The Studio Daydream KCM-OD Gold V9.0 Overdrive is an overdrive pedal from Studio Daydream Handmade Pedals, a Klon-inspired design built as a special version of the company's KCM-OD. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it in March 2022, described it as a pedal that "gives you THOSE mythical sounds we all chase, but with more tonal options on-board, and more tones to discover"1.
What it is and how it differs from the standard KCM-OD
The Gold V9.0 is the bolder version of the KCM-OD. Pedal of the Day's review of the Silver KCM-OD in January 2022 noted the relationship directly: "There's a bolder version of the KCM-OD as well, the Gold V9.0"2. As the special version of the pedal, it "lavishly uses luxury audio-grade parts and has been tuned"1.
Where the standard KCM-OD is a more straightforward klone, the Gold adds switching and a new knob that widen what the pedal can do. The reviewer's verdict: "giving you one of the most diverse and tunable klones we've ever seen"1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Clip mode switch | Three clipping modes1 |
| Bypass mode switch | Two modes: Buffered or True1 |
| FAT knob | Pushes out a bit of the sound from the low side and increases the harmonic components; produces the original constant at the Normal position1 |
The FAT knob is new with this version. Pedal of the Day noted it "newly allows for step-less adjustment for the first time with this V9.0"1, meaning the low-end and harmonic push can be dialed anywhere between the Normal position, where the pedal keeps its original character, and a fatter voicing.
Bypass: Buffered or True
A bypass mode switch with two positions lets the player choose how the pedal sits when off1:
- Buffered: a bypass that uses the pedal's buffer amp, which Pedal of the Day describes as having "an established reputation"1
- True: a true bypass, with the reviewer noting "a small change in tone during bypass" in this mode1
The two bypass modes are not identical in tone: Pedal of the Day reports a small change in tone while bypassed in True mode, so the choice between Buffered and True is worth making by ear in your own rig1.
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Questions
Is the Studio Daydream KCM-OD a Klon clone?
Pedal of the Day describes the KCM-OD Gold V9.0 as Klon-inspired rather than a straight copy, and the reviewer called it one of the most diverse and tunable klones they had seen. Compared with a stock Klon-style circuit, it adds a three-mode clip switch, a two-mode bypass switch and a FAT knob, giving more tonal options on-board and more tones to discover.
Does the KCM-OD Gold have true bypass?
Yes, but it is switchable. A bypass mode switch offers two modes: Buffered, which uses the pedal's buffer amp, and True, a true bypass. Pedal of the Day notes that in True mode there is a small change in tone during bypass, so players can choose whichever suits their rig.
How many clipping modes does the KCM-OD Gold V9.0 have?
The clip mode switch has three modes, letting the player select between three different clipping voicings. Together with the stepless FAT knob, newly added with the V9.0, this is a large part of what makes the Gold version more flexible than the standard KCM-OD.
What is the difference between the KCM-OD and the KCM-OD Gold?
The Gold V9.0 is a special version of the KCM-OD that lavishly uses luxury audio-grade parts and has been tuned for a bolder sound. It also adds controls, including a three-mode clip switch and a stepless FAT knob introduced with the V9.0, giving more tonal options than the standard version.
Sources (2)
- Studio Daydream KCM-OD Gold V9.0 Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2022-03-02
- Studio Daydream Handmade Pedals KCM-OD Silver V10, Pedal of the Day, 2022-01-19
