A Bite of History and Introduction to Soul Food
The quest for the perfect overdrive tone is a never-ending journey for guitarists. Some chase boutique pedals costing hundreds, even thousands, of dollars, while others search for diamonds in the rough – affordable options that deliver a surprising amount of sonic satisfaction. Enter the Electro-Harmonix Soul Food, an overdrive pedal that has sparked considerable debate and enthusiasm in the guitar community. Is it a genuine Klon Centaur killer on a budget, or just another overdrive pedal with a clever marketing angle? This comprehensive review delves into the Soul Food’s features, sound, and overall value to help you decide if it deserves a place on your pedalboard. We’ll explore the nuances of this pedal to give a definitive answer to whether it really can stand toe-to-toe with the highly sought after Klon Centaur.
Electro-Harmonix, a company renowned for its innovative and often quirky effects pedals, released the Soul Food to a market clamoring for affordable overdrive solutions. Its arrival was immediately met with speculation and excitement. The pedal’s lineage was, from the beginning, strongly associated with the legendary Klon Centaur, an overdrive pedal celebrated for its transparent boost and subtle, yet powerful, coloration. The original Klon Centaur, produced in limited quantities by Bill Finnegan, commanded astronomical prices on the used market, effectively making it inaccessible to the vast majority of guitarists. The Soul Food, with its significantly lower price point, offered a tantalizing prospect: a taste of that coveted Klon sound without breaking the bank.
Features and Anatomy of the Soul Food
The Electro-Harmonix Soul Food is housed in a compact, sturdy enclosure typical of EHX pedals. It’s a simple and unassuming design. The pedal’s interface is equally straightforward, featuring three control knobs: Drive, Volume, and Treble. The Drive knob governs the amount of overdrive, ranging from a clean boost with a slight edge to a medium-gain distortion. The Volume knob controls the overall output level, allowing you to boost your signal for solos or compensate for any perceived volume drop when the pedal is engaged. The Treble knob acts as a tone control, shaping the high-frequency content of the signal. It’s a versatile control that can darken the sound or add extra sparkle, depending on your amp and guitar.
One crucial feature that sets the Soul Food apart from many other overdrive pedals is its switchable bypass mode. You can choose between true bypass, which completely removes the pedal from the signal chain when disengaged, or buffered bypass, which utilizes a buffer circuit to maintain signal strength and prevent tone loss, especially when using long cable runs. This flexibility is a significant advantage, allowing you to tailor the pedal’s behavior to your specific rig and playing preferences. The pedal requires a standard nine-volt DC power supply, adding to its convenience.
Exploring the Sonic Palette and Performance
The Electro-Harmonix Soul Food is known for its versatility in terms of sound. The pedal excels as a clean boost when the Drive knob is set to its minimum. In this mode, it adds subtle warmth and sparkle to your tone, enhancing your guitar’s natural character without drastically altering it. It’s a fantastic tool for pushing a tube amp into natural overdrive or adding a touch of clarity to your signal. As the Drive knob is gradually increased, the Soul Food transitions into a light overdrive, providing a pleasing grit and sustain that’s perfect for blues, classic rock, and indie styles.
At higher Drive settings, the pedal delivers a medium overdrive that’s suitable for more aggressive rock tones. It maintains a clear and defined character, avoiding the muddiness that can plague some overdrive pedals. The EQ characteristics of the Soul Food are generally balanced. The Treble control is particularly effective, allowing you to fine-tune the high-frequency content to match your amp and guitar. It can be used to cut through a mix or to tame excessive brightness.
The Soul Food’s dynamic response is another notable aspect. It reacts well to playing dynamics, responding with greater intensity to harder picking and cleaning up nicely when you roll back your guitar’s volume knob. This responsiveness allows for expressive playing, where you can control the level of overdrive with your picking hand alone. It’s a very satisfying pedal for those who like to work with the dynamics of their amplifier.
The Soul Food also shines when stacked with other pedals. It can be used to boost a distortion pedal for added sustain and gain or to add a layer of warmth and clarity to a fuzz pedal. Its placement in the signal chain is crucial. Many guitarists prefer to place it before other overdrive or distortion pedals to push them into higher gain territories. Others use it after dirt pedals to shape the overall tone and add a final layer of polish.
