are making the difference that people are hearing, would be another way to put that
I do believe Bill was being honest when he said that. I owned an original Gold version. Purchased used shortly after they came out. Very early serial number. Absolutely loved that pedal. At the time very few people had heard of the Klon or cared about them. I purchased a silver version years later when the change occurred and popularity began to take off. I remember Bill asking me on the phone if I was planning on reselling after the purchase. He was clearly concerned about that issue. I do remember noticing a difference between the two pedals at the time. My preference was for the gold version. This had nothing to do with it being older or any magic. As mentioned before, component differences and part sourcing years later had to be slightly different. Both pedals sounded great, but slightly different. I sold the silver first when prices hit $1500 and hung on a little longer for the gold one. Sure wish I waited to sell. Prices at $7500 now. Absolutely insane. I am sure Bill could have never imagined this possible.
He's left-handed guys, I wouldn't trust this.
All the worst people are.
@@License2Bust I guess I'm the worst then :(
Awesome video guys! Thank you so much!
One of the best comparisons out there. Nice player, nice guitar, amp. Shows nice dynamic parts and calm parts.
GOLD KLON 01:28
SILVER KLON 02:21
KTR 03:15
CENTURA 03:56
SILVER ARCHER 04:55
I own an original gold and silver. I can duplicate these with a TC nova drive...
I think it's more of chasing the rainbow unicorn... LOL
All of these sound good. The trick with any od is to use them as they are designed, and to suit your own playing. Everyone has different taste, but you did the pedals justice in this video. Good job
I guess you can spend more money than a KTR to get a (nearly) duplicate sound
I'd love to hear a demonstration of that.
What a great video! Thanks for making this!
Dude can waggle that guitar neck with the best of them. Nice shake dude.
@fastguitar you must be joking, it has an effect of vibrato.
Another one in a long series of cool demos
I just kept screaming at the screen “use a strat with a tremolo!”
Gold Klon and Rocket Archer for the best of the test. The Centura had too much bass and the others had less pleasing headroom when being pushed hard. Without setting each of these very carefully by ear ( knob settings being the same will NOT allow a fair comparison ) its impossible to take this comparison and use it fairly to decide which is "best".
They all sound awesome. I think it's a matter of which one is readily available, pedalboard real-estate (in that case the archer is the obvious choice), whether you want a similar looking klon clone (centura is the obvious choice here) etc. But I still regret selling my original for what I thought was a nice profit...
That was a great demo! Ty!
#1 Gold Klon, #2 Centura, #3 KTR & Silver Klon Tied, #4 Archer. Differences are slight and any one of these would be fine. The Gold Klon and Centura seem a bit fuller but still nice clarity, Archer was a teensy bit harsher than the others.
Silver original for sure...is fuller, richer and softer than the others
Sorry but the little known Rimrock effects Mythical Overdrive is the "NEW" Klon! I've tried them all and even using the supposed "wrong diodes " D9/128,s it sounds just like Bill's original silver. Yes no 2 sound alike, but yes they all sound the same way. If you know anything about the builder of the MO I think his similar obsession to Bill's is what makes the pedal so reactive and musical. All truly hand made goodness.
i own the rimrock, it`s great, but the centura is real close to the real deal
I got a clone of the Clone Central - The Clone Centaur pedal on a trade and I'm trying to find out more about it. What is different about this one is it has a date and looks like it has the guy that originally made the pedals signature, Bill Finnegan and dated 7-30-98. Do you think this is original or someone has copied his information? If your not sure do you know how I could find out? I have photos and actually put them on your Facebook page, but it said to put it on here for the best results, but there's no place to put photos. Thanks,, Larry Crecelius, Salem, Indiana.
I'd go for the Archer myself. Great sound, smaller form factor.
At one time beanie babies sold for a ton of money as well. Vintage pedal bubble? Hmmm...But for the money, the clones sounded pretty darn good! Thanks for the demo.
They all sound great -- such a classic circuit. Because they're all great, I'd go for the Archer, since it takes up less space and has the lowest price tag.
I recently ordered the Archer and you've just showed me I made the right choice! great video!
I think i like the Archer better actually.
I spent the night watching comparison videos and it's consistently been the best to me.
it appears that your in the middle position (both pickups) and at some point on the neck pickup during the comparision... am I correct? I'm trying to go back and fourth to compare between the pedals....
I sure everyone has there own favorite. But the silver original does it for me.
Tom Howland Are you shure ?
Yes. But that's just me.
Tom Howland I shure
Im obcessive compulsive tone chaser for 25 years now, am i chasein my tail or jus t horsein aroun ?
Well, one thing’s for sure, that’s the best TELE clone I’ve ever heard! 😳👍🏻👍🏻 lol
In live situation, you would not ear a difference. At home, yes. At a time I had the KTR and Archer. Both used on 2 different settings. But I receive the Centura weeks ago... Now it is the only one I keep.
Although the original gold one sounds the best he sound difference doesn't justify the price difference. Gimme the J Rocket any day.
