Budget "Klones" Vs. Real Klon | Overdrive Pedal Shootout

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[@RJRonquillo]

🔴 You say “NEW-EX”, I say “KNUCKS” 😂 . So what did you guys think of the cheaper pedals? Are there any other Klon clones under $100 I need to check out?

[@danpeabody5687]

How about a head to head with the ceritone centura and rhe silver klon?

[@themikepadua]

I say “NAKS NAMAN”

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

I say Nukes...like Nukular...:p

[@Twirlyhead]

"Knucks" - you've put a silent "K" in a phonetic spelling - LOL.

[@francisocbian8726]

It is "New X" like the old radio station in the Philippines, "The home of new rock NU 107".

[@dondeestasquenoteveo]

Writing this in Braille, since that Artemise LED left me blind...

[@albertplaysguitar]

Effing LOL... Dang, you're right!!!

[@nedim_guitar]

Hahahaha! That's really funny!

[@Twirlyhead]

The Nux does up the voltage from 9 to 18 for headroom.

[@GregoryHillSr]

Agreed! The Nux pedal is one of the closest to the Klon pedal and for the price it's spot on.

[@raymondjamesrivera]

Most people seem to use Klon as a light boost but I love how it sounds when the gain is cranked! Starting my search for a good Klone

[@caleshtcincredibles]

same with me , Klon sounds wicked cranked!

[@DareBear2099]

Love my NuX Horseman, it’s my go to overdrive I use for my worship gigs. Shocked at how good of a pedal it is for the price and footprint.

[@herryway4266]

u still use it?

[@nelsonw2096]

I started researching and ultimately bought the NUX Horseman after watching this. I really like it. It’s going to be on my board for the foreseeable future. Thanks RJ!

[@jfrankcarr]

I went through 2 of the super cheap Mosky Golden Horse pedals when they first came out. Both quit working within a few weeks due to a defective charge pump. I decided to replace them with a MXR Sugar Drive and that's worked great.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Yep, my Mosky died just this week. Glad it's not just me.

[@dandyism7288]

I’d go for the Artemis, you get a pedal and a stage light in one

[@georgewilkins4231]

Hi.. The Nu x horseman I have and I use it a fair bit. I also have the TC electronic Zeus pedal and that's OK too. I think the Artimus sounds better and more like the real Klon. I also recently got the Frédric Golden Eagle. Hand made in the UK it's a little over £100 (£140) but it's a real beauty and is I believe an Exact copy of the original Klon.. I wouldn't be without it.. Its a goose bumps pedal.. Really good... 😊😊

[@shallyshal1]

Bought a Artemis. Thank you, RJ. Love your videos

[@barstia7847]

vamos argentina!!!!

[@truthfactreality6814]

The Nux is an amazing little pedal. Actually sold mine thinking I wanted something else. Ended up re-buying it. It’s something that will never leave my board now. You have to be a crackpot to buy a real one for the money they go for now.

[@GonzaloMelo1990]

Artemis all the time! Great pedal!

[@cliverkay]

The Nu-X is internally at 18 Volts ...you cant go wrong for that price !! and try some of hteir other pedals .. Great range !!

[@luisgoregonzalez7394]

Nux 2:26 Artemis 5:51 klon 9:30

[@pastorkev777]

The Caline Pegasus is my favorite budget Klon, I know of. Mosky pedals have ol n copies for $20, they seem to be the same as the nux.

[@cwbassmsncom]

The Mosky is up to 40$ now, damn you 60 cycle. I have one I got for 20 and it works fine for me. Sounds as good as the zoom version on the g3xn. I love cheap gear!

[@jchabo82]

@@cwbassmsncom I've the Muslady version. It's the same as the Mosky. $25 on ebay. It sounds good.

[@TheElrondo]

Nope i own NUX and Mosky. It's not the same electronics. Maybe the circuit is similar, wich they should be, but the PCB is different.

[@Mr.D34]

I needed a small Klon clone and Nux Horseman is great, i like that it also has a silver mode as well. I also prefer it over Artemis Klon. It sounds really good.

[@ChocoTacoDelight]

The Minotaur drive on the HX Stomp has done the job for me tbh. Idk how it stacks up to the original, but it sounds great and is my fave overdrive on the HX by far.

