The SHO Crackle Boost is a DIY guitar effects pedal kit from Jed's Pedals, a boost in the style of the Super Hard On by Zvex. The maker describes the circuit as comparing to the Super Hard On, and states plainly that there is no endorsement or approval from any manufacturer and that the comparison is for information only1. It is a one-control pedal: a single potentiometer sets the boost, and turning it produces a mildly audible crackle, which Jed's Pedals says is normal and is where the kit takes its name1.
The control and the crackle
The pedal has one potentiometer and nothing else to set. Jed's Pedals is direct about its behavior: "There is a mildly audible crackle when you turn the potentiometer. This is normal."1 That crackle is the character of the circuit rather than a defect, and players who know the Super Hard On style of boost will recognize it.
For a sense of how the maker uses it, Jed's Pedals offers this from its own experience of the built circuit:
"I ran one into my Orange Amp for some time, it was always on. It saturated my input fantastically!"
In other words, the maker describes it as a pedal left on all the time, pushing the input of an amplifier into saturation. As a boost, it sits among Boost Pedals, and players looking at related circuits from the same maker can also see the Jed's Pedals EM and Jed's Pedals Eee Peee1.
Kit options and what you get
The kit comes in four versions, so you can buy as much or as little as your workbench needs1:
| Version | What it includes |
|---|---|
| PCB Only | Just the plain PCB |
| PCB & Components | PCB, onboard components and any pots and toggle switches |
| Full Kit | As above, with undrilled enclosure and off-board components (foot switch, jacks, 9V, LED) |
| Full Kit & Drilling | Full kit with drilled enclosure |
The Full Kit's enclosure comes undrilled. Drilling is an optional extra with a small surcharge, so choose the Full Kit & Drilling version if you do not want to drill the JP1590B yourself1.
Building it
Jed's Pedals rates this as a first-timer's kit: "This kit is suitable for beginners and as such the build guide goes into quite a bit more detail than our other kits."1 The extra detail in the guide is the main thing that sets it apart from the company's other kits for a new builder.
If you want two of these circuits in one box, the maker's Super Duper Double SHO Crackle uses two separate Crackle Boost PCBs; its PCB-only version requires two of them2.
Questions
Is the Jed's Pedals SHO Crackle Boost good for beginners to build?
Yes. Jed's Pedals says the kit is suitable for beginners, and the build guide goes into quite a bit more detail than the guides for the company's other kits. The kit is supplied with a JP1590B enclosure, and the Full Kit option adds the off-board parts such as the foot switch, jacks, 9V connection and LED, so a first-time builder has everything needed in one purchase.
What enclosure comes with the SHO Crackle Boost kit?
The kit is supplied with a JP1590B enclosure. In the Full Kit option the enclosure comes undrilled, and drilling is available as an optional extra: the Full Kit & Drilling option is the full kit with a drilled enclosure, for a small surcharge.
Is the SHO Crackle Boost a clone of the Zvex Super Hard On?
Jed's Pedals describes the kit as comparing to the Super Hard On by Zvex. The maker also states plainly that there is no endorsement or approval from any manufacturer and that this information is for comparison only, so it is best read as a circuit in the style of the Super Hard On rather than a licensed product.
Why does the pot crackle on the SHO Crackle Boost?
The crackle is a feature of the circuit, not a fault. Jed's Pedals says there is a mildly audible crackle when you turn the potentiometer, and that this is normal. It is the behavior that gives the Crackle Boost its name, and it is part of how the circuit responds as the control is adjusted.
Does the kit come with the enclosure drilled?
Not by default. The Full Kit includes an undrilled enclosure along with the PCB, onboard components, pots and toggle switches, and the off-board components. If you want the holes already cut, the Full Kit & Drilling option is the full kit with a drilled enclosure, available for a small surcharge.
Sources (2)
- SHO Crackle Boost, Jed's Pedals (jedspeds.co.uk)
- Super Duper Double SHO Crackle, JedsPeds
