JHS Notaklön

The JHS Notaklön is a build-it-yourself overdrive pedal kit based on the Klon circuit, sold by JHS Pedals since November 2023. It comes as a flat-packed DIY kit that you assemble at home with no soldering, and it includes the JHS "Shamrock" modification, a mod JHS performed on the Klon KTR for several years, on a toggle switch¹².

At $99, it was pitched as an affordable way into Klon-style overdrive, and it became a genuine sales phenomenon: Guitar World called it one of the success stories of the year, with something like 20,000 sold in just a few weeks³. Part of the point, according to JHS founder Josh Scott, was to argue that guitarists should listen with their ears rather than internet trends, and that original Klons are not worth $10,000².

A solderless Klon clone kit

The Notaklön is a Klon clone you build yourself. JHS describes it as utilizing the unique "Shamrock" modification that the company performed on the Klon KTR for several years¹, and the kit includes everything you need to make your own Klon-style pedal⁷. The standard Centaur circuit is there for players who want the original Klon-style tones, joined by the Shamrock mod mode on a switch⁸.

What set it apart from other DIY pedal kits was the build itself. Guitar World's reviewer noted that the Notaklön is distinguished from other DIY Klon kits, including the fully soldered, similarly priced StewMac starter kit, by being buildable by anyone without soldering². Josh Scott put it plainly in a later interview:

Scott also described the kit's approach as simple, modular, intuitive and almost Lego-like, saying there is nothing else like it among Klon clones or DIY kits⁹.

The controls and the Shamrock mod

The control set is the classic Klon layout plus one toggle⁴:

The Shamrock mod is the JHS take on the KTR, named for the Boston Celtics logo¹⁰. With the toggle down you get the original Klon voicing; with it up, the pedal increases the overall gain by +4dB, adds midrange frequencies and engages an additional stage of hard-edge clipping¹⁰. Gearnews described the switch as providing extra boost capabilities with heightened mid frequencies and that extra clipping stage when activated¹¹.

In Guitar World's review, the pedal covered familiar Klon ground: rolling off the gain and slightly bumping the treble gives a glassy breakup drive, while cranking the gain veers into classic Klon territory².

Building it: no soldering

The build is wholly solderless. The assembly amounts to attaching two control boards via a ribbon strip, plus a few cables connecting and some screws tightening²¹². Gearnews reported that it requires very little skill to put together and zero electronics knowledge¹¹, and JHS says the kit ships with easy-to-understand instructions¹.

The only tools you need¹³:

• Phillips head screwdriver
• Mini flat head screwdriver
• Needlenose pliers

JHS published a full assembly walkthrough on its YouTube channel, covering the twelve numbered steps from separating the PCBs through to plugging the finished pedal into a 9V DC center-negative supply and testing it¹³.

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On That Pedal Show in December 2023, the hosts built and discussed the kit, noting they were among the 25,000 that had been sold at that point¹⁴.

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Versions and what came after

The Notaklön is a DIY overdrive kit, sold at $99, and it offers two modes: the standard Centaur circuit alongside the Shamrock mod mode, so builders can choose between original Klon-style tones and the modified voicing⁴. JHS has also folded the circuit into other products, pairing it with the company's other overdrive designs in combined enclosures¹⁵.

What reviewers said

The pedal was met with rave reviews from across the guitar world; Guitar World tested one and found the hype to be fully justified¹⁶. MusicRadar reported Scott's claim that it is an "extremely accurate" take on the original¹⁷. Pedal of the Day called it a great idea from JHS Pedals and said the reviewer had a great time building it overall⁷.

Not everyone in the pedal-building world was charmed. Scott said he saw a couple of other pedal builders who seemed to be annoyed by how toy-like and fun it was, which he saw as the point⁹. Guitar Pedal X argued the price was the key to its success, writing that the Notaklön was one of the very best selling pedals of the previous year and would not have sold nearly as many at a higher price point¹⁸.

Demand outstripped supply early on: Guitar World reported that JHS could not make enough pedals to meet demand after the November 2023 launch², with something like 20,000 sold in just a few weeks⁴. UK pricing varied between sources, with Guitar World listing £79⁴ and MusicRadar listing £82 in March 2024¹⁹.

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