Bye bye Klon

less_cunning · Post by **less_cunning** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 11:23 am

if the diodes aren't so special then why did the Klon dude spend paragraph after paragraph stating that the diodes were pricey & difficult to find. & "special." becuz i totally took him at his word on that.

euan · Post by **euan** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 12:00 pm

Marketing and branding. That and waiting lists make it seem exclusive.

It is a well practised ploy and it works.

less_cunning · Post by **less_cunning** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:01 pm

i alwayz thought (certain) germanium diodes were difficult to find becuz they aren't made anymore. or something like that...

Post by **Mike** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:09 pm

There are myriad germanium diodes available and if you're only using them for clipping, there are only a few distinct voices.

It's called "Snake Oil"

euan · Post by **euan** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:34 pm

sort out your avatar.

less_cunning · Post by **less_cunning** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:37 pm

LOL. "snake oil." have there been many MBM Klon clones made. i bet dude is mega-pissed.

Aeon · Post by **Aeon** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:38 pm

euan · Post by **euan** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:41 pm

Zvex has his own brand of snake oil.

Aeon · Post by **Aeon** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:49 pm

Agreed, but his popular pedals are available in prices that most people could justify to themselves paying. And with the hand-painted ones, at the very least you are getting a unique piece of artwork as well as a lifetime guarantee...

I am not arguing that other boutique builders don't use mystique and catchphrases to help push their product, but as far as I know Klon is the only one who requires an interview before you can even be put on the waiting list.

(Also, it's not like he alters to pedal at all based on the interview. Some pickup winders might talk to their clientele before they wind them something, but those sort of interviews will actually alter the product. Thus, it is simply a matter of him arbitrarily deciding whether you deserve to get it or not. I understand limiting the number that a single customer can buy to avoid people simply buying 10 and flipping 9 on ebay, but that hardly requires an interview imo..)

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:57 pm

Aeon wrote: "Oh, too bad, the roads you'll be driving on won't work very well with this car, sorry your money is no good here."

You driven a car with run-flat tyres on British roads? They outta ship their whole R'n'D out here and make them SUFFER!

less_cunning · Post by **less_cunning** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 3:23 pm

i'm glad i don't have to have an interview w/ PrcoCo in order to buy a Turbo Rat.

Post by **dots** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 4:24 pm

any pedal builder who says he needs to interview me before i buy can do so after he's sucked my bawz.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:02 pm

The Klon does use a PCB btw. It is also gooped, which is pathetic.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:02 pm

less_cunning wrote:LOL. "snake oil." have there been many MBM Klon clones made. i bet dude is mega-pissed.

No, and nope.

Post by **dots** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:10 pm

the now-defunct big scary tree studios in little tokyo had a centaur. . . can't remember which track we used it on, but i don't remember thinking much more than "that sounds nice." wasn't like it was so totally awesome. . . and i definitely didn't leave the experience needing to drop $500 for one myself.

sp3k · Post by **sp3k** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:15 pm

I don't even care about the interview and all the crap, but even if i was million dollar rich i wouldn't buy an overdrive for 400 bucks! I can get pretty decent ones for 50 (like the sd1), and really good ones for less tan 150 (like the ocd).

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:28 pm

Aeon wrote: Imagine the outrage if, say, BMW forced people to interview to buy one of their cars and could deny them on their own discretion. "Oh, too bad, the roads you'll be driving on won't work very well with this car, sorry your money is no good here."

I think that Ferrari do this with their very top end cars, with some only being sold to people with whom they have a long relationship.

As far as I know, the FXX has only been sold to thirty people, and Ferrari won't even let you take it home when you buy it. It stays at their garage, and you can go there to drive it when you want.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 7:00 pm

How peculiar. Maybe you can take it home a couple years down the line, when it's not up-to-the-minute type technology.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 7:26 pm

I think there was an application and interview process for the Enzos, too. God knows how the likes of David Beckham got one. I think you had to have history wiht the company.

analogsystem · Post by **analogsystem** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 7:30 pm

Does anyone know anybody who was refused a Klon for failing an interview only? Just curious. I'd imagine that its mainly to discourage folks from anonymously ordering 5 of them to resell.

The Timmy dude kind of has an interview in that you have to call him up to get one, and get on a waiting list......but he only charges $120 for the Timmy which is pretty cool.

I guess that Klon is still in business, he's just going to a smaller enclosure. So the big box ones will go up in price and folks will say they sound different, etc etc. The builder states that its the same circuit in a smaller box. Maybe it will be cheaper? Who knows.....