The Klon Centaur was NOT designed to have a sound of its own, but to make a tube amplifier provide sweeter-sounding breakup. In 2007, Bill Finnegan sent me two original "ungooped" Klon boards to work on something for him that some unspecified customers had requested. One board was stock, and the other had every single component socketed, such that parts values could be easily played with. It was a great pedal but does NOT have any identifiable overdrive sound, the way one could easily identify a Tube Screamer, Big Muff, or Distortion+ on a recording. Bill would normally have a 20-30 minute phone chat with a prospective customer to find out if the Klon would complement their rig and playing style, and not recommend purchase if he felt it was a poor fit. None of the people paying 3-10X the price from resale on E-Bay ever got that chat, and some were loudly annoyed that what they paid that much for didn't make them a guitar god. But all of that ruckus over inflated resale prices only served to make inexpensive Asian clones and kits like this that much more attractive to people thrilled by the idea of "getting" a $3000 pedal for $50. Two things to consider. One is that Bill's build quality was *exceptional* in my view. The parts provided with such kits may be sufficient, but your personal build quality may not be at the level that touring big-name acts required for the road. In particular, Bill used high-quality larger pots. Second, as noted, adjust your expectations. Even if built well by an experienced hand, its usefulness will depend substantially on what you are using it with. Bill never ran many ads for the original Klon, but one of the most telling included this comment from a satisfied customer: "It sounds like my amp...only bigger". I'm a strong advocate for DIY. Just be sure that the hours and dollars you spend on a kit or similar project are going to yield something that ads sonic value, and not just something you built and own, but never really bonded with.
That's an amazing comment! Thanks a lot for sharing Mark!! I really liked how it sounded, but I know that the quality of what is inside and my soldering skills are not the same as a boutique! So I would never compare it with something like that! But if you will ask me if I like the final result... the answer is CRAZY YEAH! Appreciate your considerations mate! Cheers! 🎛️🔥
@@RiffsRigs Many thanks. Keep up the good work! If there is space, and if you have the time or interest, it is worth investing in a bigger and better dual-ganged pot for Gain, to replace what the kit came with. The Volume and Treble pots can remain as is. A lot of folks don't realize this, but the Gain pot did 3 or 4 (and maybe even more) things at the same time, as you adjusted it. On the ones he sent me, I could set the Gain controls to the same position on both boards, and they would sound identical; not just level, but tonally, as well. The *balance* and mix between the two versions of the signal being adjusted by that control is crucial to the design. Many inexpensive dual-ganged pots may feel nice, and last long enough, but are not well-matched between sections. When I say "build quality", I also mean consistency across units. When a major player buys 6 of them, for the various pedalboards and rigs in storage around the world (storage of duplicates can be cheaper and more dependable than shipping) for the South America Tour, the Europe Tour, the West or East Coast tour, and East Asian tour (plus a spare), they expect the settings to be VERY repeatable, with no playing around with the knobs to get "that" sound at the gig. That very specific blending/mix of two versions of the signal is also the basis for the mystique behind the diodes. Remember that the diodes also set a ceiling on the level of the clipped version of the signal. There are probably ways to compensate for using different diodes, but the simplest approach for Bill was to just always get/use diodes with the same properties, such that nothing else had to be changed to get the intended (and expected) result. I don't know what their properties are (the boards were returned to Bill), but even if I did, I wouldn't reveal them. I was honoured by the faith Bill placed in me, and nothing will break that.
🔥 PURCHASE LINKS: :: Landtone DIY Pedal Kit: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBKLzkn :: Soldering Iron: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dl3ggjZ :: Zero Plier: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBarETD :: Electronic Screwdrivers Kit: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCPAbnV 🎟️ Get exclusive #AliExpress PROMO CODES from Riffs & Rig Channel! 🛒 For orders over $25: - IFP2E61 - IFPVBCR 🛒 For orders over $50: - IFP3K5C - IFPETTD 🛒 For orders over $150: - IFPYZ7G - IFP4PFH ⭐️ Become a Member of the channel and enjoy additional benefits: bit.ly/join-members-re 💸 DISCOVER THE BEST BUDGET PRODUCTS IN OUR PURCHASE CENTER: bit.ly/purchase-center-rr
I built one of these a couple of years ago and still use it. If you just take your time, it's well laid out and goes together just fine. I've been gigging with it since and it always works, no issues. It's a 'light' drive but gives a very nice old school kind of tone. Combined with a wah it's not overpowering and still dynamic. For the money, it's a fun pedal to build, and works great on the gig...I've also built the Landtone reverb and tremolo and they are a good value... Oh, and Riffs & Rig, I also want to let you know I tried your fix for the popping on the Mini Universe...it worked PERFECTLY! Thanks!!
