KLON Centaur Gold

juansolo

ICBM said:

Here's a philosophical question…

Which is more overpriced, this original gold Klon or an original 60s Tonebender at the same price? (Assuming for the sake of comparison that the going rate for both is the same. Tonebenders can actually go for more…)

And why?

You may refer to circuit complexity, component count, versatility, rarity, original cost, or any other relevant factor. Please answer in 1000 words or less.

The original Klon wasn't overpriced. It was $275 and came in a milled ali enclosure that probably cost half that amount.

The problem with the Klon is that it's easy to replicate, so the 2nd hand price is hard to swallow. Whereas getting the transistors for a Bender now is nigh on impossible. That's not to say you can't build one using different transistors though...

But as TPD says, we're talking collectors here. I for example, don't believe any car is worth the multi-millions that old Ferraris go for. Yet many vastly wealthy people do. So in that respect they must be worth the money to some people.

EdGrip

Not to mention Klons tend still to be bought and sold for their supposed tonal superiority, NOT because they are a collectible antique. So it's at least slightly apples-and-oranges.

crunchman

Like it or not, there is a collectors market for original Klons - especially gold ones.  Although thinking about it, maybe it's more of a speculators market.

timhulio

juansolo said:

milled ali enclosure 

Sand cast aluminium enclosure. Pretty expensive, but just imagine how much milled enclosures would cost!

juansolo

Ah, thought it was milled, my mistake. Still, it was a lovely thing that. Most impressive when I had one to poke around with.

octatonic

Anyone want to buy my KTR for £400?

Dave_Mc

crunchman said:

Like it or not, there is a collectors market for original Klons - especially gold ones.  Although thinking about it, maybe it's more of a speculators market.

Yeah that's the problem (not just with pedals, obviously this happens with a lot of things). Some chancers people kind of skew the market.

EdGrip said:

Not to mention Klons tend still to be bought and sold for their supposed tonal superiority, NOT because they are a collectible antique. So it's at least slightly apples-and-oranges.

Yeah. It's not completely black and white, either.

monquixote

juansolo said:

But as TPD says, we're talking collectors here. I for example, don't believe any car is worth the multi-millions that old Ferraris go for. Yet many vastly wealthy people do. So in that respect they must be worth the money to some people.

Yep, moaning about the price of Klons is like raging that the value of a 60's Ferrari is stupid because a modern hot hatch could have one around a track. 

When supply outstrips demand prices go up, simple as that. 

JayGee

I don't find the word Boutique remotely helpful or informative in this context. It could be my age but the only image it brings to my mind is that of a small, pretentious, and probably overpriced fashion outlet :-)

allicio

octatonic;137504" said:

Anyone want to buy my KTR for £400?

I'll give you back the 269 you bought it off me for!!!

octatonic

allicio said:

octatonic;137504" said:

Anyone want to buy my KTR for £400?

I'll give you back the 269 you bought it off me for!!!

:-)

allicio

Damn principles!!!

Misty

I feel I'm losing the will to live.

octatonic

allicio said:

Damn principles!!!

No trades.

http://ealas.org/to-612/files/2013/06/principal_clipart.jpg

guitargeek62

Good interview with the man himself here.

http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/20210-builder-profile-klons-bill-finnegan

I'd happily pay the asking price for a KTR - primarily because of the tones I've heard on record and online, and also because the guy designed and built an original circuit and deserves the credit. I'm rarely happy about buying copies/klones (unless the original is no longer available etc.), and I think the KTR is quite fairly priced - particularly as it holds it's value too!

juansolo

Some fun to be had over on the Madbean forum about this. I'll not comment here as I seem to be rubbing people the wrong way of late.

http://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=13409.0

EdGrip

JayGee said:

I don't find the word Boutique remotely helpful or informative in this context. It could be my age but the only image it brings to my mind is that of a small, pretentious, and probably overpriced fashion outlet :-)

This. I wasn't gonna say anything...