Episode 11 - A Klon Centaur Shootout Like You've Never Heard

The holy grail of overdrives takes center stage in this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast! Tyler Larson ( @MusicisWin ) and Jared James Nichols ( @JJNicholsMusic ) put an original Klon Centaur head-to-head with some of the most popular Klon clones on the market—from boutique builds to budget pedals—to find out if anything can match the legendary tone. Expect deep tone talk, epic shootouts, and plenty of guitar geekery (plus the story of how Jared became a dad mid-podcast).If you’ve ever wondered why the Klon is the most hyped overdrive pedal in history—or if the clones can truly hang—this is the shootout you’ve been waiting for. 🎸⁠

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TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - The Legendary Klon Centaur Episode Begins... Again

1:06 - Jared’s Life-Changing Phone Call: Becoming a Dad Mid-Podcast

3:12 - “Dad Tone” and the Power of Rock

3:25 - Why Guitarists Obsess Over the Klon Centaur

4:05 - Jared’s First Encounter with the Klon Back at Berklee

5:59 – Discovering the Magic of the Original Klon Tone

6:13 – Tyler’s Pandemic-Era Obsession with Finding a Klon

7:28 – Why the Klon Is the “Charizard” of Guitar Pedals

8:02 – Joe Bonamassa’s Gift: The Story Behind Jared’s Klon

10:26 – The Klon as a Gift and a Legacy

11:18 – Breaking Down Klon Versions: Silver, Gold, Long Tail, Short Tail

12:18 – Time to Hear the Real Klon in Action

13:19 – Clean Tone Test: Fender Princeton vs. Klon Magic

16:40 – The Sweet Spot: Finding the Perfect Klon Gain Setting

19:16 – The First Boutique Pedal: Why the Klon Made History

20:25 – Klon Clone Shootout Setup: OG vs. Modern Imitations

25:14 – Comparing the Klon to Its Clones (JHS, Acorn, Wampler & More)

30:08 – High-Gain Madness: Maxing Out the Klon and Clones

37:12 – How Jared Dials In His Klon for Real-World Playing

40:13 – Final Thoughts: Do You Really Need a $5,000 Klon?The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.Plug in and hang out.