It’s not an over-exaggeration to say that no other effects pedal in recent memory has managed to stir up quite as much hype as JHS Pedals’ Notaklön overdrive did when it was first unveiled last year.
Overnight, the internet was flooded with news of the Notaklön – a brand new, £79 Klon clone that you assemble yourself. Every influencer under the sun marched on YouTube, documenting the foolproof building process and demonstrating the JHS-certified Klon tones, which – as expected – looked to be top‑notch.
Now, the market is in no great need for more Klon Centaur clones – the mythically elusive original unit championed by the likes of John Mayer has been the inspiration behind many off-brand attempts in recent years – but the Notaklön is a different beast altogether.
(Image credit: Future / Phil Barker)
To start: you build it yourself. The solder-less DIY process is immensely fun, and adds an extra layer of entertainment to a piece of gear that sonically excels.
Sure, it’s simple – all you have to do is fit the two circuit boards to the chassis, connect them via a ribbon cable and secure the Output, Treble, and Gain control knobs – but that’s what makes it so great: its accessibility.
The foolproof process caters to all players, and while the Notaklön could easily have been released as part of a standard JHS line, it certainly would have lost some of its charm.
(Image credit: Future / Phil Barker)
Then there are the tones. JHS has been kind enough to fit this pedal with a Shamrock Mod Switch, which means you get not only the classic Klon tone, but an additional voice that supplies +4dB gain boost and an additional stage of hard-edge clipping.
This is the mode that TG have found ourselves sitting in; with the gain dialed up, there’s a gritty gnarliness about it. Rolled back, it’s the most serene edge-of-breakup boost you could hope for.
At £79, not only is it one of the most affordable Klon clones out there, but easily the most entertaining. We’d say go buy one right away, but you can’t. Owing to its immense popularity, the Notaklön is backordered – no surprises there.
Specs
(Image credit: JHS Pedals)PRICE: $99 / £79 TYPE: OverdriveCONTROLS: Volume, Treble, Gain, Bypass switch, -/+ Shamrock Mod SwitchTRUE BYPASS: YesPOWER: 9V DC negative centerCONTACT: JHS Pedals
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