The Decibelics Golden Horse is a hand-built overdrive pedal that recreates the circuit of the KLON Centaur in a mini enclosure. It first appeared in May of 2017 in a batch of 121. Designed by Guillem Vilademunt2, it measures L 95mm (3.74in) x W 49mm (1.92in) with jacks3, and each unit is A/B tested against a real gold Centaur prior to shipping43.
The builder's pitch is fidelity: Delicious Audio describes it as carrying "almost the exact same components and values as a Klon Centaur #2505 from 2001," handmade from through-hole and New Old Stock parts with no SMD components or approximated values3. Guitar Pedal X counted 60 visible through-hole components following Bill Finnegan's original circuit flow1.
Circuit and how it works
The Golden Horse follows the Centaur's design in both topology and parts. The clipping comes from New Old Stock 1N34A germanium diodes, described as clear crystal with a black band, made in USA31. The opamps are TL072s from Texas Instruments, the capacitors include Panasonic ECQ-series New Old Stock parts with a tantalum in position C16, and the resistors are carbon and metal film3. A charge pump raises the internal voltage from 9V to 18V for more headroom, the same approach as the original, and Delicious Audio's later buying guide describes the circuit as a 27V booster built around a charge pump IC with extremely low noise from careful part selection32.
The hardware is similarly specified: Bourns Pro Audio potentiometers, an Alpha DPDT footswitch and Lumberg Japan jacks3. One claim the builder makes that no other klone maker does, per the product page, is that each Golden Horse is A/B tested against a real gold Centaur before it ships3.
The Golden Horse draws 25mA3 and measures L 95mm (3.74in) x W 49mm (1.92in) with jacks3, so plan pedalboard space accordingly for this mini-format enclosure.
Versions, finishes and the Golden Royale
The Golden Horse is built to order with a 4 to 5 week wait, and it has been offered in a wide range of colourways: Standard Black, Crystal White, Hammered Blue, Hammered Green, Hammered Copper, Silver Chrome, Gold, Orange Special, Fire (Engine) Red and Transparent Copper13. Custom editions also exist, including a pink one made for a friend of the builder1. A Dual-Channel Edition appeared in Guitar Pedal X's Kapsule collection in 2025, in a Hammered Green finish its owner compared to Fabergé craftsmanship4.
The Golden Horse lists at $239 and up, available in Silver and a more expensive Gold edition2. Another price given for the pedal is around $270 plus shipping from Barcelona3, and it has also been listed at €190 / $2214.
How it differs from the Mosky Golden Horse
The name is shared with a very different pedal: the budget Mosky Golden Horse, a mass-produced mini Klon clone. Guitar World's guide to Klon clones lists the Mosky as true bypass with Gain, treble and output controls, running from a 9V DC supply with no battery compartment, and notes that its otherwise all-SMD board should carry two through-hole germanium diodes5. The Decibelics is the opposite approach: buffered bypass like the original, all through-hole construction with New Old Stock parts and the Centaur's exact values3. Delicious Audio's reviewer found the Mosky "recreates the tone of a Klon with slightly more spiky, less smooth and warm results"2.
| Decibelics Golden Horse | Mosky Golden Horse | |
|---|---|---|
| Bypass | Buffered, as the original3 | True bypass5 |
| Construction | Through-hole, New Old Stock parts3 | All SMD except two through-hole germanium diodes5 |
| Controls | Bourns Pro Audio potentiometers3 | Gain, treble, output5 |
| Battery | None3 | None5 |
| Price | $239+ (June 2026)2 | Budget mini pedal |
What reviewers said
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson has followed the pedal since its first batches. In his 2018 saturation roundup he called it his current favorite614:
"my current favourite is the diminutive / mini Decibelics Golden Horse which has just a tremendous core tone, and an exceptionally versatile and wide-ranging single tone-dial"6
His 2019 roundup of Klon clones went further on the build:
"It just don't "simulate" the Klon Centaur tone as other clones do, it sounds and feels as if it was an original unit"3
He also noted that "only Decibelics can purport to be making Deluxe jewel-like pedals at the mini-enclosure size"7. Delicious Audio's product page quotes a player's verdict that it "sounds and feels as if it was an original unit," not a simulation of the Centaur tone3.
Buying one from Barcelona
The Golden Horse is made and shipped from Barcelona, Spain, by Decibelics, the company of designer Guillem Vilademunt43. Prices have moved over time: around $270 plus shipping in early 2024, €190 / $221 in September 2025, and $239 and up as of June 2026, with the Silver finish at the lower end and the Gold edition more expensive342. Express shipping for one pedal runs 26 EUR to USA/Canada, 6 EUR within Spain and Portugal, 14 EUR within the EU, 19 EUR to non-EU Europe and 35 EUR to Asia/Oceania3. UK buyers no longer pay the 21% EU VAT, but UK Customs may charge 20% VAT plus a £12 admin fee3. All Decibelics pedals carry a Limited Lifetime Warranty covering manufacturer's defects, for the original owner only3.
Videos
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Questions
Does the Decibelics Golden Horse take a battery?
No. Because of its small size it does not accept batteries, and it runs from a 9V DC supply only. An external battery adapter was included until October 2020, when Decibelics dropped it after customer feedback. The dual-channel Golden Royale is the version with a battery slot.
Is the Golden Horse true bypass?
No, the Decibelics Golden Horse uses buffered bypass, the same as the original Klon Centaur, with the correct values. The budget Mosky Golden Horse, by contrast, is true bypass.
What diodes does the Golden Horse use?
It uses New Old Stock 1N34A germanium diodes, described as clear crystal with a black band, made in USA. The rest of the circuit is built from through-hole and New Old Stock parts with the same values as the original Klon, with no SMD components or approximated values.
What is the difference between the Golden Horse and the Golden Royale?
The Golden Royale is a double-channel version of the Golden Horse with extra features, including a battery slot. It was released in January 2024 and is built to order at over $500, while the single Golden Horse sells for around $239 and up.
Where is the Decibelics Golden Horse made?
It is handmade in Barcelona, Spain, by Decibelics, the company of designer Guillem Vilademunt. Each pedal is made to order, with a wait of roughly 4 to 5 weeks, and ships from Barcelona.
Does the Golden Horse have a warranty?
Yes. All Decibelics pedals are covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty against manufacturer's defects, for the original owner only.
Sources (7)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-07-30
- The Klon Centaur Pedal And The Best Klon Clones In 2026: A Buyer's Guide, Delicious Audio, 2026-06-17
- Decibelics Golden Horse Klon-Style Drive, Delicious Audio, 2024-02-14
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-09-03
- Best Klon clones 2026: Klon Centaur Klones for every budget, Guitar World, 2022-06-09
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2018-09-11
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2019-07-23
