The Chevtone Effects Honeyburst is a handmade overdrive and boost pedal from the UK, built around bufferless TS-style circuits that its designer expanded rather than copied outright. It sits in the territory shared by overdrive pedals and boost pedals, and its defining feature is a clipping mode toggle that switches between germanium, silicon and LED diodes, giving one pedal several distinct drive characters1.
The Chevtone Effects Honeyburst is a hand-built overdrive pedal built around three clipping options: a toggle switch selects germanium, silicon or LED clipping diodes, which changes how the drive compresses and saturates. Chevtone describes it as a super versatile overdrive that can go from transparent light drive to an almost fuzzy saturated drive with that squishy vintage feel1.
The controls: Vol, Tang and Sweet
The Honeyburst keeps its control set short and clearly labeled, with one addition that sets it apart from the TS pedals it draws on1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Vol | Volume control1 |
| Tang | Gain, or drive1 |
| Sweet | Tone control1 |
| Mode toggle | Selects germanium, silicon or LED clipping diodes1 |
The clipping toggle is where the pedal's range comes from. Chevtone's circuit implements germanium, silicon and LED clipping diodes, and the designer describes the intent as a super versatile overdrive that could go from transparent light drive to an almost fuzzy saturated drive with that squishy vintage feel1. At the fuzzy end of that range it brushes against fuzz pedals territory while staying an overdrive at heart.
Circuit, build and versions
The Honeyburst is influenced by the famous bufferless TS-style circuits, but as its designer put it, "I was influenced by the famous bufferless TS-style circuits, but saw an opportunity to expand the circuit's structure"1. Being bufferless matters to players who want their pedalboard's tone untouched when the pedal is off, and it distinguishes the Honeyburst from buffered TS-style designs.
The pedal has gone through more than one build style. Earlier versions used top end modern components and vintage caps and diodes on bespoke modern PCBs, along with a vintage tagboard design. The current versions are a mix of SMD and through-hole components at a more budget-friendly price1.
Earlier and current Honeyburst versions differ in components and price. If you are buying secondhand on Reverb, the version you find may not match the current build.
Physically it comes in a painted box with a subtle honeycomb pattern, top-mounted sockets and bright orange knobs1.
Power and connectivity
The Honeyburst runs on a 9V PSU only, with no battery option. Connectivity is input, output and power1.
There is no battery compartment, so plan for a 9V power supply on your board.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's 2023 review was positive across the board. The reviewer's verdict: "The Honeyburst looks brilliant, works for a surprising number of applications and sounds great for all of them."1
Availability and price
As of the 2023 review, the Honeyburst was only available via Reverb, with a price of around £100 GBP1. As a small hand-built operation, Chevtone does not sell through the usual retail channels.
Videos
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Questions
Does the Chevtone Honeyburst take a battery?
No. The Honeyburst runs on a 9V power supply only, with no battery option. Connectivity is input, output and power, so you will need a 9V PSU to use it on a pedalboard.
Is the Chevtone Honeyburst based on a Tube Screamer?
It draws on the famous bufferless TS-style circuits, but it is not a straight copy. Chevtone's designer said he saw an opportunity to expand the circuit's structure, and the Honeyburst adds a clipping mode toggle with germanium, silicon and LED diodes that a standard TS-style pedal does not have.
Where can you buy the Chevtone Honeyburst?
As of the 2023 MusicRadar review, the Honeyburst was only available via Reverb, the online marketplace for new and used gear.
Where is the Chevtone Honeyburst made?
The Honeyburst is handmade in the UK. Chevtone Effects was founded by Adam Yeomans around May 2020 to build hand-built, vintage inspired pedals with a modern look.
What do the Vol, Tang and Sweet knobs do?
Vol is the volume control, Tang is the gain or drive control, and Sweet is the tone control. Alongside them, a Mode toggle switch selects between germanium, silicon and LED clipping diodes.
Sources (1)
- Chevtone Effects Honeyburst Overdrive pedal review, MusicRadar, 2023-05-23