Jed's Pedals is plain about what the comparison means: "There is no endorsement or approval from any manufacturer and this information is for comparison only"1. For a ready-built take on the same circuit, GUP Tech sells the GUP Tech Torch HM-2 Clone, "our tribute to the classic Boss HM-2 distortion"2, and Boss's own pedal is covered on the Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal page. Jed's Pedals also makes ready-built pedals such as the Jed's Pedals Wild Boar and Jed's Pedals Box of Crunchies, and the LeadBanger sits in the wider field of distortion pedals.
What the HM-2 circuit brings
The kit's appeal, as Jed's Pedals tells it, is the sound the HM-2 circuit delivers. On the LeadBanger page, the maker puts it plainly: "Does it chug - oh god yes! You know it!"1. The kit needs 4 knobs, and Jed's Pedals suggests you get skinny ones1.
Kit options, from bare PCB to pre-built
The LeadBanger is sold in six options, each adding parts to the last1:
| Option | What you get |
|---|---|
| PCB Only | Just the plain PCB |
| PCB & Components | PCB, onboard components and any pots and toggle switches |
| PCB & Components and off board parts | As above, plus off-board parts |
| Full Kit | As above, with an undrilled enclosure |
| Full Kit & Drilling | As above, with a drilled enclosure: "Drilling includes all the holes for a complete pedal." |
| Pre Built Kit | Jed's Pedals builds the kit for you |
On the Pre Built Kit, you must add your knobs from the knob section or it will come without any1.
Building it and the maker's terms
A few points from the maker's page matter before you order1:
- You will need 4 knobs for this kit; the maker suggests skinny ones.
- The PCB layout is well designed but tight because of the parts count, and the resistors need to stand up as shown.
- The pedal fits the JP125B case, with the PCB spaced for PCB-mounted pots.
- Pre-built kits carry a 12 month repair warranty: "should a fault be developed I will repair it."
- There are no returns accepted on pre-built kits.
Questions
Does the Jed's Pedals LeadBanger come already built?
Only if you choose the Pre Built Kit option, in which case Jed's Pedals builds the kit for you. Even then you must add your own knobs from the maker's knob section, or the pedal arrives without any. Pre-built units carry a 12 month repair warranty, but the maker accepts no returns on them.
What is included in the LeadBanger Full Kit?
The Full Kit adds an enclosure to the parts below it on the option list, but the enclosure is undrilled. If you want the holes already made, the Full Kit & Drilling option supplies a drilled enclosure with all the holes needed for a complete pedal. You will still need four knobs, and the maker suggests skinny ones.
Does the LeadBanger kit come with a drilled enclosure?
Not on the standard Full Kit, which comes with an undrilled enclosure. The Full Kit & Drilling option is the one that includes a drilled enclosure: drilling covers all the holes for a complete pedal.
Which enclosure fits the LeadBanger?
Jed's Pedals says the LeadBanger fits in one of its JP125B cases. The PCB is spaced for PCB-mounted pots, and the layout is tight because of the parts count, so resistors need to stand up as shown on the maker's build instructions.
Can I return a pre-built LeadBanger?
No. Jed's Pedals states there are no returns accepted on pre-built kits. Instead, the maker gives a 12 month repair warranty, so if a fault develops the maker will repair it.
Sources (2)
- LeadBanger, Jed's Pedals (jedspeds.co.uk)
- Torch HM-2 Clone, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