They all sound great, but the silver Klon sounds the most special in this comparison to my ears, followed by the gold. I thought all of the copies (including the KTR sounded more similar to each other than the original Klons).
I really liked the Archer. Now I understand why some of my favorite guitarists use one. The Centura was cool too.
Bind test, no one could tell which one is what. seeing them makes peoples judgment different, that's just a fact
Sounds fantastic! Thanks for this comparison, I’m looking at one of these for myself, absolutely wicked playing too!
I have bought a bunch of Klon type clones. Some of them are really excellent. Although, I just got my first Klon KTR. I found a guy that had one unused in the original box in the plastic on the shelf at a store in Hawaii of all places. Bought it for $600. After being "that guy" that said I don't why anyone would spend up to a $1000+ on a Klon when so many clones exist; I can tell you one thing. Only people who that say is people who don't own or ever played an actual Klon. It's legit amazing.
they all sound so close that it doesn't matter at all in a band setting. I'd go for the archer as it is smaller, easily available and cheaper.
gold and ktr thanx !
Listening with my eyes, the gold one sounds the best.
I've noticed that most Klones sound similar to the Klon until higher gain settings, and that's where the difference is distinct as the original is fuller.
True because when the gain is off they are basically identical, when the gain is up the variation in the diodes becomes apparent. :)
Great demo! Love Klons so much!
I thought it's Cam Gigandet on a guitar. :)
The Centura sounds better than both the originals to me. Far out.
I was really impressed with the Centura. It was a little darker and thick sounding which could easily be a difference in the settings or pots. Abe affordable option
@@iansmith5973 Centura sounds the closest to the originals to me - J Rockett is what Jeff Beck uses. I'm torn :P
There's not supposed to be any difference between the gold or silvie, horsie or no horsie, of the original - is there?
Correct. But the tolerances of the internal parts varies, so each individual Klon will be a little different than others, as with amps.
i don't know how I ended up with an Archer but I've learned its a Klon Clone, I don't know if it is a perfect clone but its definitely one of the pedals that is there to stay on my board, i think it's pretty good, i stacked it with a Plumes and I had a third drive but those two give me all the drive i need and then some
Big love for the plumes!
I have a tumnus but I’m thinking of replacing with an archer
Monsterpiece Stud is my Klon-ish go-to.
I'll stick w my Archer, doesn't have dynamic head room of the orig, but I'm ok not spend another 800 to be so.
2 years later, the difference is $4000 not $800
For that kind of sound a TS 5 would do. I had the Gold Klon MANY years ago.. yeah, it's just snake oil for people with lots of $$.
Archer and Centura in that order. More hi fi than either of the originals.
I'm sorry, but the Golden Horse?
Centura for the win!
GOLD
Gold Centaur and Centura first, Archer second, Silver Centaur and KTR third. All real close, all real good. IMO.
Weird, since the gold and silver are exactly the same.... says the guy who made them.... and then copied them again with the KTR.
to my ears also, centura and gold sounds similar
KTR for me after the originals, then the Centura, last the Archer but that‘s a great pedal too.
Thanks for saving me like $1,000. I'm off to the store to buy an Ibanez Tube Screamer mini
All sound good, but the original silver Klon without the decal sounds the best in my opinion,
That was my feeling. But maybe diminishing returns had to do with that. Not surprising the first sounded best.
Centura is mega!
I'd be happy with
J Rockett,Centura, or the Original Gold Klon. ☺
P.S- JHS modded Soul Food comes very close too.
OG is clearly the best
Very small differences. I preferred the silver and was surprised to not like the Archer much. Different day, different settings, different result? Probably. I’m somewhat addicted to my Chellee Ponyboy V2 for Klon type sounds.
What is the mA power usage for the KTR?
Probably not much considering it’s analog. Maybe like 6mA
1977 MXR Distortion+ with an Energizer (not Duracell) battery for the win. ;-)
I have the centura, never leaves my board. Not an exact copy of the original Koln sound, but pretty perfect OD IMO.
Sounds better w/o the decal!
The centura kicked ass! Sounded better than the ktr. Surface mount just doesn't do it for me sometimes
Go for Ryra’s klone. From everything I’ve seen and heard, it’s 100% accurate at any setting.
Very minor differences. For me, it seems like the major difference is a hint more of a fuzz breakup with the original, and obviously a touch more body to it. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily “better” because they all sound good. But if that’s exactly what you are looking for, then it is the best out of the group. But for $2,000??
All of these comparisons should always be done (apples-to-apples); by playing your selection of riffs & progressions into a looper pedal & then playing the loop through each pedal sequentially. Otherwise, there can't help but be nuanced variations in the player's performance each time around, especially if they know which pedal they're playing through. And nuance is what we're dealing with here.
Fresher, but stiffer playing through the first pedal, warmed up in the middle, tired of playing the same riffs by the third or fourth time around.
