Klon vs. Maxon OD-820

[Dale]

My experience with most of pedals is that they are not really clean boosts. There is a frequency emphasis or cut someplace. If a truely clean boost is what you want it seems to me that the eq pedal set flat really does that about as well as any pedal I have used.

This said, I like to use TS style pedal for "clean boost" becuase I want to tighten things up in one area or another. Which I choose to use depends on the vibe I am after.

 

[jakeddy]

There is two kinds of overdrive, one that simulates to sound of a preamp (or power amp) being overdriven and one that truely overdrives the tubes. The Klon is the later but the amp has to be turned up for this to happen. Another od that falls into this catagory is the Hot Cake. IMHO

 

[jrr]

JRR and TexasSunBurst:

Thanks for your comments--this is the kind of thing I can use. I have an OD-820 on the way, and I am seriously considering saving up a little more change to get a Klon, to do my own A/B test and post the results, but I haven't decided.

jrr: When you say the 18V step up kicks in at minimum drive, do you think it tapers off all the way up the dial as you increase drive, or does it just click on and shut off altogether somewhere on the dial?

it tapers in between 0 and 2('bout 9'00 o'clock on the time dial)...after 2 its full TS compression mode,but better than a TS,more open,less mid hump...don't get me wrong,there is some mid emphasis there,but not overly so.....gain at 0(and volume max) it's this very nice clean boost thing...
.... i pretty much never have the gain dial above 11 o'clock,once its set,its set,then i jockey the guitars volume knob to get the tone i need...my volume on the pedal is always maxed...this pedal does this very well,while preserving wood tone...
...i prefer a kick to the front end of a cooking tube amp...the od 820 does it while preserving my amp/guitar/pups tone to the highest degree....ime

i should add..this pedal does the classic TS thing...doesn't give you bedroom volume OD,doesn't make a clean amp nicely dirty...it just takes a cranked tube amp,on the edge,cooking with some distortion,and pushes it over the edge,makes her scream...nice

 

[Bluesbreaker59]

I've A/B/C'd them: Gold (with horsey), Silver and OD820

Here were the findings by 4 men, none of us could see the pedals, we had to turn around and play, then say what we liked best, we used a vintage strat and a Les Paul with Antiquities, amp was a Victoria 45410

1. Most natural sounding clean boost - Gold, Silver, then 820
2. Best souding as OD - 820, Silver, gold
3. Sweetest mids - Silver, Gold, 820
4. Most neutral - Gold, 820, Silver
5. Favorite pedal - split 2 a piece on Silver and Gold, then 820

Look I've owned 2 Klons, and if I didn't need the money so bad I wouldn't have sold either, they're really, really unique pedals that are exceptional clean boosts with an already breaking up amp. They tend to boost the low mids, IMHO, and they add a really cool sparkle, but aren't harsh. They also make you cut through a band mix like a knife. My favorite effect ever next to my old EP-3. I just hate paying so much for them, and right now can't afford a Klon. If you can, and you want a great clean boost, get it. If you want an overdrive, please don't waste your time, the Klon is average at best in this regard, meaning, using the Klon for overdrive into a clean, low volume amp, it sounds grainy.

 

[Lee_Moore]

Man, I wish people would stop smashing the Klon. I probably have one of the largest collection of OD pedals at the moment and am on my 2nd Klon; so, I'll say that the Klon is meant as a "meety" boost to a mildly overdriven Marshall or Fender.

Running the Klon through the clean channel of my 50W Blockhead, I can dime the gain and get an OD similar to "Mr. Saturday Night" from Skynyrd. That is how the pedal works with your amp; very clear, natural and amp-like.

There is only one Klon and nothing else like it. If you don't know what its used for then don't buy it. Guys like Warren Haynes have been using it for 10 years to overdrive SLO 100's, Marshalls et al. Blues guys with Strats use it with vintage 808's with great success. I've tried it with a Strat and it is sweet; Strat > Klon > Red Snapper or 808 > Fender.

Running the Klon into a clean Fender, Mesa or anything else that is not close to breaking up will do nothing but give you a grainy volume boost. You either have to use it with an overdriven all-tube amp or in combination with another pedal.

Combos I like:

1. Klon > Eternity Lovepedal
2. Klon > Cot50
3. Klon > Red Snapper
4. Klon > 808 Keeley

I can also substitute the XOTIC RC Booster if I'm NOT looking for as much mid-range or gain. IMO, if you want to get "creamier" with a good sounding OD pedal (or mildly overdriven amp as your base tone), the Klon is killer.

 

[echo1]

I own a Klon and while it is a decent pedal it is so overhyped by people who have never played one... My Lord.

For the original 235 it was a very good pedal. For what they go for, LOL, forget about it.

 

[F-Hole]

I've got two very early silver Klons............they sit on the shelf unused (but, there again, so does every other pedal I own).

 

[GreenBurst]

Maxon OD820 Overdrive Pro versus Klon Centaur - Legendary Tones - 2004

Maxon OD820 Overdrive Pro versus Klon Centaur - Legendary Tones - 2004

LEGENDARY TONES - 2004 Upper-end Overdrive Head-to-Head: Klon Centaur vs. Maxon OD-820 Proby Dave SzabadosPerhaps the most frequent question we receive here is, "What type of overdrive should I use?" or more specifically, "Have you tried Brand X? If so, what do you think?" The Klon Centaur's...

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