Kheiron Klon

Based on: Number of parts: Enclosure type:

Klon Centaur High, total 154 components 1590bb
Effect type: Technology: Get your board at:
Transparent Overdrive Op Amp Kheiron Klon
Build difficult: Power consumption: Get your kit at:
Advanced 9V Das Musikding (Europe)

Project overview:

This is the Kheiron Klon project, a Klon Centaur on steroids that teaches you how different parts
of the circuit work.

We compiled every possible mod on this classic circuit and designed a board that allows you to
switch between stock and modded versions. In some cases, you can even choose to use a fixed
resistor or a trimpot to set the amount of resistance you want.

Kheiron Klon is both ideal for beginners and advanced builders who want to dig deeper into how
pedal works and modding.

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Board version 1v, 24th November 2022
Index
1. Project overview 5. Schematic
2. Index, Introduction & Controls 6. Components, Build Notes, Wiring Diagram
3. Bills of Materials, BOM 7. Drill Template, Licensing and Usage
4. Shopping Lists

Introduction
Kheiron Klon is based on the legendary Klon Centaur, one of the most highly regarded and in-
demand effect pedals ever created. Appreciated for its creamy overdrive, it's also used as a Clean
Boost for warming up the signal. This ground-breaking transparent overdrive circuit adds gain to
your signal without significantly altering the guitar's tone.

The introduction of the Klon back in the early to mid ′90s is arguably one of the most relevant
events in the history of overdrive pedals. Its use by such players as John Mayer, Nels Cline, and
Joe Perry (to name just a few) and its scarcity on the used market have propelled prices to
unparalleled levels, giving it the title of the most expensive pedal in the world.

In PCB Guitar Mania decided to praise the original and created this unique version that allows you
to choose, experiment, and learn from a board that gathers every conceivable mod. In this
document, you will find a description of the different switches’ positions, the section they affect,
and the overall tone resultant.

Are you ready to add this mythological board to your collection?

Controls
Potentiometers  Thickness-SW
 Treble-Volume-SW
 Tone
 Attack-SW
 Volume
 Bottom-SW
 Gain
 Bright-SW
Switches  Buffer-BP-A
 Buffer-BP-B
 Diode-SW  Buffer-BP-C

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Switches Instructions
Buffer Switches:

 A1 (ON), B1 (ON), B2 (OFF) – gives buffered bypass output.

 A1 (OFF), B1 (OFF), B2 (ON) – gives true bypass output.
 C1 – mixes buffered output to FX out when FX is on.
 C2 – adds “always-on” buffered and FX signal to the output jack. Both will make pedal
guitar dependent. Appliable, for example, as a treble booster.

Diode Switch:

This way of diode application gives a hard diode. Clipping Switch allows choosing between Ge
diode clipping (pos.1) and any other you wish to solder in D3, D4 pads (pos.2).

You can try the following: Schottky, germanium, silicon, 1N4xxx series, red LED, other LED colors,
going from lowest to highest clipping threshold (the forward voltage at which the diode conducts).
Also, remember that different diodes, such as Ge, Si, etc., can sound different because of their
different frequency response.

Attack Switch:

 Pos.1 ON, Pos.2 OFF – fixed attack via R6 (1k) resistor.

 Pos.1 OFF, Pos.2 ON – variable attack via ATTACK trimmer. This gives you a wide attack
range from 0k to 5k resistance.
 Both ON – variable attack via ATTACK trimmer, but lower attack range, because trimmer
and R6 are connected in parallel with maximum 1k resistance.

Gain Switch:

 Pos.1 ON, Pos.2 OFF – standard fixed gain, controlled by GAIN potentiometer with R8 (2k)
in series.
 Pos.1 OFF, Pos.2 ON – GAIN-TRIM trimmer is added in this position. It gives you a broader,
additional gain range from 0k to 5k resistance control, so you can add more gain by
increasing resistance or lower gain by lowering resistance.
 Both ON – variable gain via GAIN-TRIM trimmer, but lower additional gain range, because
trimmer and R8 are connected in parallel with maximum 2k resistance.

Bass Switch:

Gains low frequencies through feedback chain. Allows choosing between different capacitance
combinations. Available only when pos.2 of 1994 mod is off.

 Both OFF – standard 82nf capacitor is on.

 Pos.1 ON, Pos.2 OFF - increases frequency width by adding 150nf capacitor in parallel and
having 232nf as a result.
 Pos.1 OFF, Pos.2 ON - increases frequency width more by adding 270nf capacitor in
parallel and having 352nf as a result.

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  Both ON – gives the widest frequency range with 3 capacitors in parallel and 502nf overall
capacity.