[@DareBear2099]

I have a stomp and the NuX Horseman. Both sound awesome, I feel the horseman has a bit more versatility though, more you can do on the fly. I know with snapshots you can do some similar things but as a gigging guitarist on the worship circuit, I need all the blocks, switches and DSP I can get from my stomp lol! Using drive pedals along with the stomp help me open up some space. For real though, the Minotaur model is bad ass though!

[@BrianSGuitars]

All three sounded good in their own way. I have the RYRA Klone, and love it!

[@Place_to_keep_videos]

TC Zeus has the Germanium clipping diodes. $68 shipped. Stacks with my TS9/808/10 very well. High headroom overdrive pedal.

[@theyrecousins]

Great comparison, and super tasty playing (clean bends and niiice vibrato)! This helped me make up my mind, someone’s selling a Horseman used locally and I’m gonna try and grab it ASAP

[@garretazonsa]

I have the NUX Horseman and Mosky Golden Horse and they don't sound alike. I couldn't get a good sound from the Mosky, unless used as a treble boost. Love the NUX!

[@DareBear2099]

I had a mosky and hated it, got the NuX a few months later and it’s pretty damn awesome. It’s my go to overdrive and I love the dual modes it has.

[@darwinsaye]

What I got in my headphones was that character of the Klon is that it has a very smooth drive sound to the sound wave, more throaty than raspy or gritty, and the mid hump is in a pleasant place and has a pretty wide bandwidth. The Mid hump in the Nux seemed narrower, and thus more pokey and boxy than the Klon. The distortion was not as smooth as the Klon, but pretty smooth. The Artemis sounded like it had a broader bandwidth to the midhump, like the Klon, so it was nice and full sounding and throaty, but its sound wave was raspier and had more treble, more like the average drive pedal.

[@DeanCasey]

NUX has it by a mile. You really can't go wrong with any of these pedals, but that NUX Horseman - buy three of them!

[@CenterThePendulum]

Is there a video ranking Klon Clone comparison videos? I need that shootout.

[@stephanematis]

I have an eBay DIY look klone and the slightly modified Joyo Tauren ("For the Horde!") Nice to see an entire pedal sub-culture of Klones. There is room in this club for all versions and derivatives.

[@123Ir0nman]

The mosky golden horse is the cheapest klon clone at $15. You need to try it!!!

[@NewFalconerRecords]

It's a nice sounding pedal but I had one just die on me recently. I had it for less than a year. That's the problem with the super cheap pedals I guess.

[@ScottyBrockway]

The Klon has a smooth tone, it may or may not be your thang. The Nux has a lot of hair, but probably the diodes there. The Artemis is closer but has it's own sound. I have both Caline Pegasus and Medusa clones, I like them both and I use them to get Dimebag like gain tones from a JCM800 like dirty amp tone. It's a particular thing they all do, but they lack low end overall with a 1k mid hump, not really transparent for me any of them.

[@stavrost6559]

Klon is not really transparent. It has a slightly mid hump. Great demo 👍 thanks for the video

[@jahjah67]

That little Nux sounds awfully good. Especially for the price. I have a Tumnus I like a lot and this should be a good addition. Thanks for the video

[@rickhill6277]

Really liked the sound of the NUX Pedal RJ! Great job and Performance man! Please keep up the Good Work! Cheers from Salem, Ohio US!

[@ruggie.74]

I know you're doing the sponsorship/affiliate link thing, but that original Klon absolutely destroys the other two.

[@thomasd9237]

👍👍 for a cheapy pedal the NUX has some attitude ☺️ My question is, how's the longevity ? I do kind of baby my toys, but crap happens

[@donnyboy911]

the klon sounded smoother/more liquid at 12 oclock gain settings where the other two had the ts808 grain feel at similar settings. i mod amps and revoice for peoples personal tastes...

[@harleyhexxe9806]

Not a fair comparison! You never turned up the treble on the Artemis past 10:00 so it sounded muddier than the other two. I have the NUX Horseman, and it's VERY close to my original gold Klon, so I use that one on a live rig. It is a cheap pedal so I'm not concerned if something happens to it. Finding another Klon clone under $100? Good Luck! There are a lot of good Klon styled OD pedals out there, and they are much more affordable than an real Klon, but not that affordable. One that I've been checking out that really grabs my ear is the Keeley Oxblood. That's a very sweet sounding OD, and not that bad for the price. Until then, The Horseman will be a staple on my pedal board. Thanks for posting R.J.!

