The Behringer Centaur Overdrive is a Behringer overdrive pedal, currently around $299. Close alternatives include the One Control Bjfe in your hand series Shades and the Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive. It pairs well with the Marshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo and the Fender Prosonic.
Behringer Centaur Overdrive
Behringer · pedal
The Behringer Centaur is a transparent overdrive pedal based on the legendary Klon Centaur circuit, one of the most revered and widely cloned overdrive designs in guitar history. The Centaur circuit uses a charge pump to double internal voltage and a dual-gang blend pot to combine a clean signal with treble-boosted clipped harmonics, producing a unique, organic drive that preserves picking dynamics and cleans up naturally with guitar volume. Suited for blues, classic rock, and country styles, the Centaur voicing adds presence and harmonic richness without coloring the base tone. The Behringer version makes the Klon topology accessible at entry-level pricing.
What stands out
“Suited for blues, classic rock, and country styles, the Centaur voicing adds presence and harmonic richness”
— from the listing
“Transparent, dynamically responsive overdrive with smooth, organic harmonic character -- preserving the original signal while layering in harmonic richness from the Klon circuit topology”
— from the community notes
“Dynamics tracking is excellent: rolling back the guitar volume brings a convincing edge-of-clean tone”
— from the reviews
“The low-to-medium gain range is particularly effective, adding harmonic presence”
— from the reviews
“The Centaur circuit uses a charge pump to double internal voltage and a dual-gang blend pot to combine a clean signal with treble-boosted clipped harmonics, producing a unique, organic drive that preserves picking dynamics and cleans up nat…”
— from the listing
- harmonic richness
- overdrive
- presence
- classic rock
- transparent
- dynamic
- country
- clean boost
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Behringer Centaur Overdrive is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Blues
- Country
- Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Behringer Centaur Overdrive
Marshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo
Marshall
27% matchMarshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo leans this transparent tone toward low gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
Run Fender Prosonic after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Comes later in the signal chain
Ampeg V-4
Ampeg
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Ampeg V-4 brings a pull toward mid-forward that's missing
Marshall Vintage Modern 2466
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Blackstar Unity Bass U250
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Blackstar Unity Bass U250 leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Ampeg BA 108
Ampeg
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Ampeg BA 108 leans this transparent tone toward mid-forward, which it doesn't make on its own
Blackstar Series One 200
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Blackstar Series One 200 leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the Behringer Centaur Overdrive
Beetronics Overhive
Beetronics
25% matchInto a transparent tone, Beetronics Overhive brings a pull toward medium gain that's missing
Boss OD-1 Overdrive
Boss
24% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Where this leans bright, Boss OD-1 Overdrive answers back smooth
Mooer Trelicopter
Mooer
23% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Mooer Trelicopter after Behringer Centaur Overdrive in the signal chain, clear of Behringer Centaur Overdrive's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
SahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor
Sahbro Audio
22% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
SahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor's own compressed character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Fable
Walrus Audio
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Walrus Audio Fable after Behringer Centaur Overdrive in the signal chain, clear of Behringer Centaur Overdrive's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
T-Rex Junior Roomate
T Rex
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
T-Rex Junior Roomate's warm voice goes after Behringer Centaur Overdrive in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Behringer Centaur Overdrive's own harmonically rich character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans bright, Dunlop Echoplex Preamp answers back smooth
Source Audio L.A. Lady
Source Audio
tonal matchSource Audio L.A. Lady leans this transparent tone toward low gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Cheaper alternatives
Keeley Klon Centaur-Style Overdrive
Keeley
61% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, overdrive
Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion
Behringer
59% similarityShared character: high gain settings, tight tracking, boost
Catalinbread SuperCharged Overdrive
Catalinbread
56% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, transparent
EarthQuaker Devices Chelsea
EarthQuaker Devices
53% similarityShared character: presence, treble, classic rock
Tone City Holy Aura
Tone City
53% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, presence
Crazy Tube Circuits Clean Little Secret
Crazy Tube Circuits
53% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, presence
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
One Control Bjfe in your hand series Shades
One Control
55% similaritySimilar voicing: harmonically rich
Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive
Greer
54% similarityShared character: boost, presence, transparent
Fulltone OCD V2
Fulltone
52% similarityShared character: high gain settings, transparent, classic rock
Strymon Riverside
Strymon
51% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, transparent
Hermida Zendrive
Hermida
94% similaritysimilar tone character
TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive
TC Electronic
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Behringer Centaur Overdrive (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Behringer Centaur Overdrive?+
The closest matches in character are the One Control Bjfe in your hand series Shades, the Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive, the Fulltone OCD V2. Budget picks: Keeley Klon Centaur-Style Overdrive, Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion, Catalinbread SuperCharged Overdrive.
What pairs well with the Behringer Centaur Overdrive?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo, Fender Prosonic, Ampeg V-4 — Marshall Studio JTM ST20C MkII 20W 1x12 Combo leans this transparent tone toward low gain, which it doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Behringer Centaur Overdrive cost?+
Around $299 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).