A sleeper hit for Sonicake?

What’s Better Than One Klon?

How about three?

Enter the Sonicake Trio Rider, part of their latest line of mini pedals. At first glance, it doesn’t scream "Klon clone"—no gold paint, no mythical creature graphic, no enchanted-sounding name. It might fly under the radar for most, but it hides a rather intriguing feature: the mini switch.

Where the Magic Happens

Next to the switch, you’ll spot three letters: G, S, and R. If you’re even casually familiar with Klon lore, you’ll know that the original pedals came in both silver and gold finishes—each with its own sonic personality. Silver was the more aggressive, raw-sounding version. Gold? Smoother, rounder, and a bit more refined. Several clone pedals, like the Mosky Silver Horse or the NuX Horseman (gotta love that Tolkien-esque naming trend), let you switch between the two.

But what about R?

After the original Centaur was discontinued in both gold and silver, Klon creator Bill Finnegan released the KTR, a modern take in a smaller red enclosure. While there’s no official confirmation from Sonicake, it’s hard not to believe that R stands for Red, right?

In Practical Terms

Silver mode: The most aggressive of the three. It offers the highest gain and the most neutral EQ. If you're using the pedal primarily as a drive, this is likely your sweet spot.

Gold mode: Lower gain and a softer EQ. It leans vintage, making it a great choice for boosting solos or pushing an amp into sweet overdrive.

Red mode: Thickens up your tone with a noticeable low-end bump. Ideal for fattening up a thin-sounding rig.

As with all things Sonicake, the price point makes it an easy "why not?" kind of purchase. But as always, the final verdict is up to your ears.

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Centaur of Attention

The Great Pedal Hype Train of 2024

Everyone’s been going Klon crazy the last few months, haven’t they?

It all kicked off just before Christmas, when Behringer announced their rather cheeky take on the legendary Klon Centaur. The pedal community was caught off guard—not just by the surprise drop of this vintage-inspired reissue, but by Behringer’s brazen use of the Centaur name and even the little horse-man graphic. Naturally, a hotly anticipated and affordable pedal like this had to make its way onto the channel.

And with that, the hype train left the station.

A Scarcity-Fuelled Frenzy

Behringer’s distribution wasn’t exactly stellar worldwide. Stock was limited in many countries, and delays only added fuel to the fire. Scarcity kept the buzz going well into the new year—long after the initial release.

Then, just as things were starting to cool down... Bill happened.

That’s Bill Finnegan—the man behind the original Klon circuit. He reportedly began legal proceedings against Behringer for copyright infringement, citing their use of the Centaur name and artwork. Whether it was a principled stand or just a frustrated move to protect his legacy, it had an unexpected side effect:

People started talking about the Behringer pedal all over again.

The Aftermath

If there’s one thing guitar players love more than a great-sounding pedal, it’s a hard-to-get one. It’s the same reason the original Klon Centaur now fetches over £5,000 on the used market. That elusive status gives gear a mythic glow.

In Behringer’s case, the legal action forced them to change both the name and the artwork. Suddenly, those early ‘pre-lawsuit’ models became collector’s items. Listings started popping up on eBay for five times the original price—overnight.

So, did Bill’s plan backfire? Maybe. But Behringer did stop using the IP, so I guess he got what he wanted in the end.

But... Is the Pedal Any Good?

Honestly? Yeah, it’s a decent take on the Klon circuit.

To my ears, it leans a bit more mid-heavy than the original (which, yes, I once played through headphones at FX Expo—of course I remember what it sounded like). But overall, it’s a nice-sounding overdrive. Not the holy grail, but definitely solid for the price.

My advice? Please don’t pay through the nose for one of those ‘pre-lawsuit’ models. Just grab the Centara—it’s exactly the same circuit, minus the myth.