Nembrini Audio's Clon Minotaur plugin – a digital recreation of the fabled Klon Centaur – is currently available for free.
Described as a 'transparent' overdrive, the Clon Minotaur – like the Centaur it's modeled on – doesn't color the frequency content of the incoming signal as much as certain other overdrives do.
For example, Tube Screamer-style drives tend to add content to a guitar signal's midrange, whereas the Minotaur keeps the signal flatter across the entire frequency spectrum.
With a set of digitally modeled germanium diodes, the Minotaur's Gain knob – like the Centaur – doesn't simply adjust the amount of clipping – instead it alters the balance of the blend of clean and clipped signals.
Designed by Bill Finnegan in the early-'90s, the Klon Centaur quickly gained a legendary reputation for its transparent sound, however it was discontinued in 2009. It remains a highly sought-after pedal, often commanding prices upwards of $3,000.
JHS Pedals owner Josh Scott recently announced he was selling the first-ever Klon Centaur for $500,000.
The Clon Minotaur is available now for free. To get yours, head over to Nembrini Audio and create an account.
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Sam was Staff Writer at GuitarWorld.com from 2019 to 2023, and also created content for Total Guitar, Guitarist and Guitar Player. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar.