Way Huge Conspiracy Theory Professional Overdrive

The Way Huge Conspiracy Theory Professional Overdrive is a compact overdrive pedal from Way Huge, designed by Jeorge Tripps and first released in 2019¹². Its circuit is inspired by the Klon Centaur Overdrive, and the press has treated it as a Klon clone from the start: Delicious Audio called it "a brand new 'Klone'" at $129³, and Guitar World's buying guide calls it "one of the best Klon clones available today"¹.

Way Huge describes what it does in the maker's own words: it "infuses your guitar signal with rich harmonics for smooth, transparent overdrive"⁴. Delicious Audio adds that it "maintains voice of your instrument"³, and Guitar World notes that, like the Klon, it "preserves the character of the tone with a pleasing midrange boost"². In other words, it is a drive that layers harmonics and touch on top of your amp rather than replacing your sound with its own.

A smooth, transparent overdrive in a Smalls enclosure

The pedal sits in Way Huge's compact Smalls-series enclosure. Guitar World's Paul Riario noted that "its reduced size is small enough to be concealed on your person," fitting the conspiracy theme, and found it "a no-brainer to use"⁵. Guitar Pedal X likewise placed it in "the recent Smalls compact enclosure"⁶.

The look has been described two ways at different points. Guitar World's review unit came "in a copper-orange housing with red control knobs"⁵, while gearnews.com reported at launch that it "comes resplendent in a gold enclosure with Klon-esque dark red knobs"⁹.

The controls: Output, Gain and Treble

The Conspiracy Theory keeps the three-knob layout of the Klon-style circuit: Output, Gain and Treble³¹. Each knob is usable across its full range, with no dead spots, as Sweetwater's demo put it: "even though it's a simple three knob set up the conspiracy-theory really has a great range"¹⁰.

The maker's description of the Gain control is characteristically Way Huge: "Adjusting the Gain control initiates a form of fusion heretofore unknown to science, bonding rich harmonics with your guitar signal"⁴³. In practical terms, low Gain settings keep the drive subtle and transparent, while higher settings push more harmonics into the signal.

Because the pedal maintains the voice of your instrument³, it also works as a clean boost. Sweetwater's presenter described the recipe: "if you just want a clean boost you know turn the turn the gain down turn the output up"¹⁰.

History: Jeorge Tripps and the Klon Centaur circuit

The Conspiracy Theory was designed by Jeorge Tripps, the longtime Way Huge and MXR circuit designer. Guitar World's buying guide calls it "a cool little Klone from the great mind of Jeorge Tripps"¹, and Guitar Pedal X describes it as "obviously made with Jeorge Tripps' superior ears"⁶.

The circuit it borrows from is the Klon Centaur Overdrive, a circuit whose topology has been widely cloned across the pedal industry³. On the JHS Show, Josh Scott ran through the family: Wampler's Tumnus, Keeley's Oxblood, Way Huge's Conspiracy Theory, Walrus Audio's Voyager, Electro-Harmonix's Soul Food and Boss all built on the Klon circuit¹¹. The Conspiracy Theory itself comes from Jeorge Tripps, the designer behind it¹.

The Conspiracy Theory Professional Overdrive carries a list price of $129 in the US³ and £139 in the UK⁶. It features true bypass switching and 9V power supply operation⁷. At the time of the reporting, the pedal was available for pre-order at US dealers but was not yet showing on the Way Huge website⁹.

The Deep State: a modified Conspiracy Theory

What reviewers said

The Conspiracy Theory Professional Overdrive is an overdrive pedal positioned at a $129 price point³. It features true bypass switching and 9V power supply operation⁷. At the time of the reporting, it was available for pre-order at US dealers, though it was not yet showing on the Way Huge website⁹.

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