I did the fuzz face kit from Amazon. It didn't come with instructions so I left a review with the instructions on the link I purchased from. I modified mine from the start but it works well a few years in it's still fine
Other than this kit, i could never get any other landtone kit to work. Id even double check stuff. Im no stranger to building pedals now and have at least 2 set aside to see when i get more knowledgeable maybe i can figure it out. The klon your building i made no issue. Worked the moment i had it together. The reverb, delay, trem i could never get working. I started trying other kits and learning how to build my own and never had an issue. Today went back to the reverb for the first time in nearly 2 years and am still super stumped why it doesnt work
I just tried their fuzz before and had the same experience. Always there is some mistake on the schematics! I will try later another one. They have been improving the quality of the kits, so I hope that the new ones are already corrected! Cheers mate! 🎛️🔥
Hey mate! It is mostly because I used it kicking a crunched JCM800! But it is true that the Gain control is really mild. The volume is much more responsive! I will record a side by side comparison with the Warm Audio Centavo soon! Cheers mate! 🎛️🔥
@@RiffsRigs maybe try it into a clean on the edge of break up channel to see how well it pushes the amp into overdrive. After all, clean boost is where these pedals really shine.
The Klon Centaur was NOT designed to have a sound of its own, but to make a tube amplifier provide sweeter-sounding breakup. In 2007, Bill Finnegan sent me two original "ungooped" Klon boards to work on something for him that some unspecified customers had requested. One board was stock, and the other had every single component socketed, such that parts values could be easily played with. It was a great pedal but does NOT have any identifiable overdrive sound, the way one could easily identify a Tube Screamer, Big Muff, or Distortion+ on a recording. Bill would normally have a 20-30 minute phone chat with a prospective customer to find out if the Klon would complement their rig and playing style, and not recommend purchase if he felt it was a poor fit. None of the people paying 3-10X the price from resale on E-Bay ever got that chat, and some were loudly annoyed that what they paid that much for didn't make them a guitar god. But all of that ruckus over inflated resale prices only served to make inexpensive Asian clones and kits like this that much more attractive to people thrilled by the idea of "getting" a $3000 pedal for $50.
Two things to consider. One is that Bill's build quality was *exceptional* in my view. The parts provided with such kits may be sufficient, but your personal build quality may not be at the level that touring big-name acts required for the road. In particular, Bill used high-quality larger pots. Second, as noted, adjust your expectations. Even if built well by an experienced hand, its usefulness will depend substantially on what you are using it with. Bill never ran many ads for the original Klon, but one of the most telling included this comment from a satisfied customer: "It sounds like my amp...only bigger".
I'm a strong advocate for DIY. Just be sure that the hours and dollars you spend on a kit or similar project are going to yield something that ads sonic value, and not just something you built and own, but never really bonded with.
That's an amazing comment! Thanks a lot for sharing Mark!! I really liked how it sounded, but I know that the quality of what is inside and my soldering skills are not the same as a boutique! So I would never compare it with something like that! But if you will ask me if I like the final result... the answer is CRAZY YEAH!
Appreciate your considerations mate! Cheers! 🎛️🔥
@@RiffsRigs Many thanks. Keep up the good work!
If there is space, and if you have the time or interest, it is worth investing in a bigger and better dual-ganged pot for Gain, to replace what the kit came with. The Volume and Treble pots can remain as is. A lot of folks don't realize this, but the Gain pot did 3 or 4 (and maybe even more) things at the same time, as you adjusted it. On the ones he sent me, I could set the Gain controls to the same position on both boards, and they would sound identical; not just level, but tonally, as well. The *balance* and mix between the two versions of the signal being adjusted by that control is crucial to the design. Many inexpensive dual-ganged pots may feel nice, and last long enough, but are not well-matched between sections.
