The Jeds Peds Fred is a DIY guitar effects pedal kit: a six knob high gain overdrive with an active 3 band EQ, sold as a board and parts you solder together yourself1. Jeds Peds describes the circuit as arguably combining the best of a Tubescreamer with the best of a Guvnor for a marriage made in dirt heaven, and states that the kit compares to the EQD Talons1. It sits in the overdrive family, though with that much gain and a full EQ on board it leans toward distortion territory as well.
The controls
The Fred carries six knobs. Jeds Peds names the Bass, Mid and Treble pots for the 3 band EQ, and adds a Presence control on top of them, which the maker says increases the versatility further1. An active EQ means those bands cut as well as boost, which is why a six knob dirt pedal can be shaped far more precisely than the usual one or two tone controls.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bass | Low band of the active 3 band EQ1 |
| Mid | Middle band of the active 3 band EQ1 |
| Treble | High band of the active 3 band EQ1 |
| Presence | Extra top end shaping, adding versatility1 |
Kit options and what you get
The Fred is sold in four versions, so you can buy as much or as little as you want to handle yourself1:
- PCB Only: just the plain PCB
- PCB & Components: the board plus the parts
- Full Kit: everything needed to build the pedal
- Full Kit & Drilling: the Full Kit with the enclosure holes drilled for you
Drilling is an optional extra for the Full Kit with a small surcharge, and it includes all the holes for a complete pedal1. Whichever option you choose, you will need six knobs for the kit, and the maker suggests you get skinny ones1.
All kits require full assembly, and any images of completed PCBs are for reference only1. If you want a finished pedal out of the box, the Pre Built Kit option carries a 1 to 4 week build time1.
Skill level and enclosure
Jeds Peds rates the Fred as suitable to an intermediate level builder1. That puts it a step above a first solder project: six pots, an active EQ section and a full pedal to wire up. The kit fits a JP125B enclosure, Jeds Peds' own enclosure designation, and the drilling option covers every hole that enclosure needs1.
How it compares to the EQD Talons
Jeds Peds states plainly that this kit compares to the EQD Talons, and characterizes the circuit as combining the best of a Tubescreamer with the best of a Guvnor1. The maker also attaches a clear caveat to that comparison: "There is no endorsement or approval from any manufacturer and this information is for comparison only."1. In other words, the Fred is Jeds Peds' own take on that territory, not a licensed copy, and the comparison is the maker's own framing.
For context on the Tubescreamer side of that lineage, see the site's comparison of the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer. Other kits in the Jeds Peds range include the Weighty, Nepotist and Plexi.
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Questions
What does the Jeds Peds Fred kit include?
Jeds Peds sells the Fred in four options: PCB Only, which is just the plain PCB; PCB & Components; Full Kit; and Full Kit & Drilling. Drilling is an optional extra for the Full Kit with a small surcharge, and it includes all the holes needed for a complete pedal. You will also need six knobs for the kit, and the maker suggests skinny ones. All kits require full assembly, and images of completed PCBs are for reference only.
Is the Jeds Peds Fred suitable for a first pedal build?
Jeds Peds describes the Fred as suitable for an intermediate level builder, so it is not pitched at a complete beginner. If you have built a pedal or two before, the six knob layout and active 3 band EQ give you a more involved project than a simple two or three knob overdrive, and the maker's own page is the place to judge whether the skill level matches your experience.
What enclosure does the Fred fit?
The kit fits a JP125B enclosure, which is Jeds Peds' own enclosure designation. If you buy the Full Kit & Drilling option, the drilling service covers all the holes for a complete pedal in that enclosure, so you do not have to drill it yourself.
How does the Fred compare to the EQD Talons?
Jeds Peds states that the Fred kit compares to the EQD Talons, and describes the circuit as arguably combining the best of a Tubescreamer with the best of a Guvnor. The maker is careful to note that there is no endorsement or approval from any manufacturer and that this information is for comparison only.
Can Jeds Peds drill the enclosure for the Fred?
Yes. Drilling is an optional extra for the Full Kit, with a small surcharge, and it includes all the holes for a complete pedal. If you would rather drill the JP125B enclosure yourself, the plain Full Kit leaves that to you.
How long does a pre built Fred kit take to arrive?
Pre Built Kits have a 1 to 4 week build time according to Jeds Peds, so allow for that when ordering. Kits you assemble yourself are not covered by that build time.
