The Klon Centaur overdrive is the 1994 brainchild of pedal builder Bill Finnegan, and for many guitarists, it holds an unwavering spot on the list of the greatest guitar pedals of all time. Its full-bodied, saturated growl is both majestic and aggressive — rich yet can cut like a knife. This distorted tone has fascinated gearheads, enthusiasts, and collectors for years since the pedal’s discontinuation in 2008 — so much so that some ultra-rare original handbuilt pedals on the market today can fetch nearly $10,000!
But if you can’t justify dropping a year’s tuition on an overdrive pedal (and who among us can?), then don’t fret! The Klon tone has been cloned by many manufacturers seeking to reproduce its mythical effect. Sweetwater has plenty of Centaur-simulated options that sound phenomenal and land within the budgets of guitarists of all pay grades. Here’s our list of favorites.
Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!
- Origin Effects Halcyon Gold Overdrive Pedal
- Wampler Tumnus Transparent Overdrive Pedal
- J. Rockett Audio Designs The Jeff Archer Boost/Overdrive Pedal
- Electro-Harmonix Soul Food Distortion/Overdrive Pedal
- MXR M294 Sugar Drive Overdrive Pedal
- TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive Pedal
- Keeley Manis Overdrive Pedal
- Warm Audio Centavo Professional Overdrive Pedal
- PRS Horsemeat Transparent Overdrive Pedal
- Source Audio L.A. Lady Overdrive Pedal
- BOSS OD-200 Hybrid Drive Pedal
- Walrus Audio Voyager MKII Overdrive Pedal
- Way Huge Smalls Conspiracy Theory Professional Overdrive Pedal
- Behringer Zentara Overdrive Pedal
Origin Effects Halcyon Gold Overdrive Pedal
With the Origin Effects Halcyon Gold Overdrive pedal ornamenting your board, you aren’t just getting the standard “Klon” overdrive treatment. This stompbox boasts exclusive adaptive circuitry, creating an intensely vivid response to clarify every detail of your playing. Its noiseless operation provides players with multi-voice switching for standard play and mid-forward boosting. At the same time, an adapter switch permits low-volume distortion fading that preserves the integrity of your clean tone at softer levels.
Wampler Tumnus Transparent Overdrive Pedal
The bite-size Wampler Tumnus transparent overdrive pedal is a super-compact option for guitarists who crave that Klon-like tone without the extra pedalboard real estate to spare. Articulate, bitey, and a great boost option for your guitar, amp, and other pedals, the Tumnus takes on the same legendary 3-control layout of gain, treble, and volume. Shape it to taste, and saturate your signal with some legendary tone!
J. Rockett Audio Designs The Jeff Archer Boost/Overdrive Pedal
We love pedals that stand out even while chasing a well-known sound. That’s why the Sweetwater-exclusive J. Rockett Audio Designs The Jeff Archer boost/overdrive pedal is catching our attention! This limited edition delivers the signature, classic crunch of Jeff Beck’s Archer pedal in spades, courtesy of an assortment of vintage NOS components. It also boasts a beautiful raw chassis that expertly tributes the old-school look of the silver Centaur.
Electro-Harmonix Soul Food Distortion/Overdrive Pedal
The Electro-Harmonix Soul Food distortion/overdrive pedal promises a straightforward distortion response useful for any application, from simple boosts to wailing drive. When you start to crank the drive control, you’ll notice phenomenal midrange presence that’ll cut through mixes like there’s nothing to it. And despite its enviable saturation, the Soul Food prioritizes note definition for incredibly articulate playability that won’t leave any notes out of the spotlight.
MXR M294 Sugar Drive Overdrive Pedal
Another small footprint effect on our list of the best Klon clone pedals is the MXR Sugar Drive overdrive pedal. This cost-effective Klone promotes fabulous headroom and harmonic distortion, punching well above its weight with enough impact to thrive in stage and studio settings — despite its miniature chassis! Sometimes, the legendary tone you’re looking for doesn’t require a frightening price tag, and the Sugar Drive is a true bang-for-your-buck example.
TC Electronic Zeus Drive Overdrive Pedal
We’ll stick with the budget-friendly theme as we check out the TC Electronic Zeus Drive overdrive pedal, a Klone with a mighty growl and a price tag that’ll have you doing a double take! Aside from being priced for virtually any budget, the Zeus Drive supplies an exciting fat switch atop its classic 3-control interface. This selector enables players to heighten the definition of their low end for those moments when your tone requires some serious stature!
