The Klon before or after bluesbreaker debate isn’t just pedal-nerd trivia. By this point, it’s practically a religious discussion in guitar circles.
The Klon Bluesbreaker combo has become a holy grail pairing for players searching for that unreachable “just right” overdrive tone that sits perfectly in a band mix.
But it’s no joke. Pedal order matters significantly.
It can dramatically change your sound if you place your Klon before your Bluesbreaker or vice versa.
But what makes stacking debates like this so fascinating to me, is that there’s no universally correct answer. It 100% depends on your playing style, the gear you use, and the music you play.
Table of Contents
What Are These Pedals?
The Klon
The Klon Centaur was created by Bill Finnegan in the early ’90s and has achieved near-mythical status.
What makes the Klon special is its transparent overdrive character that improves and sweetens rather than colors your tone. The Klon has a unique buffer circuit, a distinctive mid-hump, and a “charge pump” that creates higher internal voltages for loads of headroom.
Sadly, the Klon is a mythical pedal today, as you won’t find one. Except maybe for a ridiculously high price tag on the second-hand market. The story is that Finnegan struggled to meet the high demand. After making roughly 8,000 units [1], the Klon was discontinued in 2008.
Today, most players go for the KTR (Finnegan’s modern reissue) or one of the countless “Klones” like the Tumnus, Soul Food, or Archer.
The Bluesbreaker
The Marshall Bluesbreaker pedal was inspired by the famous Marshall JTM45 “Bluesbreaker” combo amp that Eric Clapton used on the “Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton” album.
In that time, it’s developed a loyal following for its smooth, responsive overdrive that reacts beautifully to playing dynamics. It’s warm, slightly compressed, and decidedly British-sounding gain.
There are a few modern interpretations of the Bluesbreaker, such as the Analogman King of Tone, JHS Morning Glory, and Snouse BlackBox.
If you’re interested in the Bluesdriver, check out our article Bluesbreaker vs Blues Driver.
Why These Two Play So Well Together
The Klon and Bluesbreaker combo has become the peanut butter and jelly of boutique overdrive stacking for one simple reason: they complement each other perfectly:
The Klon brings clarity, definition, and that magical midrange push.
The Bluesbreaker offers a touch-sensitive response and a more traditional overdrive character.
Together, they create a gain structure that maintains note separation even with high gain settings.
It’s like the Klon handles the “cut through the mix” duties while the Bluesbreaker gives your tone the warm foundations.
The result is a Bluesbreaker Klon stack that somehow manages to sound vintage and modern at the same time.
Option 1: Klon Before Bluesbreaker
This configuration is my preferred approach and, from what I see, the preferred approach for a lot of other players.
I love the sound of other drive pedals getting hit with the mid-push of a Klon. I especially love this when Klon’s gain is set quite high (around one or two o’clock).
When you place your Klon before your Bluesbreaker, you’re pre-shaping your signal before it hits the second gain stage. The Klon’s characteristic midrange emphasis and slight compression create a more focused tone that then gets pushed into the Bluesbreaker’s softer, more open gain structure.
The result is a remarkably articulate overdrive that maintains note definition even at higher gain settings. It’s one of those “everything sounds better” tones that make your guitar’s tone shine through while still delivering satisfying grit and sustain.
This setup works particularly well when you:
- Need better cut-through in a dense mix
- Want more saturation without losing pick attack
- Are playing with single coils that need more body
- Desire an “always on” foundation with the option to kick in more gain
For me, at least, the Klon provides a rich, slightly compressed signal that hits the Bluesbreaker’s circuit in a way that improves its natural characteristics.
Option 2: Bluesbreaker Before Klon
Perhaps not the most popular order, but this “slightly” alternative arrangement has its passionate supporters.
Although I don’t have this set up on my pedalboard (right now), I like to use the Bluesbreaker into Klon when I’m using the Klon as a clean boost. Volume up, gain low, and a bit of flavor on the tone (about 2 o’clock).
When your Bluesbreaker hits first, it establishes a warm, dynamic foundation. Your playing dynamics create that touch-sensitive, slightly compressed overdrive character that vintage Marshall amps are famous for. The Klon then acts as a bit of a tonal magnifying glass, highlighting the harmonic content already generated while adding its signature midrange presence.
