The Mythos Mjolnir Overdrive is a Klon-style overdrive pedal from Mythos Pedals. The maker describes it as "a tweaked version of one of the most sought after overdrives of all time," aimed at players who have not yet found the perfect "K" style pedal1. Like the original Klon Centaur it replaces, it blends a clean signal with the drive signal as you turn the Gain knob up, which is what gives Klon-style circuits their reputation for transparency at low settings.
The latest version of the Mjolnir has a slight reduction in treble and low-mids so that it is, in the maker's words, even more "transparent" with the gain set low, and it has a more natural sound with the Tone control at noon1. It comes in a compact enclosure sized 4.82" L x 2.62" W x 1.43" H, made for every pedalboard2.
What the Mjolnir does: a Klon-style overdrive
The Mjolnir is Mythos Pedals' take on the Klon tone3. The Klon Centaur, the original "K" pedal, is one of the most sought after overdrives of all time, and the Mjolnir is a tweaked version of that circuit rather than a straight copy1. The tweak is in the voicing: the latest version reduces treble and low-mids slightly so the pedal stays more transparent with the gain set low1.
Mythos also publishes recommended settings on the product page, which gives a sense of the ground the pedal covers:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| "Mayor of Wonderland" | A clear and pushed drive sound2 |
| "Just a Push" | Hit your rig with a truly useful boost2 |
For players comparing Klon-style options, Mythos has built several variants of this circuit over the years, covered below134.
The controls: Gain, Treble and Output
The Mjolnir keeps the Klon's three-knob control layout2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Simultaneously blends out the clean signal and in the drive2 |
| Treble | Shapes the high end of the signal2 |
| Output | Sets output volume level2 |
The Gain control is the heart of a Klon-style circuit: because it blends the clean signal down as the drive comes up, the pedal keeps definition at higher gain settings rather than turning into a pure distortion box. In the 2019 updated version, Delicious Audio reported that the Gain control had been tweaked for more clean headroom and a sweeter drive sound, and that the Treble control lets you dial in the amount of top-end3.
Power and connections
The Mjolnir uses buffered bypass switching, not true bypass1. This matches the original Klon Centaur's approach, and Delicious Audio noted that "the stompbox's buffered bypass helps maintain signal quality throughout the chain"3. Current draw is approximately 25 mA1.
Connections are mono in and out, with 1M Ohm input impedance and 1k Ohm output impedance2. The 2019 update moved to top-mount jacks for extra space saving on a pedalboard3.
The latest version of the Mjolnir has had its internal charge pump removed. Mythos says this makes the pedal more resilient and less likely to be damaged by incorrect power1. Earlier versions, including the 1N34A Mjolnir, did include an internal charge pump5, so power requirements differ between versions.
What changed in the upgraded Mjolnir
The Mjolnir has been revised several times since it first appeared:
- 2019 update: Moved to top-mount jacks, tweaked the Gain control for more clean headroom and a sweeter drive sound, and slightly reduced treble and mids for more transparency with the gain set low3.
- Latest version: Removes the charge pump so the pedal is more resilient and less likely to be damaged by incorrect power, with a slight reduction in treble and low-mids for a more transparent low-gain sound1.
- Blemished variant: Mythos sells a BLEM version, which may have scratches, dings or dents but will function 100% as it should1.
The Mjolnir family: Wildwood, GE, 1N34A and Joey Landreth editions
Beyond the standard Mjolnir, Mythos has released several versions of the circuit.
Wildwood Mjolnir
The Wildwood Edition Mjolnir is built in the same 4.82" x 2.62" x 1.43" enclosure as the standard Mjolnir2. Like the latest version of the pedal, it has a slight reduction in treble and low-mids so that it's even more "transparent" with the gain set low, and a more natural sound with the Tone control at noon1. The upgraded version also features top-mount jacks for extra space saving3.
GE Mjolnir
The GE Mjolnir is a Klone with less mids and treble than a standard Klone, which the maker says makes it more friendly to every player out there. It shares the buffered bypass switching and approximately 25 mA current draw of the standard Mjolnir61.
1N34A Mjolnir
The 1N34A Mjolnir shares the Mjolnir's 4.82" x 2.62" x 1.43" enclosure52. Like the latest version of the pedal, it has a slight reduction in treble and low-mids so that it's even more "transparent" with the gain set low, and a more natural sound with the Tone control at noon1. The upgraded version also features top-mount jacks for extra space saving3.
Joey Landreth Mjolnir
The Joey Landreth Mjolnir is a signature version built around what Joey Landreth looks for in a K-style overdrive. It features vintage NOS germanium diodes, and Mythos says it "has a great clarity and personality that is much more mellow than the other units," with a compression and voice true to what Joey looks for in a K-style overdrive4.
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Questions
Is the Mythos Mjolnir a Klon clone?
Yes, it is Mythos Pedals' take on the Klon tone. The maker describes it as a tweaked version of one of the most sought after overdrives of all time, a K-style pedal, with a slight reduction in treble and low-mids so it is more transparent with the gain set low.
Is the Mythos Mjolnir true bypass?
No. The Mjolnir uses buffered bypass switching, just like the original Klon Centaur. Mythos says the buffered bypass helps maintain signal quality throughout the chain, and the latest version draws about 25 mA.
What changed in the upgraded Mythos Mjolnir?
The 2019 updated version moved to top-mount jacks for space saving, tweaked the Gain control for more clean headroom and a sweeter drive sound, and slightly reduced treble and mids for more transparency with the gain set low. The latest version also removes the internal charge pump so the pedal is less likely to be damaged by incorrect power.
What is the Joey Landreth Mjolnir?
It is a signature version of the Mjolnir built around what Joey Landreth looks for in a K-style overdrive. It uses vintage NOS germanium diodes, and Mythos says it has a clarity and personality that is much more mellow than the other units.
Where can I buy the Mjolnir Wildwood Edition?
The Wildwood Edition Mjolnir, built in collaboration with Wildwood Guitars, was available only at Wildwood Guitars. It is a reissue of the first Mjolnirs ever made, with NOS germanium diodes, and was revised in 2023 to sound closer to Zach Broyles' personal Klon Centaur.
Sources (6)
- Mjolnir Overdrive, Mythos Pedals
- Mjolnir Overdrive, Mythos Pedals
- Mythos Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2019-09-18
- Joey Landreth Mjolnir Overdrive, Mythos Pedals
- “If you're looking for the closest sonic replica of those original 'K' pedals then look no further”: Mythos Pedals unveils the 1N34A Mjolnir, a limited edition clone of owner Zach Broyles' Klon Centaur, MusicRadar, 2024-11-29
- GE Mjolnir – Mythos Pedals, Mythos Pedals