When I say "build quality", I also mean consistency across units. When a major player buys 6 of them, for the various pedalboards and rigs in storage around the world (storage of duplicates can be cheaper and more dependable than shipping) for the South America Tour, the Europe Tour, the West or East Coast tour, and East Asian tour (plus a spare), they expect the settings to be VERY repeatable, with no playing around with the knobs to get "that" sound at the gig.
That very specific blending/mix of two versions of the signal is also the basis for the mystique behind the diodes. Remember that the diodes also set a ceiling on the level of the clipped version of the signal. There are probably ways to compensate for using different diodes, but the simplest approach for Bill was to just always get/use diodes with the same properties, such that nothing else had to be changed to get the intended (and expected) result. I don't know what their properties are (the boards were returned to Bill), but even if I did, I wouldn't reveal them. I was honoured by the faith Bill placed in me, and nothing will break that.
🔥 PURCHASE LINKS:
:: Landtone DIY Pedal Kit: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBKLzkn
:: Soldering Iron: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dl3ggjZ
:: Zero Plier: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBarETD
:: Electronic Screwdrivers Kit: s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DCPAbnV
🎟️ Get exclusive #AliExpress PROMO CODES from Riffs & Rig Channel!
🛒 For orders over $25:
- IFP2E61
- IFPVBCR
🛒 For orders over $50:
- IFP3K5C
- IFPETTD
🛒 For orders over $150:
- IFPYZ7G
- IFP4PFH
⭐️ Become a Member of the channel and enjoy additional benefits:
bit.ly/join-members-re
💸 DISCOVER THE BEST BUDGET PRODUCTS IN OUR PURCHASE CENTER: bit.ly/purchase-center-rr
Love the content over here man! There are so many awesome and affordable options, you do a great job covering it all!
Thanks a lot mate!! Truly appreciate your feedback! Cheers! 🎛️🔥
I built one of these a couple of years ago and still use it. If you just take your time, it's well laid out and goes together just fine. I've been gigging with it since and it always works, no issues. It's a 'light' drive but gives a very nice old school kind of tone. Combined with a wah it's not overpowering and still dynamic. For the money, it's a fun pedal to build, and works great on the gig...I've also built the Landtone reverb and tremolo and they are a good value... Oh, and Riffs & Rig, I also want to let you know I tried your fix for the popping on the Mini Universe...it worked PERFECTLY! Thanks!!
It is really robust! I honestly do not believe I will have long term reliability issues with it! Thanks a lot for sharing mate! 🎛️🔥
I did the fuzz face kit from Amazon. It didn't come with instructions so I left a review with the instructions on the link I purchased from. I modified mine from the start but it works well a few years in it's still fine
Other than this kit, i could never get any other landtone kit to work. Id even double check stuff. Im no stranger to building pedals now and have at least 2 set aside to see when i get more knowledgeable maybe i can figure it out. The klon your building i made no issue. Worked the moment i had it together. The reverb, delay, trem i could never get working. I started trying other kits and learning how to build my own and never had an issue. Today went back to the reverb for the first time in nearly 2 years and am still super stumped why it doesnt work
I just tried their fuzz before and had the same experience. Always there is some mistake on the schematics! I will try later another one. They have been improving the quality of the kits, so I hope that the new ones are already corrected! Cheers mate! 🎛️🔥
Handmade time!
Soon we will have our own project!!
👍👍👍
Valeu Fabão!! 🎛️🔥
I think it’s better if the guitar was in tune for such demo😊
I am 100% checking it before all recordings... so probably it was not out of tune mate... only you are noticing it to be honest! Cheers! 🎛️🔥
I regret selling my landtone it sounded pretty good
It is amazing! And it looks better than I expected! It is really beautiful finishing! Cheers mate! 🎛️🔥
Really strange how it sounded basically the same with every setting change !
Hey mate! It is mostly because I used it kicking a crunched JCM800! But it is true that the Gain control is really mild. The volume is much more responsive! I will record a side by side comparison with the Warm Audio Centavo soon! Cheers mate! 🎛️🔥
@@RiffsRigs maybe try it into a clean on the edge of break up channel to see how well it pushes the amp into overdrive. After all, clean boost is where these pedals really shine.
For sure I will!