Short Answer:
Klon Centaur overdrive effect pedals are so expensive due to their popular overdrive sound and limited number of original models. Crafted by Bill Finnegan, Klon Centaur pedals are among the most coveted and expensive collector's items in guitar gear.
Long Answer:
First crafted in the 1990s, Klon Centaur overdrive effects sought to recreate the "natural" overdrive of a loud tube amplifier. These original handmade effect pedals were produced in relatively small numbers and set the pace for what are called "transparent" overdrive effect pedals in modern markets. Today, original gold and silver "Horsie" Klon Centaur pedals commonly command a baseline secondhand price above $5,000. Finnegan stopped producing Klon Centaur overdrive pedals in 2009.
Independent pedal builder Bill Finnegan started building Klon Centaur Professional Overdrive effect pedals in the mid-1990s. His original, hand-built circuits boasted amp-like saturation, an incredibly touch-responsive gain structure, and a very interactive EQ shaping experience. The overdrive tone has become the sound many "transparent" overdrive effect pedals base their sound off. Klon Centaur overdrive pedals' tones are now retroactively described as "mythical" with modern overdrive guitar pedals emulating the Centaur overdrive tone described as "Klones".
An entire submarket in effect pedals has since formed around the Klon Centaur's mythical sound. Gold-colored enclosures, three-dial control schemes, and storybook creature icons commonly appear as unifying elements in pedals emulating the Centaur's tone. Bill Finnegan returned to producing the Klon Centaur with the Klon KTR Overdrive in similarly small, hand-built batches with text reading:
"Kindly remember: The ridiculous hype that offends so many is not of my making."
Check out Centaur-style overdrive pedals here!
