"Quickly snatch up the steeply priced Klon clone, the Centaur Overdrive from Behringer's lawsuit period, as it's vanishing rapidly on various platforms for a high price of $2,000."
The Centaur Overdrive Frenzy: Behringer's $69 Klon Centaur Clone
The world's gone bonkers over Behringer's Centaur Drive, a clone of the legendary Klon Centaur overdrive pedal, retailing at a mere $69. The pedal has created such a stir that some sellers are listing it for prices as high as $2,000!
This boundary-pushing release by Behringer, known for their inspirations drawn from classic stompboxes, is an exacting replica of Bill Finnegan's Klon Centaur. The gold metal enclosure, oxblood-colored knobs, and the mythical beast illustration - along with the name 'Centaur' - leave little room for error.
However, things took an interesting turn on May 30th, when Finnegan's company, Klon LLC, sued Behringer's parent company, Music Tribe. Finnegan accused Behringer of blatantly infringing upon specific intellectual property owned by Klon LLC, stating that he had never been consulted or authorized regarding the pedal.
Posting a link to his lawyers' court filing, Finnegan accused Behringer of trademark and trade dress infringement, false advertising, and false designation of origin. The ongoing legal dispute is taking place in a Massachusetts district court.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, the Behringer Centaur Overdrive is still available for purchase. Major retailers like Thomann, Sweetwater, and Andertons have the pedal listed, albeit out of stock, with promises of more units on the way. But the market seems to have a mind of its own, with some sellers listing the drive pedal on eBay for exorbitant prices, such as $1,500 or higher.
It's important to note that while this isn't the first time a stompbox market has heated up, it's safe to say that a drive pedal shouldn't be valued at $2,000. As Joe Bonamassa famously said, "Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it," but even so, there are undeniable limits.
This isn't the first time Bill Finnegan has been dragged into a legal dispute over the Klon Centaur. In the past, other manufacturers have released replicas, but Behringer's version seems to have stepped over an ethical and legal line. The court proceedings are ongoing, with Finnegan sharing updates on his Instagram account @klonllc while the litigation proceeds. Stay tuned for more updates.
- The escalating market value of the Behringer Centaur Overdrive, despite its original retail price of $69, has led to some sellers listing it for as high as $2,000, blurring the lines between technology and entertainment, where gadgets are often considered valuable due to their association with music.
- Amidst the ongoing legal dispute over Behringer's Centaur Overdrive, Bill Finnegan, the creator of the original Klon Centaur, has accused Behringer of infringing upon intellectual property and threatened to further defends his trademarks and design rights, leading to a potential reshaping of technology and music industries in the future.
