The Function f(x) MiniTaur is an ultra-compact overdrive pedal that clones the Klon Centaur by Klon Siberia. Function f(x) describes it as a part-for-part clone of the original, with all the same component values, operating voltage, input buffer and other general specs, built into a 1590A-sized enclosure. The maker's own words on the result: "we believe our tiny 1590A-sized MiniTaur is a faithful representation of the original."1
What it is and how it relates to the Klon Centaur
The Klon Centaur, designed by Bill Finnegan, is one of the most discussed overdrives ever made, and a number of clones have appeared over the years. Writing in a roundup of classic overdrives, Bob Malkowski noted that "The Electro Harmonic Soul Food is one of the most affordable, while Finnegan himself offers an authentic reissue" in the form of the KTR Centaur Overdrive.2 The MiniTaur sits in that same family of Klon-style circuits, but in a far smaller box than the original pedal.
Function f(x) markets the MiniTaur as delivering "that great classic Klon sound in a significantly smaller package and a substantially lower price" than the original.3 Like the original circuit, it is an overdrive intended to push an amp rather than generate heavy distortion on its own. As the AMZ Guitar Effects analysis puts it, "the Klon is made to drive your amp to distort - where the CF will make that sound itself."4 Players looking for how this kind of circuit sits among other drives can compare it in the site's Overdrive Pedals section.
Controls and circuit
The MiniTaur keeps the same control layout as the original Klon:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive |
| Treble | Tone control, as on the original |
| Output | Sets the overall level |
The original Centaur circuit that the MiniTaur replicates includes an input buffer built around a TL072 op-amp, which GuitarPCB's technical analysis describes as providing "high input impedance and DC isolation." The same analysis notes the original "uses a single layer PCB with standard through-hole components."5
Bypass and power
The MiniTaur uses buffered bypass switching, which Function f(x) notes is "like the original."1 That matters for players who prefer true bypass: the buffer is part of the circuit's character, and the original Centaur worked the same way.
Power comes from a standard 9V DC supply at a 10mA current draw, which Function f(x) calls the industry standard.1 That low draw means it fits easily alongside other pedals on a typical daisy-chained or isolated supply.
The MiniTaur is buffered bypass, not true bypass. If your board is built entirely around true bypass switching, this is worth knowing before it goes on the board.
Size, build and availability
The 1590A enclosure measures 3.6" x 1.5" x 1.2" (92.5 x 38.5 x 31 mm) and the pedal weighs 7 oz (198 g), so it takes up minimal pedalboard space compared with a full-size Klon-style unit.1 Its list price is $189.00 USD.1
Function f(x) builds several other compact pedals, including The Third Rail, the MacGuffin, the Compound Fracture, the CJOD and the MicroFracture.1
Videos
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Questions
Is the Function f(x) MiniTaur a true clone of the Klon Centaur?
Function f(x) describes the MiniTaur as a part-for-part clone of the original Klon Centaur, with all the same component values, operating voltage, input buffer and other general specs. The maker calls it a faithful representation of the original, though it makes no claim that its new old-stock germanium diodes are the same diodes used in the original units.
Is the MiniTaur true bypass or buffered?
The MiniTaur uses buffered bypass switching, which Function f(x) notes is like the original Klon Centaur. The original circuit's input stage is a buffer built around a TL072 op-amp, providing high input impedance and DC isolation, and the MiniTaur carries that same approach into its switching.
What power supply does the MiniTaur need?
The MiniTaur runs on 9V DC, which Function f(x) calls the industry standard, and draws 10mA of current. That low draw means it sits comfortably on a pedalboard powered by a standard DC supply.
How big is the MiniTaur compared with a regular Klon-style pedal?
The MiniTaur is built in a 1590A-sized enclosure measuring 3.6 x 1.5 x 1.2 inches (92.5 x 38.5 x 31 mm) and weighing 7 oz (198 g). Function f(x) markets it as delivering the classic Klon sound in a significantly smaller package at a substantially lower price than the original.
Does the MiniTaur use germanium diodes?
Yes. Function f(x) uses new old-stock (NOS) germanium diodes in the MiniTaur, but the maker is careful to say it makes no claim that these are the magic, secret or unicorn diodes associated with the original Klon Centaur.
Sources (5)
- MiniTaur, Function f(x), 2026-07-20
- Best Overdrive Pedals: Top 5 classic stompboxes to heat up your tone, gearnews.com, 2021-05-28
- Mini Pedals, Function f(x), 2020-04-04
- Reviews of boost pedals, muzique.com (AMZ Guitar Effects)
- Klon Centaur Analysis, GuitarPCB
