*UPDATE* For fully up to date schematics and layouts of the original Klon we, at freestompboxes.org, bought to reverse engineer please check out freestompboxes.org . Thanks to Soulsonic we have a great project on the way too :-)
Demo Video;
The KLON Centaur, one of the rarest and most sought after overdrive pedals currently available. With current production models costing in excess of $320 and ebay prices in the $500 range the Klon Centaur was a great candidate for reverse engineering. The schematic has been available for some time in closed circles but many are reluctant to share the information about the Klon Centaur freely until recently when a few guys got together and really made things happen. Great work and many thanks guys, you all know who you are!
So, what did I think of the Klon Centaur when I first saw the schematic? Well, it certainly isn't a tubescreamer or other common overdrive clone. It truly is an original circuit which utilizes some great ideas.
The Klon basically splits the signal into 3 parts - highs, mids and lows - the mid and low sections are "eq"ed and the highs are run through an overdrive circuit before the three parts are mixed back together again with an opamp mixer section - which is run off a charge pump supplying a dual polarity supply to stop any further clipping taking place. As the gain is increased the level of mids and lows present in the final mix is reduced, this is controlled via a dual taper pot which simultaneously increases the overdrive gain and reduces the level of the mid and low sections. The tone control is an active treble boost/cut allowing the level of the highs to be adjusted to taste.
Here is the PCB before it is trimmed down and placed in the Ferric Chloride etching solution. You can see some small fills that I made with a permanent marker.
Here's the PCB in the Ferric Chloride. Etching away! This can take from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the strength and temperature of the etching solution.
The finished PCB, cleaned with steel wool, trimmed and drilled. Now it's ready for population!
The PCB being populated. I need a box to put this thing in. I wonder what it should look like?
A nice Hammond BB Sized enclosure - marked out and drilled. It looks boring - I need some graphics!
I applied the graphics in the same way that I did the PCB toner transfer. Here it is ironed on and soaking through ready for the glossy paper to be removed.
Here's the enclosure with the graphic applied. A nice centaur image - just to keep the theme going!
So, enclosure drilled, graphics applied, PCB etched and populated and wiring done. I've got myself a Klon Centaur! See the finished unit below :-)
For your comparison here are some images of a real Klon Centaur. I really do like the look of these things. Nice and simple!
So there you have it. A DIY construction of the rare and famous Klon Centaur Overdrive. How does it sound? Just like a real Klon Centaur, nice booster - OK overdrive. I think to be a really great booster and overdrive it needs a few mods. In the near future I will be constructing my own version of the Klon circuit with these mods:
- Separate Gain and Blend pots (The original uses a "dual ganged" pot instead of two individual pots to control the mix of clean signal and overdriven signal.
- Improve the overdrive circuit - that overdrive section could easily be made to sound a little sweeter and a little less "thin" - this is a complaint which I have heard from many Klon Centaur users.
- Diode blend pot - to allow you to blend between two distinct overdrive sounds. It just increases the versatility of the original unit.
- Use a different OPAMP for the buffer/overdrive section. Why use that TL072 for the overdrive section? Why, why, why? I've been using a LF353 and it sounds better already! True Bypass?
Here's a vero layout;
Here is Madbean's great project (schematic and PCB layout): http://www.madbeanpedals.com/projects/Sunking/docs/Sunking_ver.3.pdf
I've built quite a few from this layout and they sound great.
For more info on this project or to buy one of the 100,000 Klown Centaur pedals I have since made please email me. You can find my address at the top of the page... Again; thanks to everyone who has made this build possible - you know who you are, especially MM and MC ;-)
This so cool that you've got these up and running that I'll gladly buy yer versh instead of building it.
ReplyDeleteI mean I've never heard the "other" one so why not let you give me your impression and I'll eventually be able to compare the two.
I appreciate the work you share so freely, Noel Grassy.
great work here, those mods seem like they'd accompany the klown beautifully...do you think you could post a pcb or perfboard layout for the klown...that would be much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteHi there Erik. Check out freestompboxes.org for vero/pcb layouts for both the SOCJOD and klon and many others. I would strongly recommend "bajamans" mini klon project, that is what my klowns are based upon with just a few component changes. The values in bajamans pcb layout are identical to an original klon. For the SOCJOD pedal check out deaj's post on the CJOD lite, there is a pcb layout for it there, that circuit is almost identical to what I came up with for my design....