When necessary, color is chosen using a switch, this frequency is added (gained) using the BASS-
CONTOUR trimmer.

1994 Mod:

 Pos.1 OFF, Pos.2 ON – no 1994 mod. R9 is shortened. It also shortens BASS-CONTOUR

control.
 Pos.1 ON, Pos.2 OFF - gives more gain by adding R9 in the feedback chain.
 Both ON – also delivers no 1994, because R9 is shortened. It also shortens BASS-
CONTOUR control.

Bottom Switch:

Activates BOTTOM potentiometer when Pos.1 OFF and Pos.2 ON. This trimmer allows adding low-
mid frequencies.

Treble Switch:

Boosts treble through feedback chain.

 Pos.2 ON and Pos.1 OFF - variable treble boost using the CLEAN trimmer.
 Pos.2 OFF, Pos.1 ON – fixed boost via R16.
 Both ON – CLEAN trimmer with 27k resistor in parallel. Because the value is lower, R16
won’t have an effect and will act like Pos.1 OFF and Pos.2 ON.

Brightness Switch:

Adds higher frequencies by adding capacitors in the feedback chain of IC2_A. The more
capacitance – the broader range.

 Both ON – the widest range using two capacitors in parallel with 1560pf in total.
 Pos.2 ON, Pos.1 OFF – getting less wide from the side of high-mid. 1nf cap is working.
 Pos.2 OFF, Pos.1 ON – getting even less wide with only 560pf capacitor left.
 Both OFF – brightness off.

Thickness switch:

Allows you to choose the frequency color of TONE control accordingly to your taste.

 Pos.1 ON, Pos.2 OFF – gives you more highs and fewer lows than when pos.1 off and pos.2
on, because a lower capacitor is used (3n9 against 6n8).
 Both ON - gives you a broader range because two capacitors are in parallel, giving you
10n7 in total.

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Bill of materials
Resistors C2 100n
Part Value C3 68n
R1 2m2 C4 390n
R2 10k C5 100n
R3 1m C6 68n
R4 5k1 C7 270n
R5 1k5 C8 82n
R6 1k C9 150n
R7 10k C10 390pf
R8 2k C11 1uf
R9 15k C12 1uf
R10 422k C13 1uf
R11 1k5 C14 2n2
R12 1k C15 27n
R13 15k C16 1n
R14 22k C17 560pf
R15 47k C19 3n9
R16 27k C20 6n8
R17 12k C23 100n
R18 390k
R19 100k
Electrolytic Capacitors
R20 1k8
Part Value
R21 100k
C18 4u7
R22 100k
C21 4u7
R23 4k7
C22 100uf
R24 510r
C24 10uf
R25 470r
C25 10uf
R26 68k
C26 10uf
R27 68k
C27 10uf
R28 100k
C28 10uf
R29 22r
R30 4k7
R31 22k IC
R32 22k Part Value
IC1 TL072
IC2 TL072
Capacitors
IC3 TC 1044SCPA
Part Value
C1 220pf

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 Potentiometers Diodes
Part Value Part Value
GAIN 100k B Stereo D1 1n34a
TONE 10K B D2 1n34a
VOLUME 10K A D3 Red LED 3mm
D4 Red LED 3mm
Trimpots D5 1n5817
Part Value D6 zener 12v
CLEAN 20k D7 5mm LED
GAIN-TRIM 5K D8 1n5817
ATTACK 5K D9 1n5817
BASS-CONTOUR 50K
COMPRESSION 10K Jacks
BOTTOM 50K Part Value
DC JACK -
AUDIO JACK -
Switches
Part Value
DIODE-SW Dip Switch 2
poles
GAIN-SW Dip Switch 2
poles
THICKNESS- Dip Switch 2
SW poles
TREBLE- Dip Switch 2
VOLUME-SW\ poles
1994-MOD-SW Dip Switch 2
poles
ATTACK-SW Dip Switch 2
poles
BASS-SW Dip Switch 2
poles
BOTTOM-SW Dip Switch 2
poles
BRIGHT-SW Dip Switch 2
poles
BUFFER-BP-A Dip Switch 2
poles
BUFFER-BP-B Dip Switch 2
poles
BUFFER-BP-C Dip Switch 2
poles
- 3PDT Stop
foot

