The Jed's Pedals Shakes is a fuzz pedal from the UK maker Jed's Pedals, sold as a DIY-friendly PCB and kit as well as a pre-built pedal. The maker sums it up simply: "Shakes is all about the fuzz." Its distinguishing feature is a bias control that starves the circuit of voltage, opening up a range of fuzz voices from gated velcro fuzz to open modern sounds1. The Shakes is now out of production, so it turns up only from second-hand and leftover stock1.
Controls
The Shakes carries the standard three fuzz controls plus the bias knob that sets it apart1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz | Fuzz amount, doing what you would expect1 |
| Tone | Tone shaping, doing what you would expect1 |
| Volume | Output level, doing what you would expect1 |
| Bias | Starves the circuit of voltage, opening up different fuzz voices from gated velcro fuzz to open modern sounds; the maker calls it the most important control1 |
"Its bias which starves the circuit of voltage therefore opening up an array of" different fuzz voices, the maker's product page explains, running from "gated velcro fuzz to open modern sounds"1.
Versions and what you get
The Shakes was offered in several forms, from a bare board to a finished pedal1.
| Version | What it includes |
|---|---|
| PCB Only | Just the plain PCB1 |
| PCB & Components | PCB, onboard components and any pots and toggle switches1 |
| Full Kit | As above, with undrilled enclosure and off-board components (foot switch, jacks, 9v, LED)1 |
| Full Kit & Drilling | Full kit with drilled enclosure1 |
| Pre-built | A pre-built kit with no knobs, built to order1 |
A few details worth knowing before buying into the used market:
- Pre-drilled kits came with the option of side or top mounted jacks and power1.
- Drilling was an optional extra for the Full Kit, with a small surcharge, and covered all the holes needed for a complete pedal1.
- The board is spaced for right angled pots, which the maker says gives a nice neat finish in the JP125B enclosure it fits inside1.
- The kit design is DIY friendly, with a detailed PDF build guide, top quality parts and a build support forum1.
The pre-built option was built to order and, because the kit was then no longer a kit, no returns were accepted. Jed's Pedals did offer a 12 month warranty on pre-built items: "We do offer a 12 month warranty though so if it develops a fault then please get in touch"1.
Where it sits
Jed's Pedals states that the Shakes kit compares to EarthQuaker Devices' Dirt Transmitter1, which places it among the biased-fuzz style circuits where voltage starvation is the main voicing tool. Players interested in the maker's other fuzz designs can look at the Jed's Pedals Bittern Fuzz and Jed's Pedals Baby Yoda, or the maker's Head Honcho kit. For the wider category, see the site's guide to Fuzz Pedals.
Questions
Is the Jed's Pedals Shakes still in production?
No. Jed's Pedals describes the Shakes as a now out of production pedal. It was sold through the maker's own site as a PCB only, a PCB with components, a full kit, a full kit with a drilled enclosure, or a pre-built pedal, so any unit a player finds second hand was made during the pedal's production run.
What does the bias knob on the Shakes do?
The bias control starves the fuzz circuit of voltage, which the maker calls the pedal's most important control. Turning it opens up an array of different fuzz voices, ranging from a gated velcro fuzz at one end to open modern sounds at the other, alongside the standard fuzz, tone and volume controls.
Which pedal is the Shakes compared to?
Jed's Pedals states that the Shakes kit compares to EarthQuaker Devices' Dirt Transmitter. That comparison comes from the maker's own product page, which describes the Shakes as being all about the fuzz.
What enclosure does the Shakes fit?
The Shakes circuit board fits inside the JP125B enclosure. The board is spaced for right angled pots, which the maker says gives a nice neat finish, and pre-drilled kits could be ordered with side or top mounted jacks and power.
Is the Shakes a DIY kit or a finished pedal?
Both. Jed's Pedals sold the Shakes as a plain PCB, a PCB with onboard components and pots, a full kit with an undrilled enclosure and off-board parts, a full kit with drilling, or as a pre-built pedal built to order with no knobs and no returns accepted.
Does the pre-built Shakes have a warranty?
Yes. Jed's Pedals offered a 12 month warranty on pre-built items, so if a pre-built Shakes developed a fault the maker asked buyers to get in touch. Pre-built pedals were built to order and no returns were accepted.
Sources (1)
- Shakes | DIY Guitar Effects Pedal Kits, Jed's Pedals (jedspeds.co.uk)
