The Jedspeds Distortion Plus kit is a DIY guitar effects pedal kit from UK maker Jedspeds that builds a distortion pedal based on the Classic Distortion Plus, a circuit the maker describes as "a classic distortion pedal made famous in the 70's"1. It sits in the same family as the maker's other builds such as the Jedspeds Satire, and it is sold in five versions, from a bare PCB up to a pedal built for you by the maker1.
Versions and what each includes
The kit is sold in five versions, each building on the last1:
| Version | 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 components: foot switch, jacks, 9v socket, LED |
| Full Kit | As above, with an undrilled enclosure |
| Full Kit & Drilling | The Full Kit with the enclosure drilled for you |
Drilling is an optional extra for the Full Kit, with a small surcharge, and it covers all the holes needed for a complete pedal1.
Only the Full Kit versions include an enclosure. If you buy PCB Only or either PCB & Components version, you supply your own box, foot switch, jacks, 9v socket and LED where the version does not include them.
The enclosure and build
The kit is supplied with a JP1590B enclosure, and the PCB is designed to hang from the pots inside the case, which the maker says leaves "a nice neat build"1. Because the board hangs from the pots, there is no separate mounting hardware to fit, which keeps the assembly straightforward once the board is populated.
The build itself is a genuine soldering project. Jedspeds states what is required plainly1:
"You will have to identify components, calculate resistor codes and be able to solder them into place1."
So this is not a paint-by-numbers first kit: reading resistor color codes and identifying components are part of the job. Builders who want the circuit without the work can go for the pre-built option instead1.
The pre-built option
Jedspeds also sells the Distortion Plus as a pre-built pedal, which is a kit built by the seller, priced at £30.00 GBP1. The terms are worth knowing before ordering1:
- No returns are accepted on pre-built pedals
- The maker gives a 12 month repair warranty
- Should a fault develop, the maker will repair it
That makes the repair warranty the whole of the cover on a pre-built unit, in place of a returns window1.
Knobs and finishing touches
The kit needs 2 knobs, which are not included, and the maker suggests medium sized ones1. Since the PCB hangs from the pots in the JP1590B enclosure, the knobs you choose also sit on the pots that hold the board in place, so it is worth picking a pair that suits the build.
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Questions
Is the Jedspeds Distortion Plus kit hard to build?
Jedspeds is clear that these are full assembly kits. You will have to identify components, calculate resistor codes and be able to solder them into place, so it suits a builder with some prior experience rather than a complete first-timer. If you would rather skip the soldering, the maker also sells a pre-built version of the pedal.
Does the Jedspeds kit come with an enclosure?
Only the Full Kit and Full Kit & Drilling versions include an enclosure. The Full Kit comes with an undrilled JP1590B enclosure, and drilling is an optional extra with a small surcharge that covers all the holes needed for a complete pedal. The lower-priced versions supply just the PCB, or the PCB with components.
What is the difference between the Jedspeds Full Kit and the Full Kit & Drilling?
The Full Kit includes everything in the lower versions plus an undrilled enclosure, so you mark and drill the box yourself. Full Kit & Drilling is the same kit with the maker drilling the enclosure for you as an optional extra. There is a small surcharge for the drilling, and it covers all the holes for a complete pedal.
What enclosure does the Jedspeds Distortion Plus use?
The kit is supplied with a JP1590B enclosure. The PCB is designed to hang from the pots inside the case, which the maker says leaves a nice neat build with no separate standoffs to fit.
Does the pre-built Jedspeds Distortion Plus come with a warranty?
Yes. The pre-built version, which is a kit built by the seller rather than a factory product, carries a 12 month repair warranty. Should a fault develop, the maker will repair it. There are no returns accepted on the pre-built pedal, so the repair warranty is the cover you get.
How many knobs does the Jedspeds Distortion Plus need?
Two. The maker notes you will need 2 knobs for this kit and suggests medium sized ones, which are not part of the kit itself and are bought separately.
Sources (1)
- Distortion Plus, Jedspeds
