The Kenny B Pedals Klone Boost Overdrive is a Klon-style pedal covering both overdrive and boost duties in one box. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in November 2019, called it "an excellent overdrive/boost," and noted that the circuit is built around "ensuring the correct Klon-type sound is created." The reviewer also found that "it really works to conjure up those mythical tones," referring to the sound of the original Klon that Klone-style pedals aim to reproduce.1
Controls and how they work
The core layout will be familiar to anyone who has looked at a Klon-style pedal. As Pedal of the Day put it, "Output, Treble and Gain are the usual Klone control suspects here," matching the arrangement of the original.1
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Output | Overall level, as on the original Klon layout1 |
| Treble | Tone shaping, as on the original Klon layout1 |
| Gain | Drive amount, as on the original Klon layout1 |
| Ultra Gain | Added dirt, from lighter and more transparent to very heavy and thick1 |
| Bass toggle | Allows use with a bass guitar rig and fattens up guitar sound1 |
The two additions are what set this pedal apart from a straight Klone. The Ultra Gain knob "gives you added dirt, going from lighter and more transparent to very heavy and thick," so the pedal reaches into heavier drive territory than the standard circuit. The Bass toggle switch, as the name suggests, "allows you to use it with a bass guitar rig," and it also fattens up a guitar sound when engaged.1
Pedal of the Day summed it up as "a plug and play pedal, for sure, but one with some added features for really dialing in what you want, this Klone takes" the design a couple of steps further.1
How it compares to other Klones
Klon-style pedals are a crowded field, and the differences between them usually come down to extras like these. The Old-Fx Custom Pedals Klone Boost Overdrive keeps "the layout [that] is the same as the original Klon" and comes in several color schemes, which Pedal of the Day called "a truly authentic and inspiring piece of gear to add to your rig."2 The Pedal Monsters Klone is another overdrive and boost take on the design, where the reviewer found "The Treble is an excellent tone control, creating gorgeous clean boost tones, as well as accentuating the overdrive sounds when the Gain is turned up."3
The Kenny B version's Ultra Gain knob and Bass toggle are its distinguishing features: more gain on tap than a faithful Klone, and bass guitar compatibility that the original layout never offered. For players browsing the wider field, see the site's pages on Overdrive Pedals and Boost Pedals1.
What a reviewer said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal on 20 November 2019, and it was positive throughout: the reviewer praised the pedal as delivering an excellent overdrive/boost, found it conjured up the mythical Klon tones, and highlighted the added features as taking the Klone a couple of steps further while staying plug and play.1
Other Klone reviews on the same site give a sense of how the type is generally received. Of the Pedal Projects Klone, the reviewer wrote, "This Klone provides an amazing boost, a great mid-range fuzzy tone and a downright gorgeous overdrive."4 Of the JC Audio Klone Overdrive, the same reviewer wrote, "it is honestly one of the best overdrive pedals I have played."5
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Pedal of the Day
Questions
What does the Ultra Gain knob do on the Kenny B Klone?
The Ultra Gain knob adds dirt on top of the standard Klone controls. Pedal of the Day describes it as going from lighter and more transparent at low settings to very heavy and thick when turned up, so it extends the pedal's range beyond what a standard Klon-style circuit offers.
What is the Bass switch on the Kenny B Klone for?
There is a toggle switch labeled Bass. According to Pedal of the Day, it allows the pedal to be used with a bass guitar rig, and it also fattens up the sound of a regular guitar. That makes the pedal usable on both instruments, which the original Klon layout does not provide for.
What diodes does the Kenny B Klone use?
Pedal of the Day reports that a pair of germanium D9E Russian diodes were used in this Klone. Diode choice is central to the character of a Klon-style circuit, and these are the type associated with the original.
Can the Kenny B Klone be used with a bass guitar?
Yes. The Bass toggle switch is there specifically so the pedal can be used with a bass guitar rig, and the reviewer notes it also fattens up a guitar sound when engaged.
How does it compare to the original Klon controls?
The core controls are the usual Klone set: Output, Treble and Gain, matching the original Klon layout. The Kenny B version adds an Ultra Gain knob and a Bass toggle on top, so it keeps the familiar arrangement while extending what the pedal can do.
Sources (5)
- Kenny B Pedals Klone Boost Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2019-11-21
- Old-Fx Custom Pedals Klone Boost Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2019-12-12
- Pedal Monsters Klone Overdrive Boost, Pedal of the Day, 2017-03-02
- Pedal Projects Klone Drive, Pedal of the Day, 2014-04-18
- JC Audio Klone Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2015-03-29
