The Manis isn't just another overdrive pedal. It's the closest thing Josh Scott has ever come to the legendary Klon Centaur—and he's been chasing that sound for years.
The Quest for the Clone Sound
Robert Keeley sat down with Josh Scott at JHS Pedals headquarters to discuss their latest release: a pedal that finally nails the iconic tone that's haunted guitarists for decades. But this wasn't a simple copy. It represents years of engineering work, countless iterations, and a deep dive into what made the original so special.
The Manis marks something different than previous attempts. While other companies have tried to replicate the Centaur sound, JHS took a different path—one that led them back to the source material itself.
It's the truest to the clone that we've done.
The History of Chasing a Legend
The story begins in 2016 when Scott and his team started dreaming up ways to capture that distinctive tone. They weren't interested in simply cloning existing designs. Instead, they wanted to find the essence—what made the Klon Centaur tick—and build it from scratch using their own engineering approach.
They spent three days sketching ideas on a dry-erase board, working through various components: tone control sections, clean blend parts, and different ways to shape the overall sound. The goal wasn't just to replicate what everyone else had done with the clone circuit. It was to understand why it worked in the first place.
The result isn't a direct copy. It's something that captures the same magic but adds new dimensions.
How the Manis Works
The pedal features two toggle switches that fundamentally change how it sounds. One controls between different germanium diodes—specifically sourced NOS components that give that warm, vintage character. The other switch selects between different transistor types, each bringing its own harmonic flavor.
When players use both switches together, they can access three distinct paths that create different tonal characteristics. This isn't just about gaining more volume. It's about shaping the very soul of the sound.
The germanium diodes are actual vintage parts—not modern replacements like some other clones use. Scott specifically sought out components that look old because he believes there's a sonic difference between what's genuinely vintage and what's current production.
Why This Matters for Players
For musicians who've used the original Centaur, the Manis offers something familiar yet expanded. The base gain structure hits hard, but when you dial it back, there's an entirely different character waiting in the lower settings.
The circuit creates that famous harmonic resonance everyone chases—the airiness, the three-dimensional quality that seems impossible to achieve with simple aluminum components. The powder-coated enclosure helps with this too, keeping internal vibrations stable.
Robert Keeley noted during the demo that playing through both the original Centaur and the Manis shows how close they've come—and where they pushed forward into new territory.
Bottom Line
The Manis represents JHS Pedals' most authentic take on the Klon Centaur circuit yet. By going back to original germanium components rather than modern substitutes, Scott created something that captures the legendary tone while adding genuine new dimensions. The dual-toggle design gives players unprecedented control over their sound, and the engineering choices reflect years of careful development. For anyone chasing that perfect overdrive, this is the closest JHS has ever gotten—without simply cloning.