Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 16 minutes ago
Many guitarists think the Electro-Harmonix Soul Food was the first Klon clone in the pedal market, but they’re mistaken.
Years before EHX dropped their game-changing pedal, there was a secret weapon hiding in plain sight that hardly anyone knew about. And when a certain reverse-engineered schematic hit the DIY forums, it changed everything.
In this deep dive, I’m revealing two forgotten pedals that tell the real story of Klon clones—one that was literally copying the circuit years before anyone cared, and another that fooled entire communities into thinking it was a clone (when it wasn’t even close).
What You’ll Discover:
• The Banzai Cold Fusion: The original Klon clone that nobody talks about
• Why the Zoom Power Drive had everyone convinced it was a clone circuit
• The bizarre gain pot behavior that makes these pedals interact completely different
• Schematic breakdowns that reveal the secret sauce (no engineering degree required)
• Why these type of circuits are so much different than many typical overdrive pedals
The Truth About Klon Clones:
Most players obsess over finding the “perfect” clone, but they’re missing the bigger picture. These forgotten pedals prove that the best sounds often come from the “mistakes” and modifications that make circuits behave differently than intended.
Gear Used:
• Paul Reed Smith HDRX (20-watt Plexi-style amp)
• Banzai Cold Fusion (circa 2002-2003)
• Zoom Power Drive
• Fender Brent Mason Telecaster
Want to Learn Guitar Pedal Circuit Design?
If you’re ready to understand how these circuits actually work and start designing your own pedals, check out my guitar pedal design courses at guitarpedalcourse.com/courses/complete-beginner-s-guide-how-to-design-your-own-guitar-pedal-circuits . I break down complex circuits into simple “Lego blocks” that any guitarist can understand.
Intermediate Guitar Pedal Design:
guitarpedalcourse.com/courses/design-build-guitar-pedals
New to using Guitar Pedals?
guitarpedalcourse.com/courses/the-wampler-blueprint
Want to learn how to incorporate midi into your entire guitar rig for ultimate control?
guitarpedalcourse.com/courses/ultimate-midi-course
Timestamps:
0:00 – The real Klon clone explosion
1:25 – Banzai Cold Fusion: the forgotten original
2:21 – Zoom Power Drive: history and design
4:49 – Gain knob quirks and circuit behavior
6:16 – How part values change the sound
8:12 – Zoom EQ and gain jump explained
9:36 – Pot tapers and practical tweaks
10:05 – Schematic walkthrough: Klon, Banzai, Zoom
13:49 – Blending signals and phase tricks
18:08 – Final thoughts and your questions
Many guitarists think the Electro-Harmonix Soul Food was the first Klon clone in the pedal market, but they’re mistaken.
Years before EHX dropped their game-changing pedal, there was a secret weapon hiding in plain sight that hardly anyone knew about. And when a certain reverse-engineered schematic hit the DIY forums, it changed everything.
In this deep dive, I’m revealing two forgotten pedals that tell the real story of Klon clones—one that was literally copying the circuit years before anyone cared, and another that fooled entire communities into thinking it was a clone (when it wasn’t even close).
What You’ll Discover:
• The Banzai Cold Fusion: The original Klon clone that nobody talks about
• Why the Zoom Power Drive had everyone convinced it was a clone circuit
• The bizarre gain pot behavior that makes these pedals interact completely different
• Schematic breakdowns that reveal the secret sauce (no engineering degree required)
• Why these type of circuits are so much different than many typical overdrive pedals
The Truth About Klon Clones:
Most players obsess over finding the “perfect” clone, but they’re missing the bigger picture. These forgotten pedals prove that the best sounds often come from the “mistakes” and modifications that make circuits behave differently than intended.
Gear Used:
• Paul Reed Smith HDRX (20-watt Plexi-style amp)
• Banzai Cold Fusion (circa 2002-2003)
• Zoom Power Drive
• Fender Brent Mason Telecaster
Want to Learn Guitar Pedal Circuit Design?
If you’re ready to understand how these circuits actually work and start designing your own pedals, check out my guitar pedal design courses at guitarpedalcourse.com/courses/complete-beginner-s-guide-how-to-design-your-own-guitar-pedal-circuits . I break down complex circuits into simple “Lego blocks” that any guitarist can understand.
Intermediate Guitar Pedal Design:
guitarpedalcourse.com/courses/design-build-guitar-pedals
New to using Guitar Pedals?
guitarpedalcourse.com/courses/the-wampler-blueprint
Want to learn how to incorporate midi into your entire guitar rig for ultimate control?
guitarpedalcourse.com/courses/ultimate-midi-course
Timestamps:
0:00 – The real Klon clone explosion
1:25 – Banzai Cold Fusion: the forgotten original
2:21 – Zoom Power Drive: history and design
4:49 – Gain knob quirks and circuit behavior
6:16 – How part values change the sound
8:12 – Zoom EQ and gain jump explained
9:36 – Pot tapers and practical tweaks
10:05 – Schematic walkthrough: Klon, Banzai, Zoom
13:49 – Blending signals and phase tricks
18:08 – Final thoughts and your questions