ReplyDeleteNoel - I'll be doing a new version soon. I've been playing with a circuit we got from a fully reversed Klon (If anyone remembers when this thing started on FSB.org, we bought a new Klon to disembowl - we've finally done it!) Sounds great :-)
ReplyDeleteBriggs, That's great news! I wondered what became of that pedal you guys bought.
ReplyDeleteKeep me informed when you start building the new version. I'll gladly pre-pay you or whatever way you'ld like to work it.
TIA, Noel Grassy
Hey, great work! Still curious about the sound difference between the two. By the way, you wouldn't mind mailing me your PCB trace? (benjamin.niklasson@hotmail.com)
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Hi there ben. Check out freestompboxes.org for a fully upto date version of the PCB layout and scheme :-) It's in the K.L.O.N.E.D section.
ReplyDeletenot bad...publicly disclosing one mans hard work which he uses to feed his family...it must feel good to dissect someone elses hard work in a public forum...just because you can doesn't mean you should...ethics come to mind...have a nice life genious :-(
ReplyDeleteOK mate. Grow up, this info has been out for months. The sales of the Klon have clearly not been affected by this info being available, it doesn't take a "genious" to realize that now does it....
ReplyDeleteto the guy complaining about "feeding his family"...well they must be eating steak and lobster 5 nights a week. the klon is like 500 bucks.
ReplyDeletelooks great... Just an idea for extra mods - to do a dual klon, so that one can be like a booster type?
ReplyDeleteto the thoughtful gent who thinks mr finnigan and family eat steak and lobster nightly...
ReplyDeleteA) do yr homework. centaur do not sell for $500 from KLON. people overcharge on ebay for pedals they buy from bill at the regular price.
B) how many pedals do you think bill sells in a year? each pedal is built by hand by bill, not on an assembly line or even by assistants... by bill, by hand. if he sells 150 pedals @ around $350 he'd bring in around $50k (US) yearly before taxes. the custom cast boxes aren't cheap sheet metal or stock hammond boxes. the finish is beautiful. all that costs to make/buy and comes out of that $50k (US). so, minus materials and taxes he makes considerably less than $50k yearly, building and selling something he invented. that seems an honest wage for honest work and doesn't seem like a greedy living for an adult w/a family to support.
C) IMO ethics does come into play. the man invented the thing. it's bill's design, not a clone of a tube screamer or some other pedal built by a giant corporation. it was invented by and has been built by ONE guy for over ten years. it is his self created source of support. who decides that should now be given away? and who gave them the power to make that choice and to powerfully affect another's life?
Okay, well, to all involved, I feel that we need to read the article properly and make comments that are both relevant and well supported.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I'll offer my response, even if "Mr Lobster comment" won't ;-)
A) I state this in the second paragraph.
B) I agree, and have stated many times that I think the build quality of the Klon is top notch. However, if Bill was savvy he would have a full line of pedals available after 10 years. It's nothing to do with the RE community that he hasn't explored this option to increase his cash flow.
C) Check out who actually designed the Klon. If anyone can post evidence that Klon sales have been impacted since this project was posted then there will be a case for stopping the reverse engineering. Klon clones have been available for years - the Banzai Cold Fusion is a perfect example, Klons are still selling.
Speaking to people who view the world solely through economic, capitalistic eyes about the freedom of information, and the freedom of one to work with that information, is pointless. People love the term "freemarket" yet have little concept of the factors which contribute to the continued development of the principle.
Oh, I designed the wheel by the way, but I gooped it up so you guys couldn't copy it, you'll just have to keep dragging everything around on sledges, suckers.
you have some reasonable points but i for one still believe that making a living is important and if i have a skill (engineer, musician, mechanic, lawyer, carpenter) i should be paid when i use that skill in the service of others or to make "widgets" that people want to buy.
ReplyDeletei think a man ought to be able to invent something unique and sell it without others profiting from taking the fruits of his thought and effort for themselves w/no compensation to the designer.
what about paying the designer a small "design fee" when you "clone" someone else's work? that would seem a reasonable compromise. the "clone" builder would still have his homemade klon pedala nd bill would still be being compensated for having invented and designed that dang thing.
if someone wants to take the klon design and do something different with it to change/improve it, awesome. they would deserve to benefit from their efforts... but just to take someone else's design work and copy it and say "screw you" to the originator? well, at best it's not very nice or considerate of how one's actions impact others... but then compassion and responsibility are not very big motivators in many people's lives these days.
and by the way... no beef w/"you" per se... you're entitled to your opinion and philosophy/perspective. i was responding to the "staek & lobster" comment.
last point, re: how he "should have" come up with more of a line by now to bolster his income... that's your opinion, but he hasn't come up with another design that's as cool/unique/desirable so why should he water down his line w/filler? bob sweet built a bunch of fuzzes and whatnot but it was his univibes that were his real contribution. besides, it's bill's life to choose how he wants to do things. it's not our place to decide for him. i happen to know he has a hard time keeping up with the demand for one design as it is. i know, i know... that should indicate he sells a lot of centaurs and is getting "rich"... but he's far from it. go figure...