[@khievritthypoung373]

You look even more like Thomas Shelby with that hat.

[@FretLevelMidnight]

The best Klon clone is the Decibelics Golden Horse, it's made with all the same NOS parts as the Klon and is a mini, and you can hear the difference, as far as I'm concerned it is a Klon. They're handmade in Spain, pre-order only and are over 300 USD, but still cheaper than a real Klon by a long shot.

[@jasonbone5121]

Decibelics 100% - Love mine!

[@albertplaysguitar]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the "Klon" sound... Is it better into a dirty amp? Is it better into a high head room amp? Do I like how it stacks with other dirt pedals... I need more Klon type pedals to figure this out... My point of reference is the MXR sugar drive.

[@Mr.D34]

Personally in the klon clone world the mxr sugar drive is one of my least favorite, it has less drive, bass and bite but it's a great pedal nonetheless. I recently got into the klon sound, i prefer stacking it with other drives keeping one at low gain the other with more gain and alternating while doing so. I also like it by itself for some blues playing

[@albertplaysguitar]

@@Mr.D34 I really want to explore other Klon klones. I'm interested in the way huge conspiracy theory. I tried the Wampler tumnus but initially I wasn't sure about it. I think I'd love the tumnus deluxe! Any recommendations?

[@tonygairomusic911]

First of all, I'm a pro saxophone player infiltrating the guitar world, but I am into gear. I completely inadvertently came across a No Name Klon clone for $45 online. It's an absolute no name. But it's a really cool pedal! I have never had or even played through a real Klon but in and of itself, this pedal is sweet. But way more importantly: dude, you are the real article. Love, love your playing! It must be a gas gigging with you. (If we ever are permitted to go back to work, that is.) Like this channel a lot too.

[@bouboubomber]

As usual, RJ makes everything sound good. I also see a Nux Horseman in my future

[@BenCoombs]

My first klone was the EHX Soul Food. There's been many more since then lol!! Cheers RJ, thanks for doing this!!

[@albertplaysguitar]

I've heard it's a bit brittle. What are your thoughts?

[@BenCoombs]

@@albertplaysguitar I didn't think so, I used it to push a Fender blues deluxe which sounded quite bright but worked for me.

[@keithdavies100]

Which is closest to the Klon? I don't know, but I don't really care about that. In their own right, I liked the Nux best. Obviously, I'm not playing it, and part of it is feel, but I'll be buying one of those. Sounds great.

[@aubreydaledrinkardjr]

Geez! The LED on the Artemis is like the Christmas star. Turn that bad boy on and you’ll get gifts or Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

[@beburicoterito]

Damico fx makes a pedal called Buda, a zen drive style pedal, its a very good one, around same price as artemis

[@nizodizo9549]

I would just get an SD-1 and a Blues driver and call it a day.

[@albertplaysguitar]

Man, I've yet to get a blues breaker type pedal... SD-1 sounds tempting too...

[@davidmackie2901]

The Artemis, to me, seemed closer to the Klon when filtered through the KZbin, but to the extent that the Horseman differed, I actually preferred it to either of the others.

[@jeffreymorreale7223]

The fact that Horseman has gold and silver mode just adds to the fact that it's an almost unbeatable option. You aren't sacrificing tone bc it sounds amazing AND you'd have to buy 2 pedals from anyone else to get the versatility.

[@relevantinformation6655]

Amazon basics (NUX) with a different paint job, same circuit board - even said Nux on the board ...

[@rickhammel9541]

What’s the model of the Amazon basics one?

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

When it comes to great transparent drives I have had them all. I finally stumbled on Nels Cline's favourite he retired his original Klon because of it. It is not a clone or based off of anything. It is the Sarno Music Solutions Earth Drive. It sounds a bit like an old Fender Deluxe when the Fender is set just before breakup. It is a flat picker or finger pickers dream pedal. Playing a ES335 clean sounds 100% better with this turned on at lower settings.

