Kevin W. Lee

Not A Centaur
Klon-style overdriveJHS NOTAKLÖN · Pedal Zines № 09

Issue09
NOTAKLÖN (n.) JHS's build-it-yourself Klon-style overdrive, with their Shamrock mod. First pedal on my board.
§ 01 · What it isRead me first

GAIN = how dirty (left = clean boost), TREBLE = how bright (noon = flat), VOLUME = how loud.

9 V only: it makes 18 V inside
§ 02Where everything lives

The Map

Three knobs, one tiny slide switch, one stomp. GAIN all the way left is a clean boost; the switch is the JHS Shamrock mod.

Stylized top view of the JHS NOTAKLÖN overdrive Wide white pedal with three black knobs in a row: VOLUME (1), TREBLE (2), GAIN (3). A small -/+ slide switch under VOLUME is the Shamrock mod (4). NOTAKLÖN badge lower left, red LED (5) and footswitch (6) lower right. Output jack (up arrow) top left, DC jack top center, input jack (down arrow) top right (7). ⊕-●-⊖ VOLUME TREBLE GAIN −/+ NOTAKLÖN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Drawn from the JHS product photo (white kit box) · knob pointers are decoration
  1. 1VOLUMEOverall output (JHS calls it Output). Left = less, right = more.
  2. 2TREBLETreble boost or cut. Noon is neutral.
  3. 3GAINOverdrive amount. Fully left = clean: up to +16 dB of clean boost with VOLUME. Turning it up also adds mids.
  4. 4Shamrock switch (−/+)JHS's Shamrock mod: +4 dB more gain, more mids, and an extra stage of hard-edge clipping.
  5. 5LEDRed on light.
  6. 6FootswitchEffect on/off.
  7. 7Jacks + powerInput on the top right, output on the top left (the arrows), 9 V DC jack between them.
✓ First sessionTap each one when done · saves on this device

First Session

0 / 5 done NOT A KLON. STILL GREAT.
§ 03Starting points, not gospel

Quick Recipes

Starting knob spots (clock positions), not factory presets. Set it, play, then nudge by ear: guitar, pickups and amp all change the answer.

Always on

CLEAN BOOST

  • GAIN: fully left
  • TREBLE: noon
  • VOLUME: 11 o'clock and up
  • Shamrock: off

Adds level and push without much dirt. Great for hitting the SD-1 or RAT harder.

Rhythm

EDGE OF BREAKUP

  • GAIN: 10 o'clock
  • TREBLE: 1 o'clock
  • VOLUME: a bit above bypass
  • Shamrock: off

Strat chords that break up when you dig in.

Solo

SHAMROCK LEAD

  • GAIN: 2 o'clock
  • TREBLE: 11 o'clock
  • VOLUME: noon
  • Shamrock: on

Thicker and harder-clipped. Roll TREBLE back if the extra clipping gets fizzy.

§ 04Juice and jacks

Power & Specs

POWER
  • 9 V DC, center negative. Do not use more than 9 V: the pedal converts 9 V to 18 V inside (JHS: overvolting voids the warranty).
  • Draw: 30 mA (JHS).
THE BOX
  • VOLUME · TREBLE · GAIN, a −/+ Shamrock slide switch, one footswitch.
  • Klon-style overdrive, built from JHS's solderless DIY kit; the "magic" diodes come with goop to hide them.
  • Size: 4.7 × 3.7 × 1.66 in (JHS).
Don't overvolt

Unlike many Klon-style pedals you might run at 18 V, this one wants 9 V only. It already doubles it inside.

§ 05First in line

In My Rig

The NOTAKLÖN is the first pedal after my Strat. It feeds the Boss SD-1 and then the ProCo RAT (Pedal Zines № 07), so it sets the tone for everything after it.

StratguitarNOTAKLÖNhereSD-1nextRAT№ 07Phase 90
Caverns№ 05 · swap w/ Lucky CatIR-2№ 02 · ampMix12FXmixer
TIP 1

Boost the SD-1

GAIN low, VOLUME up: the NOTAKLÖN becomes a clean boost that pushes the SD-1 into more drive. Use TREBLE to brighten or tame it.

TIP 2

Tighten the RAT

NOTAKLÖN (low gain) into the RAT adds level and mids before the distortion. A starting point; if it gets muddy, lower the RAT's DISTORTION.

TIP 3

Watch the stack volume

Three drives in a row add up. Set each one's level alone first, then stack, and check the IR-2 isn't clipping into the Mix12FX.