The Legend of the klon centaur
Half Man, Half Horse: The Wrath of Klon
Every so often, a pedal comes along that's so singular, so completely and wildly effective, that it manages to go where none like it have gone before. Then, just like that, it vanishes, lighting up message boards and driving up eBay auctions, becoming the stuff of myth.
So it was with the Klon Centaur.
One of the most sought-after pedals of the last 30 years, the Klon Centaur is a transparent overdrive designed by Bill Finnegan. First introduced in 1994, this legendary pedal originally retailed for $225, a tidy sum in the early-to-mid '90s. Now, it regularly fetches upwards of $3K, with gold (or "Horsie") models commanding as much as $4K more.
But why?
Well, a lot of reasons. For one, it sounds good. Not every transparent overdrive is really "transparent," meaning it boosts the gain without changing the tone. For the Klon, this is no problem. An IC MAX1044 voltage converter allows it to run at higher voltages, generate a higher order of harmonics and extra internal headroom, great for a clean boost. But if you need some dirt, dial up the Klon's dual germanium diodes to clip your waveform. If you want, you can even mix some of the clean in with the "dual-ganged" gain pot.
Another reason the Klon Centaur is so valuable? Finnegan just didn't make that many, only about 8,000 between 1994 and when he discontinued the pedal in 2009. $225 was a crazy amount of money to pay for an overdrive at a time when "boutique pedals" weren't really a thing, not to mention the popularity of digital rack-mounted units was growing, and or older time-tested, overdrives were widely available for less.
Thankfully, we don't have to live in a Klon-less world. Finnegan reissued the pedal under the name "KTR" in 2014. And even though the circuitry on the original Klons was "gooped," or covered over with black epoxy resin to obscure the design, many effects manufacturers have since introduced some pretty reliable Klon clones to compete with rising vintage and second-hand prices.
CME-Style RYRA Klon
Handmade in founder Shane Logan's home workshop, each RYRA Klon Overdrive is a precise replica of the original Klon, constructed from the best materials available, including many difficult-to-source NOS components. Get one in traditional Gold or this CME Exclusive Chameleon!
Whether you want to saddle the mythical beast or you're looking to ride without ponying up, we can help.
Take the reins and call, click, or visit us today to talk about stabling the legendary overdrive for yourself.
Related Posts
Marshall | 1959BJA Artist Signature Amp
At the 2026 Super Bowl, Billie Joe stepped onto stage in front of a new amplifier: the Marshall 1959BJA Artist Signature Amp! Designed with Billie Joe Armstrong, this new amplifier is handwired and features the “Dookie Mod” that has been the cornerstone of Green Day’s raw attack for 30 years!
View Details
Introducing | Asheville Music Tools
Adding another chapter to the rich musical history of Western North Carolina, Asheville Music Tools is a marriage of vintage audio processing techniques and modern, high quality electronics! Asheville Music Tools is the brainchild of former Moog engineer Rick “Hawker” Shaich, with assistance from John Snyder, the mastermind behind Electronic Audio Experiments. Hawker took the lessons learned from refining Moog’s pedals, and is now applying his expertise to every pedal that is pushed out of his shop!
View Details
Fender & Squier | New Baritone Guitars for Summer 2026
Three iconic Fender silhouettes are returning to the lower registers with the newest Limited Edition Fender Guitars, and the newest entry to the Squier Paranormal Series! The Fender 75th Anniversary Player II Baritone Telecaster, Fender Limited Edition Player Fusion Jaguar Baritone, and the Squier Paranormal Baritone Jazzmaster HH feature 27” scale lengths and are tuned B-to-B, to put a new spin on instantly identifiable tones, or to expand their classic circuits to suit heavier playing!
View Details