Behringer Centaur Overdrive Review
I bought the Behringer Centaur overdrive primarily because of the lawsuit hype and all the buzz surrounding it. I once owned a silver Klon and sold it- a sale I still regret to this day. Currently, I own a Klon KTR from the first batch with the famous diode and another Klon clone from Nordvang, a Danish boutique effects maker.
Sound Comparison
First, let me address the elephant in the room: the KTR doesn't sound exactly like the silver Klon I once had. It lacks some of that warmth and those rich, warm mids that made the original so special. The KTR has more focused mids instead. Naturally, the Norvang clone doesn't sound like the KTR either, but all three pedals share those quintessential Klon characteristics: that signature overdrive sound, the mid-boost feeling, and dynamically responsive gain.
I used to pair my Klon with a Two Rock amp at home, and that combination of tube saturation and overdrive that responds to your picking dynamics is exactly what I look for in Klon-style pedals. Now that I'm living abroad in an apartment, my comparisons are based solely on using these three pedals with a Nano Cortex running Two Rock captures. To be fair, this setup probably doesn't let me experience the full tube-driving magic these pedals have to offer.
Performance Analysis
At gain settings from 9 o'clock to 12 o'clock, all three pedals produce remarkably similar results, with only subtle EQ differences that become noticeable during A/B comparisons. At higher gain levels, the Behringer starts to lose some clarity and overtone complexity compared to the other two—but again, this is only apparent when directly comparing them side by side.
The Behringer cleans up quite well when you roll back your guitar's volume. The main difference I notice between boutique pedals and mass-produced ones lies in the playing feel—specifically, how that first pick attack translates to your ears. In this regard, the Behringer feels slightly harsher, making you a bit hesitant to really dig in. Once again, this is only noticeable during direct comparisons.
Final Verdict
Considering the price point, build quality, and appearance (yes, some people complain about the cheap-looking knobs, but that doesn't bother me at all), my advice is simple: GET ONE WHILE YOU STILL CAN!
