The Dirty Bomber is a DIY guitar effects pedal kit from Jeds Peds, described by the maker as "an awesome high gain distortion effect pedal kit". The circuit is comparable to the Barber Dirty Bomb, although Jeds Peds says its version is slightly modified, and one visible change is the Sub Bass pot, which is externally positioned rather than an internal trimpot. The maker says the pedal "provides a wide range of stellar distortion tones, from ultra chunky to scooped gain", and it carries a three band EQ plus a toggle switch that gives 3 further tonal varieties.1
What the kit includes
Jeds Peds sells the Dirty Bomber in four versions, so a player can buy as much or as little of the build as they want1:
| Version | What you get |
|---|---|
| PCB Only | Just the plain PCB |
| PCB & Components | PCB, onboard components and any pots and toggle switches |
| Full Kit | As above, with an undrilled enclosure and off board components (foot switch, jacks, 9v, LED) |
| Full Kit & Drilling | The Full Kit with drilling, an optional extra carrying a small surcharge |
The kit is supplied with a JP125B enclosure, and it is undrilled unless the drilling option is purchased. Drilling includes all the holes for a complete pedal, so the Full Kit & Drilling version arrives ready to house the finished circuit.1
How hard is it to build?
Jeds Peds rates the kit as medium in difficulty, which puts it in the middle ground for a DIY build: more involved than a beginner's first project, but not among the hardest circuits to assemble. Players who would rather skip the soldering can order a Pre Built Kit instead, and those have a 1 to 4 week build time.1
The enclosure is undrilled unless you buy the drilling option. If you order the Full Kit without drilling, you will need to drill the JP125B enclosure yourself for the pots, switches, jacks and LED.
Relation to the Barber Dirty Bomb
Jeds Peds is explicit about the comparison: "This is comparable to the Barber Dirty Bomb (tm) although ours is slightly modified". The maker also states that "There is no endorsement or approval from any manufacturer and this information is for comparison only." In other words, the Dirty Bomber is a Jeds Peds design aimed at the same territory as the Barber pedal, not a licensed copy, and the Sub Bass pot moved to an external position is one of the modifications.1
For other builds from the same maker, see the Jeds Peds So Funkin' True kit or finished pedals such as the Jeds Peds Riot and the Jeds Peds Obsessive Compulsive. For where a pedal like this sits, see Distortion Pedals, Overdrive Pedals and Fuzz Pedals.
Questions
Is the Jeds Peds Dirty Bomber a kit or a finished pedal?
It is a DIY guitar effects pedal kit, sold in several versions from a bare PCB up to a Full Kit with an undrilled enclosure and off board components. Jeds Peds also offers Pre Built Kits, which carry a 1 to 4 week build time, so a finished pedal is available for players who would rather not solder it themselves.
What is the Jeds Peds Dirty Bomber based on?
Jeds Peds describes the circuit as comparable to the Barber Dirty Bomb, although slightly modified. The maker states clearly that there is no endorsement or approval from any manufacturer and that the comparison information is for comparison only.
How hard is the Dirty Bomber to build?
Jeds Peds rates the kit as medium in difficulty. That places it between simple first builds and more involved projects, so it suits a player with some soldering experience. Anyone who prefers not to build it can order a Pre Built Kit, which ships after a 1 to 4 week build time.
Does the Dirty Bomber kit come with the enclosure drilled?
The kit is supplied with a JP125B enclosure that is undrilled unless the drilling option is purchased. Drilling is an optional extra for the Full Kit with a small surcharge, and it covers all the holes needed for a complete pedal.
Is the Dirty Bomber endorsed by Barber?
No. Jeds Peds states that there is no endorsement or approval from any manufacturer and that the comparison to the Barber Dirty Bomb is for comparison only. The Dirty Bomber is a Jeds Peds design that the maker describes as comparable to, and slightly modified from, the Barber circuit.
Sources (1)
- Dirty Bomber, Jeds Peds