"if someone wants to take the klon design and do something different with it to change/improve it, awesome. they would deserve to benefit from their efforts... but just to take someone else's design work and copy it and say "screw you" to the originator? well, at best it's not very nice or considerate of how one's actions impact others... but then compassion and responsibility are not very big motivators in many people's lives these days."
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%, unfortunately, as you say, it'll never happen :-(
Hey buddy, love what your doing here...
ReplyDeleteIve been toying with getting one of these for years, but the price has always put me off, i'm definatley interested. I sent you an email but I dont think it got through...
Please hit me up i'd love to have one...
Smalls
CAN WE GET BACK TO RIPPING OFF OTHER PEOPLES PEDALS NOW?.....HA HA....cheers...
ReplyDeleteDo you still sell your version of the Klon pedal? I would like to purchase one if you do. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteDo you still sell your version of the Klon pedal? I would like to purchase one if you do. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteClone all you like, but in the end,
ReplyDeletethe old saying still holds true:
"Imitation is the highest form of
flattery"
Rock on Mr. Finigan!
Koz
When it comes to pesimists who think it is wrong to recreate the wheel and pass along knowledge to young up and comers who hopefully keep the music industry energetic and excited about something new or old recreated it must be because their lives are in the bottle or pipe or they are recovering from it and life sucks to be them. I for one beleive in my heart 100% whats happening here is a gift, I started hanging out at the music store when I was 6 years old and the amp tech there at the time was the guy that worked at Baggies recording studio with Hendrix and was a pioneer audiophile engineer for what todays industry is all about and it fascinated me and its why I still am at it. A soldering iron, a lamp, and my bench, nobody but god can tell me that what I do there is wrong. Amps, guitars, effects, speakers, ect. Obviously the prick whos whining has no talent, or may'be he's a Lawyer? or should have been. Anyway if you do not like what go's on here then go where you are wanted. This is a place where the Monks of the industry pray together. Sincerely, Big B
ReplyDeleteI think it is perfectly good to clone, he should up his game and make the Klon better. If it was me Id be reading the forums for things I hadnt thought about, possibly done a Klon 2 with mods.
ReplyDeleteAnd the sand cast enclosure is just pointless and over engineered. Its the sound that counts!!! If he's that good of a design engineer and market savvy I agree a larger range of fx pedals should have been made and a sensible price put on them. All he is doing by its scarsity is providing a means for people to profiteer.
Foolish even if he is a purist!
Well I think that the only way it would not be OK to clone something is if the designer has a patent. It could make the selling of such item actually illegal; now, if Joe-Schmoe wanted to just open it up, make some clones and "gift" them to friends, that is a different story. In the life time of the patent, either the patent holder officially licenses the circuit design for a cut, or gives his blessing for copies to be made, at which point the patent would become really irrelevant anyhow. IMHO, the designer and builder should be responsible for protecting his/her own intellectual property.
ReplyDeleteDid you ever work out a modded version of your Super Klown?
ReplyDeleteHi! Nice work!
ReplyDeleteWhy does it have to he 7660CPA? I didn't understand if it was some joke or real matters.
fwiw, i'm grateful for the knowledge gained messing with this circuit. i don't believe cloning something for personal use is wrong...particularly something out of production.
ReplyDeletethat said, i didn't stick strictly to the project when i built it, took some libertys with values, and made something based on the most excellent pedal devised by mr. finnigan, but different. can i call it a klon? nope. it is what it is..based on it, but not an original. i am as grateful to bill as i am the guys at fsb (and other places that had also done the same thing...great minds)for the opportunity to see, build, and ultimately understand a truly unique circuit. if the day ever comes where i can afford an original, i would contact klon directly, not pay some inflated ebay hyped price...i've seen them with "buy it nows" approaching 2 grande!!!! is this ethical? do these scumbags selling shit this high give bill any money? apples and oranges in the end i think. it's a great device, perfect for somethings, lame for some others, but intrinsically cool to check out. that said...thanks to all.
peace.