Not A Notaklön [Dan's DIY Approach To The Klon Centaur]

Josh JHS Made A Modular Klon Centaur-alike… Can Dan Do The Same?

Welcome to the show! And very possibly the last Klon show we do. For a while anyway. Because the very, very, very clever people at JHS Pedals recently launched the Notaklön, a Centaur-type OD pedal in kit form. Genius idea, genius marketing.
The easy thing would have been to buy one and compare it to Mick’s Klon. But. But but but but but… this is That Pedal Show and we like to be a little more, erm, enquiring. Thusly, Dan has attempted to deconstruct a Klon circuit, using other pedals to try to explain what’s going on.
Can we do it? Why would we do it? Welcome to That Pedal Show.
Enjoy the episode!

Pedals and stuff used in this video…
• TheGigRig Three2One

• Lazy Bear Custom Parallel Splitter

• MXR 10-Band EQ

• Ross Distortion

• Empress Para EQ

• Boss GE-7

• JHS Summing Amp

• TheGigRig Wetter Box

• Origin Effects DCX Boost

• Lazy Bear Custom Volume Pot

• Klon Centaur - head very gently to Reverb or eBay

• TheGigRig QMX4

• Crazy Tube Circuits White Whale

0:00 Intro playing
1:45 Why are we making this show?
3:40 Klon circuit brief explanation
4:58 Dansclaimer!
5:45 Today’s amp reasoning
7:44 Sounds Of The Klon Centaur
11:10 Three distinct signal paths
14:35 The Ross Distortion & hard clipping
16:45 Dual-gang gain pot
19:35 Why the DCX Boost?
20:21 Hear the Klon tone control
22:30 Sound 1: Low Gain Clean Boost
29:40 Still not quite getting the clean tone
33:00 Sound 2: Mid Gain Overdrive
36:05 Hear the DCX Boost
37:40 Sound 3: Higher Gain Overdrive
40:15 Reconstructing it backwards
42:22 Closing thoughts

Guitars in today’s show
• New-ish Gibson USA SG Standard with Maestro Vibrola - no video yet
• Gibson Custom True Historic ’57 Les Paul Godtop. Murphy Aged - no video yet

Amps in today’s show
• 1979 Fender Bassman 70
• Mesa Boogie 212 vertical cab with EVM12L speakers

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[TNTales]

Only show I know that tries to make a MORE EXPENSIVE version of the Klon. I love these Franken-pedal educational shows!

[eaglerayrob]

The Klon circuit and signal path explanations, in this episode, are absolute golden moments in teaching.

[teblake]

These deconstructed circuit demos are pure gold

[Dperezer]

Love that we’re seeing more humbuckers on the show. Would love an episode that explores the differences between humbuckers and single coils when it comes to modulation and wet effects. In the past you’ve mentioned that you tend to get more out of certain effects with single coils. Interested in why this is the case and what we can do to get the most out of these effects when using humbuckers.

[mostlypostie]

That was awesome. My kit arrived today. Built in 10 mins. Great quality. I can't wait to plug it in!

[Gorphoz]

I absolutely love these frankenstein pedal episodes.

It's alive!

[mattwesthaver]

As a tinkerer, this has really helped me conceptualize these circuits!

[scottakam]

Fascinating. Thanks guys. Notaklön was definitely marketing genius, but even more than that product development genius. Lot's of people want to build pedals but most are turned off by soldering. Such a simple solution to that problem.

[MythosSoundStudio]

This was awesome, and I am extremely grateful for the graphics! Awesome circuit recreation. As always, thank you both. I hope you and your families enjoy the Holiday Season!

[WeekendWarriorGuitars]

I like the Klon but not the gain stage (not a fan of how it blends)...so I got a J. Rockett Archer Clean. It's their Klon style pedal w/o the gain stage so instead of a "gain" knob it has a "color" knob to dial in the mids. I love it!

[TheDrunkenScoundrel]

So it is 100% official: I listened to this whole video throughout the crappy speakers on my iPhone...and not just ANY crappy iPhone speakers, but the crappy speakers on an iPhone SE and the sound quality is loads better than previous. I could literally hear event he more subtle differences.
If that wasn't;t the Neves your have done something else right. I cant't get that good of an experience with most YT channels on just phone speakers.
Great video too. Learned a ton.

[mrblablablabla]

I didn’t expect it to be so close! Mind blowing stuff!!

[matthewbowman]

These are some of my favorite shows—it’s very cool to get a conceptual understanding of what is going on inside these various circuits. Thanks!

[druwk]

So happy Mick was able to get that Strat! Thank you, whoever let it go. Lots of enjoyment 😊

[richardclark.]

there is just so much usable stuff in an episode like this. and TPS has a knack for making it all understandable for every level.

[roberthartell]

I can't believe this is how I'm spending my morning..but I can't seem to stop.

[DVRMNaitor]

You should market this as the Nota-Nota. Thanks for explaining this circuit with a hands-on approach. Legends.

[denmar]

Dan is right. Much easier to work to match the clean. Then remove the clean and match the drive. Then work the blend. Great deconstructed circuit demo! Love these.

[crapadopalese]

4:26 - wow, now I can really appreciate the "genius" Dan was talking about. This diagram clearly shows some unique revolutionary design.

[blues]

Love it! Lots of fun and this video really helped me understand the genius of the Klon circuit. Also, love that you used a JHS summer. I love their utility pedals. They really expand my pedalboard creativity.