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I'm one of those few players that actually owned, gigged with and recorded with a "gold horsie" Klon Centaur, one of the originals purchased directly from Bill Finnegan in 1998.
These discussions need to keep the context of the late '90's in mind. The Klon was one of the first boutique pedals, before Youtube demo videos and many internet forums. I played mine for a couple of years - it was (and is) a great boost pedal. It was (and is) an average mild gain overdrive pedal. But it was a great alternative to anything being made by Boss, MXR, EH, DOD, etc. at the time.
Today, there are more than a few pedals that can do the same thing, both clones as well as original designs. But the Klon mystique continues (just like the TS808 and TS9 mystique discussed on another thread on this Forum). Klon has been out of production for a couple of years now, and the long-promised small box version is nowhere in sight. So, as stupid as the Ebay prices may seem to most of us, they are somewhat understandable.
I paid $239 for mine - the most I've ever paid for any pedal - and that was certainly high in the late '90's, too. I sold it a few years later for just under $400, not because I was looking to make a big score but because I wanted some other pedals and the going price for a Klon at that time made it possible.
The Klon Centaur - an original design by an innovative guy that was ahead of its time. And, just like every other pedal out there today, not for everyone. If Finnegan were back in production with his small box version, would I buy it - probably not.
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