Acorn Amps Artax Overdrive Pedal

The Acorn Amps Artax is a faithful, handmade take on one of the most talked-about overdrive circuits in guitar history: the legendary Klon-style transparent overdrive. Built by Acorn Amplifiers in Atlanta, Georgia, it gives players access to that coveted overdrive sound without the collector-market price tags that surround the original pedal. The Artax is inspired by the original circuit and is not made by or affiliated with Klon.

What Makes a Klon-Style Overdrive Special?

Klon-style overdrives became famous for their transparent character. Rather than coloring your sound heavily, they add gain, warmth, and a touch of mid-range push while leaving your guitar and amp's personality intact. Players often describe them as making their rig sound like itself, only better. That transparency is why the circuit has become a fixture on pedalboards for blues, rock, country, worship, and everything in between.

How Players Use This Style of Overdrive

Klon-style pedals are versatile, which is a big part of their appeal. Common approaches include:

• As a boost: push the front end of an amp that's already near breakup for extra sustain and volume on solos.
• As a low-gain drive: add a touch of grit to a clean amp while keeping your pick dynamics.
• As a stacking partner: run it ahead of a distortion or fuzz to tighten and focus the signal, or after one to add clarity and push.
• As an always-on tone enhancer: leave it engaged at low settings to add richness to your core sound.

The exact range of any individual pedal depends on its controls and your rig, and the Artax is no exception. Pairing it with your own guitar and amp is the best way to hear what it does for your tone, and our team is happy to talk through how it might fit your setup.

Pairing It With Your Guitar and Amp

Klon-style overdrives interact with the rest of your rig, so results vary. With single-coil guitars they often add body and mid-range thickness, while with humbuckers they can add definition and clarity rather than mud. Into a clean amp they provide a light, touch-sensitive drive, and into an amp that's already near breakup they act like a boost. Playing with your guitar's volume knob is a great way to hear how the pedal responds, since transparent overdrives typically clean up when you roll the volume back.

Features at a Glance

• Faithful, handmade version of the famous Klon-style overdrive circuit
• Built by Acorn Amplifiers in Atlanta, Georgia
• Boutique, hand-built construction at a fraction of the price of the original

Who the Artax Is For

The Artax is a natural fit for guitarists who have been curious about Klon-style overdrive but can't or won't pay collector prices for the original. It suits blues, classic rock, country, Americana, and worship players who value touch sensitivity and a transparent drive, and it's an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a dependable, always-on overdrive to improve their basic tone. Beginners and professionals alike can benefit, since the real work is done by your hands and your amp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Artax a Klon? No. It's a handmade pedal from Acorn Amplifiers inspired by the well-known Klon-style overdrive circuit. It is not made by or affiliated with Klon.

Where is it made? Acorn Amplifiers builds its pedals in Atlanta, Georgia.

What kind of music is it good for? Klon-style overdrives are popular for blues, rock, country, and Americana, though they work well with just about any style that benefits from a transparent drive.

Can I stack it with other pedals? Yes. This style of overdrive is commonly stacked with other drives, fuzzes, and boosts.

Where should it go in my signal chain? Overdrives usually go early in the chain, after any wah or compressor and before modulation, delay, and reverb. If you use other drives, try the Artax both before and after them to see which order you prefer.

Does Town Center Music ship this pedal? Yes. Orders over $100 ship free.

Buy the Artax at Town Center Music

Town Center Music has been serving musicians in Suwanee, Duluth, Cumming, Johns Creek, Buford, and Sugar Hill since 2012. We've earned many five-star Google reviews, and we take pride in serving customers of all ages and stages of musical ability, from beginners to professionals. Stop by our shop at 4072 Suwanee Dam Rd NW in Suwanee, Georgia, or reach out to our team with any questions about the Artax Overdrive and how it fits your pedalboard.