Apples-to-apples is the way to go, like this Decibellics/Klon side-by-side:
czcams.com/video/Lg7POab0xFw/video.html
I got one of these back in September, and it's amazing. It feels a whole lot like my Father-in-law's 1957 Fender (tweed) DeLuxe. I love it.
Gold Klon ftw :-)
If you get the sexy shiny chrome Centura, the black print will rub right off. At least it did on mine. Oh well. Still the best Pedal I ever owned.
There's a lot of mold growing on your fretboard. You should get it replaced.
Useful demo, nice playing, thanks !
Damn guy! EASY on that neck you trying to shake it off? Use the wrist!!!
Centura!
TubeScreamer is the best OD ever. These sound decent.
CENTURA!!!!
Watson Maack ya I can hear why .... good pik
it's missing the low mid push that is the signature of the KLON
I agree. So much that I bought one and absolutely love it. It's a great pedal even if you use it with the amp set absolutely clean, but I do often use it on the edge or with the drive channel.
my favourite is the first on(gold ) , nice mids
After watching it 5-6 times I came to this. Gold, Centura, Silver, KTR, Archer.
To me the Gold sounded different than both the silver and Centura. Those two sounded pretty alike, and then what’s really separating this for me is the KTR and Archer sound very saturated and more compressed. They don’t have the same liveliness and string to string clarity as the other three. All that said,, I would put any on my board and it would sound great.
Gold one possibly sounds like my favorite overdrive sound ever...but i guess that a lot of credit has to go to the '67 deluxe reverb. Anyway, cool demo!
I own the J rocket Archer to be honest in a live situation we all would be hard pressed to tell the difference between a $200 or a $2K Dollar pedal cool demo..
That's because it's the same thing, and they're both around the same price. Hype has brought the original up ten fold. It's not expensive for being better.
KTR first & Centura for me
Not really a fan of the clean tone. It was a tad bit too bright and brittle for me. Can't say anything about the originals since the base tone was already off for me. That's why I like the centura and the archer. Had the clean tone been balanced, I do think my choices would sound muddy compared to the originals.
Great idea. Everything at 12 o'clock is not a great setting for almost any pedal...
The Amp was on the edge of break up, "clean". So every pedal just pushed it into break up.
Every pedal sounded the same to me as all I heard was the amp. Maybe a nice cheap tube screamer would do the same?
I have a screamer and a centura, and I can assure you that at the edge of break up the amp sounds VERY different depending on which of these two pedals is on. They both tone-shape. I like them both too. Often stacked too.
The fact that all you heard was the amp is precisely the POINT of the centaur. Tube Screamers are awesome too but they bring a certain colour to your sound.
the pokemon generation WANTS
Best Klon clone I've tried is also the cheapest - those no-name $40-$60 knockoffs you can get from about a dozen different sellers on AliExpress (or buy as a kit for a couple dollars less). That said, the difference between the pedals in this demo is less than the difference you get by changing your picking position by about an inch. They all sound great.
Spent a lot of time in Boston in the late 90s and lived there through the 2000s and Klons were still being sold new in shops back then - even at the time they were absurdly expensive for an overdrive, much less now. The sort of thing you'd demo from the glass case behind the counter at that one high end gear shop on Mass Ave that only stayed in business for a couple years, enjoy, and then go down the street to Daddy's and get a Zoom Power Driver that sounded different but just as good for 1/5 the price. Because adjusting for inflation they were pushing $1000 when they were new, and nobody I knew in high school or college was ever going to take that seriously no matter how good they sounded.
I just got the Centura today and I'm excited to see what it can do. It took about 8 months to get, but it was worth the wait, and a US price tag of $207, so not bad at all.
WarriorStreetPreacher what I ordered and got it a week later in Australia and it’s fucking awesome as
@@joshmuz9018 it sure is.
Centura For Me.. Exactly Same.. Gold No 1. Price Speak.
should take the winner and play it against a PRS Horsemeat pedal.... ;)
Where I hear the biggest difference is when you back of and play lightly. The real Centaurs seem to clean up into a slightly shimmery clean where the others (including KTR) stay a bit dirtier. That could be a result of different tolerances in parts or slightly different setting on the pedal (even though all are set the "same". One pedal's 1 o'clock could be another's 12 o'clock.)
Correct, the tolerance of the parts make a big difference. The original builder who now makes the KTR said that too!
I will gladly pay $2000+ for your original magic Klon... but in exchange you must tell me how it helped inspire you to write and record your platinum album.
The gold one wins !
you missed a spot: Mosky Silver Horse...!
Amp sounds like a fart Fest, when was it serviced if ever?
KTR all the way!! ....because that’s the one I own 😬
Archer the best
The Archer sounds best because I can afford it lol
Silver no logo hands down.
5:11
Would have been cool to hear the other pickup selections.... I never use the center position so this was almost useless for me.
I'm able to get very comparable tones rocking a homemade 'barncaster', an EHX East River Drive and a Fender Champion 600. For reference, that's about a $500 package. Perhaps my auditory palette is not adequately refined though, so take that with a grain of salt.