[@beyondthedead7677]

Earth drive is a great pedal, but not really a klon or affordable.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

​@@beyondthedead7677 The Klon was invented in the first place to create the sound of a Fender Twin on 8 at any lower volume. It doesn't. the Sarno actually does. I bought all the low gain pedals including 2 cheap Chinese pedals and the Wampler Tumnus and and a couple of MIJ expensive wannabes. So affordable is pointless if it does not do the job because you dump it. Much better to borrow or save for a pedal worth keeping.

[@beyondthedead7677]

@@Paul_Lenard_Ewing yeah, I know. Specifically a blackface twin preamp section driving a McIntosh mc2300 amp. Like I said, great pedal, but not a klone, and not an under $100 pedal. Plus Brad is a great guy who builds really high quality gear.

[@MrGtargy]

Artemis seemed to let more tone of guitar come through... maybe more responsive to pick attack. sounded better low gain. klon sounded better at low volume -- had more tone possibilities. a 'milder' pedal?

[@LewisShieldsUS]

Own more OD's than any other pedal. Love the shootout, many thanks. One of my delays is titled Reecho, I'm sure it's Re-Echo (So awful!) Still call it Reach-O. Some places x is pronounced sh. Could be Noosh or Nush. Awful! Sayin' Knucks.

[@christianboddum8783]

I've never tried a Klon style pedal in a band so I might not be the right person to judge, but I like Bluesbreaker style pedals better. There is a harndess to the Klon styles' midrange that I don't like, but again context is everything ;-) FWIW

[@Monkcustom]

Suggest R.J. do the comparison for NUX Morning Star with Marshall Bluesbreaker, Analogman Prince Of Tone, ...etc.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

The Nu-X Morning Star is superb! Just incredible.

[@Simpleman1964]

Mosky Golden horse. Love it.

[@derekjohnson5720]

I dont get the klon thing, every sound i heard i can do on my ac15c1 buy manipulating my tone and volume on my guitar?

[@lueysixty-six7300]

I played along with my pink Charvel DK24 and my way huge Conspiracy Theory.

[@NotonlyMusik]

You play beautifully, R.J. Can you tell me about that Senn? Pickups? Thank you!

[@Ro-Bucks]

I got some hate a week or two ago for saying I would pay no more then $200 for a real Klon, I didn't mean to offend the creator as he prob feels the same. It's a heat pedal wish I had one but will never be able now that's to fake rumors about it. Nice sound but no magic.

[@Paul-dw2cl]

@R.J. Ronquillo you had me at the first three notes

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

Saw a Non Horsesie Silver Klon like that one at a small mom & pop in Oakland, CA for $1200... got the purple Dirty Little Secret instead for $100... mistake? There is the Electro Harmonix SoulFood...a classic for about $50.

[@joshuawong_]

tones for days mannnnnn !!! btw is that how you’d usually dial in your drives ?

[@NelsLindahl]

Solid video... Thank you for sharing!

[@shallyshal1]

Very very useful video. Thanks. Shally

[@edspageusa1yesloveyes937]

Caline CP 99 + Blackstar ID CORE 20 v2= Budget BIG Tone... Amazing

[@jankafka7330]

I've got the Caline. Sometimes it works, sometimes it makes a horrible noise that sounds as if it going to blow the amp. It was too much bother to return it, so I just accepted it as forty bucks lost/a lesson learned.

[@SlavicSon]

Dig your guitar style and hat style RJ.

[@nelsonw2096]

I kinda like the Horseman better. TBH they all sounded remarkably similar which is pretty funny to me anyway. The Emperor may or may not have clothes on but it is true that they are overpriced and the cheaper alternatives hold up fine. How’s that for a mixed metaphor?

[@TheBoomsat]

Artemis sounds the best to me but I think it sounds different than the original klon

[@SlavicSon]

Yes I liked the NUX but you didn’t crank the gain as much as the Artemis. The Silver Klon did sound more transparent to me.

[@diaosuarez1748]

The Nux is more like a cartone sound, less atack in high

[@jpreyes]

Artemis ❤

[@lautarodiaz4903]

Hell yeah the artemis sounds real good !!!!

[@TheFeelButton]

Nice klone clone tone! Cheers R.J!!

[@dickgitaar2012]

Try TC Electroncs Zeus... a lot for less..