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Shopping list

Resistors 1 2n2 C14

Qty Value Parts 1 27n C15
1 2m2 R1 1 1n C16
2 10k R2, R7 1 560pf C17
1 1m R3 1 3n9 C19
1 5k1 R4 1 6n8 C20
2 1k5 R5, R11
2 1k R6, R12
Electrolytic Capacitors
1 2k R8
Qty Value Parts
1 15k R9
2 4u7 C18, C21
1 422k R10
1 100uf C22
1 15k R13
5 10uf C24, C25, C26, C27, C28
3 22k R14, R31, R32
1 47k R15
1 27k R16 IC
1 12k R17 Qty Value Parts
1 390k R18 2 TL072 IC1, IC2
4 100k R19, R21, R22, R28 1 TC 1044SCPA IC3
1 1k8 R20
2 4k7 R23, R30
Potentiometers
1 470r R25
Qty Value Parts
2 68k R26, R27
1 100k B Stereo GAIN
1 22r R29
1 10K B TONE
1 510r R24
1 10K A VOLUME

Capacitors
Trimpots
Qty Value Parts
Qty Value Parts
1 220pf C1
1 20k CLEAN
3 100n C2, C5, C23
2 5K GAIN-TRIM, ATTACK
2 68n C3, C6
2 50K BASS-CONTOUR, BOTTOM
1 390n C4
1 10K COMPRESSION
1 270n C7
1 82n C8
1 150n C9 Switches
1 390pf C10 Qty Value Parts
3 1uf C11, C12, C13 12 Dip Switch DIODE-SW, GAIN-SW,
2 poles THICKNESS-SW, TREBLE-

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 VOLUME-SW, 1994-MOD-
SW, ATTACK-SW, BASS-SW,
BOTTOM-SW, BRIGHT-SW,
BUFFER-BP-A, BUFFER-BP-
B, BUFFER-BP-C
1 3PDT Stop -
foot

Diodes
Qty Value Parts
2 1n34a D1, D2
2 Red LED 3mm D3, D4
3 1n5817 D5, D8, D9
1 zener 12v D6
1 5mm LED D7

Jacks
Qty Value Parts
1 DC JACK -
2 AUDIO JACK -

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Schematic

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Components Recommendations
As many people like to experiment with some pedals with higher voltage, always ensure
your electrolytic capacitors' max tolerance is over 25v.

This board has been tested using Film box capacitors for most of the values over 1nf and ceramics discs
for those under 1nf. However, high-quality components such as Wima's Capacitors and Panasonic's
electrolytics can deliver a better performance.

All the resistors used for testing this project are 1/4W Metal Film.

The BOM and Shopping list are exclusive regarding this project. It doesn't include all the hardware like the
3PDT bypass switch, audio/dc jacks, enclosure, etc.

Build Notes
If this is one of your first projects, I recommend you to take a look at our Pedal Building Guide.

For a successful and tidy build, it’s recommended the following order:

1. Resistors & diodes

2. Capacitors, starting with the smaller ones and the ceramic ones.
3. Electrolytic capacitors (always check the polarity)
4. Transistors
5. Wires
6. Potentiometers and switches
7. Off-board wiring

Wiring Diagram
All our projects include a free 3PDT Board to make the wiring easier and tidier. Also, all of our PCBs feature
the status LED on board.

The pad named “Ctrl” or “LED” is the one that controls the status of the led; wire it to the “LED” pad on the
3PDT board or in the control slug of your 3PDT.

This board has been designed to match our EZ 3PDT PCB; check it here to access our Pedal Wiring Guide.

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Drill Template
This Project has been planned to fit into a 1590bb enclosure type.

Check the Attached “Drilling templates” to drill the box properly. The files are on Scale 1:1, ready to print
on an A4 page.

Licensing and Usage

We really appreciate your trust and support in buying this PCB, as well as your will to dive into the DIY
electronics world. For us, that's why you can make this project work properly and enjoy not only the building
process but also experiment and play with it on your rig.

We try to reply to every question we receive on our email or our social media. Still, we try to encourage all
our customers to join our PCB Guitar Mania – Builders Group on Facebook to post all your doubts, issues,
suggestions, or requests, share your builds, and have some feedback from other fellow builders and us!

We tested all our projects following this same guide on their standard configurations. Although, not all of
the variations and mods have necessarily been checked. These are suggestions based on the schematic
analysis and the experiences and opinions of others. Feel free to share with us your views and
recommendations regarding the mods and your personal experimentation.

These boards may be used for commercial endeavors in any quantity unless expressly noted. No attribution
is necessary, though accreditation or a link back is always much appreciated.

If you are a builder planning to make your own run of pedals, we also offer the service of custom-made
boards with your brand and logo, designed according to your specifications.

The only usage restrictions are that, first, you cannot resell the PCB as part of a kit without prior
arrangement with us, and second, you cannot scratch off the silkscreen or other way of trying to hide our
logos and the source of the PCBs. Like it's written above, if you want to have your designs with your brand
and logo, we could undoubtedly reach an agreement.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay in tune with the latest projects!

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