I also started with a fuzz, and everyone said 'start with a fuzz pedal' I now think it's probably the worst one to start with - I spent a week trying to get a signal output to find that you need to bias your first transistor correctly ir select the correct hfe for (in my case Q1 of 2 transistor fuzz). What I also found was germanium transistors are in my opinion more hype......the only audible difference and improvement I found has been germanium diodes.
The second thing is that most people on the internet post non working stripboard layouts......I've made countless ones only to find that the layout had been wrong. Specifically to the Klon, pretty important to measure the resistances of your resistors to get them as close to schematic as possible, this includes the pots you use and tone caps. Surprized each time by how big a difference the dual gang gain pot makes if your gangs aren't the same (or pretty close) and close to 100k. You also have to use the S version of the charge pump, the CPA or CPAZ one has a terrible audible wine at about 10khz.......un-usable.
Of all the pedals I've built the klon is truly a great sounding pedal. I'll record it sometime, and to me the clipping is pretty pleasing. Just add that I always use a compressor (studio) and a clean boost pedal before anything in the chain (strymon compadre) which makes a big difference, not much compression on the signal, so I think a clean boost will have the same effect on tone.
A sleeper pedal if you want pleasing clipping is the Ibanez SD9 (can also build that, the Boss OD1, zendrive, various tremolo transistor and vactrol based, reverbs, compressors, delays, 805 OD, voodoolabs od, colorsound od, JHS angry charlie, red lama etc etc) most useful od pedal out of all those had been the SD9, great pedal.....you set the pedal and control your clean to OD with the volume on your guitar.
So yeah, I like to build the circuits if anyone would like one just inbox me and I'll send you the circuit (free) or at cost if you want a fully built pedal. I have extra components so I can send a few to guys who would like one. I found a test done when I finished own design overdrive (the klon sound better) but ill include that audio (i also used reverb and delay in effects loop and the compadre as a boost)