[@kellymckenzie4865]

Am I the only one who loves a super bright LED?

[@edspageusa1yesloveyes937]

Thank 💜 You LOVE

[@hoboroadie]

Right on track to be typical. (Statistically) I clicked 👍 #51, and the meter read 500 views. Good morning 😸

[@danielcgomez]

I swear, R.J. can plug his guitar into dog shit and still sound great! ...his chops are something to admire too for sure!

[@paulkontz]

The Klon has a nice smooth top end especially when cranked. That’s also what I liked about the Artemis. The Nux sounded a little harsh to me.

[@albertplaysguitar]

Nice strat.

[@gprz843]

Is it just me or Klon pedals sound nasally in high gain?

[@NewFalconerRecords]

Yes, they do.

[@al271987]

This video is another example of how a good guitar and a good amp can make any cheap overdrive sound great, while the most expensive overdrive in the world can’t help a crummy guitar and amp sound like a million bucks.

[@adwoozley]

Is this a re-post? I feel like RJ posted a Klon shootout before, or am I delusional?

[@albertplaysguitar]

Man, idk! But I'll take a good re-run over something new that's crap😅

[@danpeabody5687]

Give me the whole deal with a klon is the fact that it actually sounds like part of your gear it doesn't sound like an effect doesn't sound like a pedal it sounds like part of your rig part of your tone. And part of its magic seems to be in its mid-range get a very specific mid-range that's pleasing and that's where most people that try to copy it seem to not get it either they're pedals have too much compression or the EQ setting seems to be wrong just my opinion it's a good thing I can't afford to klon because if I could I would search for one that sounded right to me and I would use the goddamn thing regardless of cost cuz I do think they sound good it's like taking a modern reissue of a 1957 Les Paul junior or playing a real 1950 Les Paul junior there is a difference and it's a slight difference but it's a difference and if you've got a 5% difference here in your amp and a 5% difference here in this pedal the five percent difference here and using this over that it doesn't add up and after awhile you send you know 20% better than most people and that's before all the years of playing and practice come into it that's just tone.

[@SuperRbert]

Lolz

[@danpeabody5687]

@@SuperRbert give most decent guitar players any piece of s*** amplifier any piece of s*** guitar as long as it will stay in tune and those sound exactly like that usually sound expensive equipment only improves your tongue slightly but if your pedal improve your sound a little your Camp is a better amp and improves your town a little bit and your guitar tweet to a point where it makes it easier to imply inspires you and improved your town you will sound better is it worth all the money f*** no

[@icezydrift]

Horseman, i think for me. Artemis have the the same attack as Klon.

[@georgewilkins4231]

It's New-X not Knucks.

[@snarphalisous]

I liked both the economy pedals better then the klon

[@AntwhaleNearfar]

Never knew Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas played guitar.

[@lonewolf5973]

Good job driving up the cheaper pedal I hope you're getting a kickback

[@hibernative]

Isn’t those pedals into that amp like installing fake leather seats in a Bugatti? :D

[@andyryder5287]

Nux -fizzy but for the price....ok. Artemis much better for not much more moolah. All about the headroom. Buy a Ktr....

[@carlossegura4341]

Los tres son diferentes: •El Nux: excelente ataque •El Artemis: muy buen sonido para el ritmo y acordes abiertos • El clon: excelente overdrive natural

[@SidBonkers51]

3 dislikes from Klon owners hahahaha

[@1loStu]

Endless competition to find worst dirty sound after previous bad dirty sound. Does someone love real beautiful guitar CLEAN sound that makes one instrument different than another? Just STOP turn gain maximum level! Horrible.

[@stefangolubek8219]

I've been always thinking what is the motivation behind buying those superexpensive pieces of gear. For me this pure snobism, nothing more than this. The sonic differencies between original Klone and Nux are just simply marginal, and (for me) there is NO reason to spend something between 2500 to b 5000 USD for just overdrive pedal, because for this amount of money one can have a Top Class REAL tube (or valve) distortion directly from The AMP!!! If You buy this kind of hyped crap, You are nothing more than pure IDIOT!!!

[@neenerheaddj]

And the Klon clickbait trend continues. Ugh. Up next: a Vertex shill video.