This order is particularly effective when:
- You want a more “amp-like” response to your picking dynamics
- You’re using the Klon primarily as a clean boost rather than for its gain
- You need that final push to make solos jump out
- You’re playing through an already bright amp that doesn’t need additional front-end bite
The Bluesbreaker creates harmonic complexity through its softer clipping section, and the Klon’s buffer (the original had one) and gain structure amplifies those harmonics rather than generating new ones.
When to Use Each Configuration
The “right” order depends entirely on what you’re trying to accomplish tonally. Here are some basic guidelines for if you’re still trying to decide between putting your Klon before or after Bluesbreaker:
When Klon Before Bluesbreaker Shines
- When you’re playing with a band and need to slice through a dense mix
- If you’re using single coils that could use some midrange help
- When your amp is on the darker side (like a Fender Deluxe Reverb with the tone rolled back)
- If you’re going for that John Mayer-esque “edge of breakup but still articulate” sound
When Bluesbreaker Before Klon Makes More Sense
- When playing with a naturally bright amp (like a Vox AC30)
- If you want more amp-like response to your picking dynamics
- When you’re using the Klon primarily as a clean boost for solos
- If you’re playing with humbuckers that already have plenty of midrange
Gain settings dramatically influence which order works best. With lower gain settings on both pedals, the differences are subtle. Crank them both past noon, though, and the character shift becomes dramatic.
Creative Applications
Beyond the straightforward stacking options, here are some ideas you can use to open up some creative possibilities with the Klon and Bluesbreaker:
The Global Tone Shaper Approach
Set your Klon with just a little gain but healthy output and treble, then place it at the very end of your chain. This transforms it from an overdrive into “an EQ with attitude” that shapes your entire signal path.
The Tonal Sandwich
Place a Klon between two sides of a dual overdrive, or a King of Tone if you have one (it’s essentially two Bluesbreakers in one box). Doing this is like having three distinct voices with laods of tone combinations.
The Fender/Marshall Hybrid
Use this stack to achieve that elusive “Fender clean, Marshall drive” tone. The Klon provides the midrange push that Fender amps sometimes lack, while the Bluesbreaker delivers that British chime when pushed.
Klon and Bluesbreaker Recommendations
If you’re looking to explore the Klon before or after Bluesbreaker combo without breaking the bank, here are some stellar options:
Klone Clones That Work Great With Bluesbreakers
- Wampler Tumnus Deluxe
- J. Rockett Archer (you’ll find this one on Jeff Beck’s pedalboard)
- EHX Soul Food
- Ryra The Klone (this is the one I use)
Bluesbreaker-Style Pedals That Complement Klons
- JHS Morning Glory V4
- Snouse BlackBox 2
- Keeley 1962x or Blues Disorder
- Marshall Bluesbreaker (this is a reissue)
The “Both-In-One” Solution:
- Nordvang 83 Drive – Features both circuits with an order-switching toggle
- Jackson Audio Golden Boy – Offers Klon and Bluesbreaker-inspired modes in one enclosure
It’s interesting that more builders seem to be incorporating order-switching capabilities directly into their pedals. This is great, as it allows players to experiment with both configurations.
It Goes Beyond the “Right” Order
Ultimately, the Klon before or after the Bluesbreaker question isn’t just about gear nerdery. It’s about sculpting your tone and finding that sweet spot where your hands and gear work together to create something awesome.
There is no universal right answer, only the right answer for you in your current musical context.
Sometimes, the Klon leads the charge, pushing your Bluesbreaker into velvet saturation. Other times, the Bluesbreaker sets the foundation while the Klon adds that final sparkle and push.
The beautiful thing about the bluesbreaker klon stack is its versatility. These pedals have earned their legendary status precisely because they play so nicely with others—including each other.
Try flipping your current setup around. Spend time in the opposite configuration. You might just find that the “wrong” way unlocks something magical in your playing. And isn’t that discovery what this whole gear journey is about?
FAQs
Does the Klon go before or after the other drives?
Most guitarists place the Klon before other drives to shape the tone and add midrange before hitting subsequent pedals. However, some prefer placing it after drives when using it primarily as a clean boost.
Does John Mayer use a Blues Breaker?
Yes, John Mayer has frequently used Blues Breaker-style pedals in his signal chain. He’s known to use the Analogman King of Tone (a dual Blues Breaker circuit) alongside Klon-type pedals to achieve his signature edge-of-breakup tone that balances clarity with warmth.
Where do you put the Klon pedal?
The Klon pedal is most commonly placed early in the signal chain, typically after wah/filter pedals but before other overdrives. This positioning allows its buffer and midrange characteristics to shape your entire tone.
