I hate to admit it, but I’ve become a little jaded about pedals over the years, especially overdrive pedals. And admittedly, at the rate that EHX pumps out pedals, I tend to not put as much effort in checking out their offerings when I get announcements in email. With respect to the Soul Food, which was released late last year, I did another ho-hum, another EHX pedal…
But that meh turned in an, eh? this afternoon when I happened to be checking out the Holy Grail Max demo on YouTube. I saw the Soul Food demo in the related videos list, and decided to check it out after I watched the Holy Grail Max demo. I sat through all 16 minutes and change completely mesmerized; not by just the sound of the pedal, but by the player playing in it. My curiosity about the pedal brought me to the video, but the playing kept me there. Before I go on, check out the demo. The dude playing is the SHIT!
Apparently, the Soul Food is a part-for-part clone of the Klon, and it’s supposed to sound and feel like a Klon but at a fraction – I mean a small fraction – of the price. With Klon’s selling on eBay for $1500 minimum, at $62, the Soul Food is quite an attractive offering.
Klon Hype
The Klon is sort of a “Dumble” of overdrives. People have hyped about it for years. I’ve personally never played one, and perhaps back when they first came out and sold for $300-$400, I would’ve considered buying one. But at the price they are now, I could get a good amp and be happy. Is it THAT good? Only those who play one can tell. But as with a Dumble, or any gear for that matter, what might sound good to one person, may not sound good to another. For me, at the price I’d have to pay for a Klon, I’ve got enough great gear to keep me for even considering it.
However, $62 isn’t at all a stretch, and after seeing the following head-to-head comparison, makes the Soul Food something I’m putting on my “to-buy” list. Check it out:
This is a great head-to-head comparison. Personally, I think that in most cases, they sound insanely close, though the Klon does seem much richer in low-gain settings. However, that said, the best test would be in a gigging venue where the sound gets a chance to bounce off air molecules. Could be that that is where the Klon shines. It’s the same with a Dumble. Close-miked, it’s hard to tell what’s so special. But when you hear it in an open environment, there is certainly some magic in the tone.
I’ve done a bit of research over the past couple of days; specifically, I was looking for comparisons between the Timmy and the Klon or Soul Food, since the Klon is also touted as a transparent overdrive. In my mind, the only thing that would keep me from getting the Soul Food was if it was truly transparent. I don’t need that; I already have a Timmy. But from what I understand, there is a definite mid-hump color that the Klon/Soul Food introduces, and that is something in which I’m interested. To me, even though the mid-hump suggests something akin to the venerable and most-copied TubeScreamer, it’s a different sound; seemingly a little rounder and fatter than a TS mid-hump.
I’ll be ordering a Soul Food pretty soon. Hehe… You never can have too many overdrive pedals. 🙂
Guitar Gear 
Thanks for posting this Goofy. That’s a great sounding pedal. I could be tempted with one of those particularly at that price.
Some people reviewing it aren’t convinced but It’s got to depend on what amp you are putting it through in the end too.
Yeah, I’ve read TONS of reviews over the course of the last couple of days, and have probably walked the same dirt you have. But to me, it’s close enough (and cheap enough) to warrant a look; and it may not be exactly the same as a Klon, but my feeling is that if it works well on its own, and it’s something that I can gig with regularly, I don’t really care whether or not it sounds the same as a Centaur. Based upon the two videos I posted here, it’s a sound that appeals to me. Now whether or not it’ll fit with my different rigs, we’ll have to see. I have a feeling though that it’ll work GREAT with my vintage Marshall-style amps.
Nice article GoofyDawg. I have a Klon KTR (reissue – or latest iteration). It is a really nice pedal and does seem to add that “special something” –
of course as I type those words, I cringe a little as well.
My setup: Now I play lead guiitar in a country pop band and I use a lot of effects – (compressor, wah, fuzz, distortion, OD, boost, trem, phasor, chorus, 2 delays and reverb and looper). I use all of it (NOT at the same time, mind you) in a given gig.
The klon works really well for me. Use your guitar volume, and you have a nice full clean to a little hair to meaty overdrive that complements your pick attack and damping really well.
The truth is – there are plenty of “klones” out there as well. I have a Monsterpiece STUD (great klone by the way) and frequently swap out the Stud and the Klon from time to time.
I always worry about abuse of the pedal in a gig situation, and look forward to a Soul Food as a backup.
Get one. Nice to have in the arsenal, and cheap enough that you can take the risk a little easier should something go wrong.
Great sounding pedal! Please keep us updated on your impression of it after you get a chance to play with it a bit. I’d love to know how it sounds through something like my little Fender Pro Jr.
All the Prymaxe pedal demonstrations have killer playing. I don’t know who it is but he does some great stuff.
Ya… He’s got incredible technique!
I personally think every pedalboard should have a soul food in it! I’ve been told about the Keeley Klone recently and I was wondering if you’re aware of it. The only review I could find was this https://guitarunited.com/keeley-oxblood-review-kron-killer-the-best-klone/ but I’d also love your feedback. Have you tried it before? How does it compare to the Soul Food?
I haven’t tried it myself, but the Klon Centaur was like a Dumble. Different versions sounded a bit different, so how the Keeley sounds in comparison is highly dependent on what very of the Klon Keeley modeled his pedal after. For me, spending less than 70 bucks is just a great seller. I love my Soul Food, and stacked with my Timmy plus my amp’s front-end overdrive, wow!