Soul Food vs. Klon: Addressing the Elephant in the Room
The comparison between the Electro-Harmonix Soul Food and the Klon Centaur is unavoidable. The Klon Centaur has achieved legendary status among guitarists and is considered by many to be the holy grail of overdrive pedals. Its reputation is based on its transparent boost, subtle coloration, and unique ability to enhance the natural tone of your guitar and amp. The problem with the Klon Centaur is its rarity and exorbitant price.
The Soul Food aims to capture some of that Klon magic at a fraction of the cost. While it’s not a perfect clone – and EHX never claimed it was – it shares some similarities in terms of its overall tonal character. It offers a similar transparent boost and a subtle overdrive that doesn’t drastically alter your guitar’s inherent sound. However, there are also differences. Some players describe the Soul Food as being slightly brighter and more aggressive than the Klon. The Klon is often described as having a smoother and more refined character. The way it feels under the fingers when you’re playing is slightly different. Whether these differences are significant enough to justify the price difference is a matter of personal opinion.
The Soul Food’s value proposition is undeniable. It provides a versatile overdrive tone that’s suitable for a wide range of musical styles at a price that’s accessible to most guitarists. While it may not perfectly replicate the nuances of the Klon Centaur, it offers a compelling alternative for those who can’t afford the real deal. Its a useful pedal for someone trying to emulate the iconic sound.
Use Cases and Notable Players
Many guitarists, both amateur and professional, have embraced the Electro-Harmonix Soul Food. Its versatility makes it suitable for a variety of musical genres, including blues, rock, indie, and country. It’s often used to push a tube amp into natural overdrive, adding sustain and clarity to solos, or thickening rhythm parts. Session players often have these on hand.
While specific endorsements are hard to definitively confirm, many touring musicians and gigging players have been seen with the Soul Food on their boards. Its low cost and reliable build make it an attractive option for those who need a dependable overdrive pedal without breaking the bank. It is easily replaceable if lost, stolen, or broken.
The Good and The Not-So-Good
Let’s break down the advantages and disadvantages of the Electro-Harmonix Soul Food:
Pros:
Affordable: The price is a major selling point.
Versatile: Covers a wide range of overdrive tones.
Switchable Bypass: Offers flexibility for different setups.
Good Build Quality: Sturdy construction for the price.
Cons:
Not a Perfect Klon Clone: May not satisfy purists seeking the exact Klon sound.
Potential Noise: Can be noisy at higher gain settings.
Bright Treble: The Treble control can be overly bright for some setups.
Other Considerations: Alternatives in the Overdrive Realm
If the Soul Food doesn’t quite fit your needs, there are other overdrive pedals in a similar price range to consider. The Ibanez TS9 and TS808 Tube Screamers are classic options known for their mid-humped tone and smooth overdrive. The MXR Sugar Drive is another Klon-inspired pedal that offers a similar transparent boost. The Wampler Tumnus Mini is a more compact and refined Klon-style overdrive. The JHS Morning Glory V4 is a versatile overdrive with a wide range of gain settings. Each of these pedals offers a different flavor of overdrive, so it’s worth exploring your options to find the perfect match for your playing style and gear.
Final Verdict: A Solid Option for Overdrive Seekers
The Electro-Harmonix Soul Food is a compelling overdrive pedal that offers a lot of value for the price. Its versatility, switchable bypass, and good build quality make it a worthy addition to any pedalboard. While it may not be a perfect Klon Centaur clone, it provides a taste of that sought-after transparent overdrive sound at a fraction of the cost. The Soul Food is particularly well-suited for guitarists seeking a versatile overdrive that can be used for a variety of musical styles. It’s an excellent choice for those on a budget or for those who want to experiment with different overdrive tones without committing to a high-end pedal. If you’re in the market for an affordable and versatile overdrive, the Electro-Harmonix Soul Food is definitely worth checking out. Its a solid addition to any guitar pedal collection, from beginners to experts.