Keeley Manis Overdrive Pedal
Handbuilt in Oklahoma, the Keely Manis overdrive pedal is a surefire solution for manifesting proper Klon drive tones — but with a few twists along the way! For instance, you have your choice of clipping a germanium diode or a germanium transistor for ultimate tone searching potential. Talk about premium drive sculpting for virtually any situation! You also get two-tone options with its toggle switch that allows you to choose between a bass boost or stock Klon-style tone. Whichever tone and drive option you choose, the Mantis is sure to help you discover a sound you have been dreaming of.
Warm Audio Centavo Professional Overdrive Pedal
If you’re seeking a genuinely staunch replication of the original Centaur, then the Warm Audio Centavo Professional Overdrive pedal is engineered inside and out to fit the mold! Inside, the Centavo houses painstakingly re-created circuitry with TL072 op amps, top-tier diodes, resistors, and more. Outside, Warm Audio nails the look of the original while including an additional (and historically common) mod switch for adding some low-end weight to your signal.
PRS Horsemeat Transparent Overdrive Pedal
Impressive PRS tone and build quality extend beyond the company’s electric guitars, as revealed in the PRS Horsemeat transparent overdrive pedal. A set of germanium diodes gives the Horsemeat some serious beef, while the pedal’s high headroom affords guitarists all the harmonic richness they could ask for. With a 2-band EQ and voice control in the array of dials, the Horsemeat proves its sonic versatility. This stompbox can serve everything from boosts and saturated clipping to more aggressive and merciless distortion.
Source Audio L.A. Lady Overdrive Pedal
Okay — Elton John would probably never need this tone, but you have to give us pun points because this Source Audio L.A. Lady Overdrive pedal packs some impressive Klon-inspired DNA! However, the L.A. Lady offers more than just basic drive contouring. You can choose between classic, crunch, and smooth drive types and take advantage of the free Neuro Editor sound library via USB connection. You can even explore highly detailed parameter tweaking for crafting that perfect tone!
BOSS OD-200 Hybrid Drive Pedal
While the BOSS OD-200 Hybrid Drive pedal provides a 12-distortion preset fix for virtually any musical palate, you’ll find the CNTR OD setting distributes a wealth of Centaur-simulated high-mid harmonic overdrive. Effortlessly shape the tone with a 3-band EQ, and use multimode boost and gating controls to alter your effect’s response precisely. Build custom patches with a quartet of memory slots, and even use Panel Lock to prevent losing your favorite control settings.
Walrus Audio Voyager MKII Overdrive Pedal
The Walrus Audio Voyager MKII Overdrive pedal is guaranteed to make a big statement no matter how you use it. The familiar 3-control layout at the top of the pedal adds some easily contourable grit to the delivery of your tube amp of choice. But this pedal’s secret sound comes from its mid-control section that allows you to tone-sculpt to your heart’s desire. From subtle grit and lead riffs that’ll leave a lasting impression to top-tier soloing, the Voyager MKII trustworthily guides your tone!
Way Huge Smalls Conspiracy Theory Professional Overdrive Pedal
Last but certainly not least on our list of best Klon clone pedals is the admirable Way Huge Smalls Conspiracy Theory Professional Overdrive pedal. With its sensitive gain range, the Conspiracy Theory makes it easy to dial in the perfect degree of distortion to match your playing preferences, from minute saturation to full-blown overdrive. And the best part? Its low current draw and enviable harmonics offer a delicate application that perfectly maintains the tonal integrity of your guitar and amp!
Behringer Zentara Overdrive Pedal
If there’s one thing Behringer does incredibly well, then it’s re-creating beloved and sought-after gear at unbeatable prices. This is no different for the Behringer Zentara overdrive pedal, which emulates the mythological overdrive that captivated guitarists in the ’90s. The Zentara delivers a wide variety of flavors for guitarists from transparent, amp-like tones to crunchy overdrive that can cut through any mix or band. While you can turn heads with the tone, you’ll catch even more eyes with the look of the Zentara — its vintage-inspired housing even features the iconic centaur found on the original pedal. If you’re looking for a Klon clone without busting the bank, then you’ll want to check out the Behringer Zentara overdrive pedal.
Shop Klon Clones at Sweetwater Today!
With more than a dozen options in our comparison alone, it’s clear why the original Centaur attracts so much attention and fascination. They certainly don’t make them like they used to — or do they? What pedal from our list deserves the “Best Klon Clone” title? Did you find a stompbox that stood out? Want to talk Klone tone with an expert gearhead? Call one of our excellent Sweetwater Sales Engineers today at (800) 222-4700 — they’ll be happy to chat about ’90s overdrive and help you find the perfect Centaur-inspired pedal to take your guitar rig to new heights!
