Refractor kit.

Ive just finished this and it worked first time, which for me is unusual, probably because of the very high quality PCB -a joy to work with- and the lack of off-board wiring. I hard-wired it to the buffer bypass and then realised the switch was in the bag (should have looked first:-). I still have to work my way round the dual pot gain but the initial feeling is that it sounds great.

Robin G., 14.05.2023

High quality K Centaur clone. Ill buy a dip switch to change diodes couples configuration (I will also try other diodes). Very good.

Monticelli Massimo M., 01.12.2023

The only issue I had was the orientation of germanium diodes. Supplied ones were russian D9K (two white stripes). Please note that russian diodes have markings (stripes) on anode (+) not on the cathode (-)... other non- russian diodes have markings on cathode. When installing you should rotate them so that the marking on diode is opposite to the marking on pcb.

Other than that the kit is great and the sound is awesome!

Marcel D., 12.02.2024

This kit is a gem: good components, three (3!) choices of clipping diodes and the option to have both true or buffered bypass. The quality of the PCB is superb, and as usual a lot of pre-cut wires for piece of mind. Be aware that due to components number and density, this kit requires a little bit of experience in order to get a good result on the first try; I would recommend to build this one after dipping your toes on more simple kits.

I dont know if the final result can compare to the original - or how close it could get - but when Ive finished putting the kit together Ive spent more than two hours testing it; I just couldnt stop playing through this pedal!

Just a word of advice, though: if you choose to install the selector to choose between true or buffered bypass, pay attention to the orientation; I didnt, and I ended up soldering it with the switch lever facing outward on the daughter board, whereas the switch lever should be facing inward! I had to snip a bit of the lever to fit the daughter board in the enclosure, becuse I couldnt manage to desolder it; it woks as it should, even if the assembly is flipped, but it would look neater if I did assemble it correctly... You live and you learn!

Overall, I cant recommend this kit enough. Granted, there are cheaper pre-made Klones out there, but nothing I tried in the past sounded like this! I personally opted for the DE9 clipping diodes and I dont regret it a bit: the sound is _really_ far superior to any of the aforementioned cheaper Klones.

Thanks to Klaus for selling such and, as always, for the great service!

Roberto V., 09.02.2025

Easy to build and all parts worked well. Sounds great. Would be good to have an option for coloured pre-drilled casings.

Sander v., 16.06.2025

This was my third pedal build, and I absolutely love it. If you are building this I would advise you to do your research first on this pedal and its history (KLON). The build materials are a little vague in places, and I had to have my laptop open with a few web pages open to make sure I was installing the right component, as I had no visual representation of what some of them were.

The addition of the D9E diodes is awesome, and I chose to use them instead of the BATs. I like them so much that I ordered a stack of D9Es for future projects. (people have mentioned this already, but make sure you install them in reverse, as the markers are opposite to how most components are marked)

I think this pedal produces a stunning tone, if youre willing to take your time and get this one right. But so far its my favourite pedal build... TIP: combine with an EP Booster for pristine tone!

Padraig C., 21.10.2025