Klon Centaur & Clones: Which One Should You Actually Buy?
Quick verdict: Buy a clone. Pedals like the JRAD Archer, Wampler Tumnus, or EQD Palisades get you within a hair of the Centaur's sound for $100-$200, brand new, with a warranty. The original Klon Centaur only makes sense if you're chasing the mystique and the resale value, not the tone — you can't tell the difference by ear, and neither can most people who claim they can.
At a Glance
| Original Klon Centaur | Klon KTR | Modern Clones | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,000–$8,000+ used | $600–$900 used (out of production) | $70–$200 new |
| Availability | Used only, 1994–2008 production | Used only, sporadic new drops from Finnegan directly | Widely in stock, new |
| Circuit | Original, hand-built, germanium diodes | Same circuit, SMD components, switchable buffer | Varies — some near-identical clones, some reinterpretations |
| Warranty | None | None (unless bought new/sporadic drop) | Yes, standard manufacturer warranty |
| Who it's for | Collectors, players chasing the exact vintage unit | Klon purists who want the "real" circuit without paying original prices | Everyone else |
The Original Klon Centaur
Bill Finnegan built about 8,000 of these by hand between 1994 and 2008, originally selling for $225-$329. Production stopped in 2008, and since then the used market has only climbed — today original units go for $2,000 to $8,000+, with "Horsie" gold versions at the high end and some rare examples reportedly selling into five figures. This is not a pedal you're buying to actually gig with; it's a collector's item that happens to also work as an overdrive.
Buy the original if: you want the exact hand-built unit for its history and resale value, and price genuinely isn't a factor. Be aware the used market has enough convincing counterfeits that Finnegan himself has publicly posted authentication tips — verify carefully before buying, especially from anyone other than an established dealer.
Don't buy the original if: you're chasing tone. Every blind comparison, including Finnegan's own, has found the circuit sounds identical across original units, the KTR, and accurate clones. You're paying thousands of dollars for scarcity and a name, not a sonic advantage.
The Klon KTR
Released in 2014 as the "attainable" follow-up, the KTR uses the same circuit in a smaller enclosure with SMD components, plus a switch to toggle between the original's buffered bypass and true bypass. It originally retailed around $269-$385. Production has been sporadic — Finnegan periodically sells small batches directly, but the KTR is functionally out of production most of the time, and used prices have climbed to $600-$900 as a result.
Buy the KTR if: you want the closest thing to "the real Klon" without spending thousands, and you're patient enough to either catch a rare direct drop or pay the elevated used price.
Don't buy the KTR if: the used price premium over a $150 clone doesn't feel justified — because sonically, it likely isn't.
Modern Clones
This is where almost everyone should actually be shopping. A few worth knowing:
- J. Rockett Archer ($179-199) / Archer Ikon ($199-209) — JRAD actually worked directly with Finnegan on the original KTR, so their circuit knowledge is about as close to the source as a third party gets.
- Wampler Tumnus / Tumnus Deluxe (~$199) — compact, well-regarded, widely available new.
- Mythos Mjolnir (~$199, limited 1N34A germanium edition ~$224) — built by Zach Broyles, who A/B'd it directly against his own original Klon and found it indistinguishable. One of the most consistently recommended clones on gear forums.
- Electro-Harmonix Soul Food (~$86-100) — the budget favorite; silicon diodes instead of germanium, but reviewers consistently rate it a near-match for the original at a fraction of the price.
- Behringer Centara/Zentara (~$69) — the cheapest legitimate option, but worth knowing its backstory: Finnegan sued Behringer's parent company in 2025 over the original "Centaur Overdrive" name and graphic, calling it a counterfeit rather than a clone. Behringer renamed the pedal (first Centara, then Zentara) and the suit was dismissed. It's a legitimate budget option now, just be aware some early-run units with the original branding got flipped online at inflated prices during the dispute — buy current stock, not "rare" listings.
Buy a clone if: you want the sound, full stop. This isn't a compromise pick — a well-regarded clone gets you effectively the same tone for a fraction of the cost, brand new, with a warranty and return window.
Final Recommendation
Unless you're specifically collecting vintage pedals or you've got money you don't mind spending on mystique, skip the original and the KTR entirely. Start with the J. Rockett Archer, Wampler Tumnus, or the budget-friendly EHX Soul Food — all three are well-reviewed, easy to find new, and will get you that mid-forward, amp-pushing overdrive character the Klon is known for, without gambling thousands of dollars on a 30-year-old pedal's authenticity.
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FAQ
Can you actually hear the difference between an original Klon and a good clone? By most accounts, no — including Finnegan's own comparisons. The differences that show up are more about component tolerances and age than anything a listener could reliably identify blind.
Why is the original Klon Centaur so expensive if it doesn't sound meaningfully different from clones? Scarcity (only ~8,000 made), the pedal's status as one of the first "boutique" pedals, and its use by high-profile guitarists all drove collector demand independent of the actual tone.
Is the Klon KTR the same circuit as the original? Yes — Finnegan has stated the circuit is identical, with the main practical difference being the KTR's switchable bypass option and modern SMD construction.
Are Klon clones legal? Yes, as long as they don't copy protected branding, graphics, or the "Klon"/"Centaur" trademarks directly. The Behringer lawsuit was specifically about the original graphic and naming, not the underlying circuit — clone circuits themselves are not proprietary or patented.
What's the best budget Klon clone? The Behringer Centara/Zentara is the cheapest legitimate option at under $70. For a bit more investment with a stronger reputation, the Wampler Tumnus and J. Rockett Archer are the most commonly recommended.