The JedsPeds High Pocket is a DIY guitar effects pedal kit in the overdrive lane. JedsPeds says it is based on the signature sound of Jimmy Page performing at the Royal Albert Hall in 1970, and that it captures the overdrive sound of the Hiwatt amplifiers used at that show1. It is one of several kits from the maker, alongside the JedsPeds AndyChad, JedsPeds KAREN!!!, JedsPeds Super Klone, JedsPeds GOAT and JedsPeds Gobbles.
What the circuit does
The circuit cascades stages of BS170 transistors through a 3 stage tone stack, which is where the three-band EQ comes from. On top of the five front-panel pots, JedsPeds has added a trimmer to the circuit that is not featured on the original. The maker's own words on why: "I've added a trimmer to the circuit which isnt featured on the original. It brings an extra layer of versatility."1
JedsPeds describes the pedal as incredibly responsive to playing dynamics, and says it cleans up very well with the guitar volume control, so it can be ridden from a cleaner edge into fuller overdrive from the guitar itself1. For how it sits among other drive types, see Overdrive Pedals and Distortion Pedals.
The Royal Albert Hall sound and the fuzz around it
The tone the kit aims at sits in a well-documented corner of Page's history. Roger Mayer writes that he "produced a Treble Booster that was tried and used by my friends including Jimmy Page who then played in local bands" in the early 1960s2. Page is also often associated with the ToneBender, using it on classic tracks, according to tru-fi.com's history of the pedal3, and MusicRadar notes that "Jimmy Page used a Tone Bender MkII in his Yardbirds days, and it's all over the first Led Zeppelin album too"4. The High Pocket is not a fuzz kit: it targets the overdriven Hiwatt amplifier sound of the 1970 show rather than those fuzz pedals, though Fuzz Pedals cover that other side of his rig.
Versions and what you get
The kit is sold in six versions, from a bare board to a finished pedal1:
| Version | What it is |
|---|---|
| PCB Only | Just the plain PCB |
| PCB & Components | PCB with components, not soldered |
| PCB & Components and off board parts | Adds the off-board parts |
| Full Kit | Everything needed to build the pedal |
| Full Kit & Drilling | Full kit plus a drilled enclosure |
| Pre Built Kit | Built for you by JedsPeds |
Drilling includes all the holes for a complete pedal, and is an optional extra for the Full Kit with a small surcharge1.
Pre Built Kits have a 1 to 4 week build time. There are no returns accepted on these, but JedsPeds gives a 12 month repair warranty, so should a fault develop the maker will repair it1.
How it relates to the Catalinbread RAH
JedsPeds states that "This kit compares to The RAH by Catalinbread", and is explicit that the comparison is only that: no endorsement or approval from any manufacturer is claimed1. In other words, it is not presented as an official clone or licensed copy, but as a kit aimed at the same piece of tone history.
Questions
Is the JedsPeds High Pocket a clone of the Catalinbread RAH?
JedsPeds says the kit compares to The RAH by Catalinbread, but states that this is a comparison only, with no endorsement or approval from any manufacturer. The High Pocket is its own kit, based on the sound of Jimmy Page performing at the Royal Albert Hall in 1970, and it adds a trimmer to the circuit that is not featured on the original.
What enclosure does the High Pocket kit use?
The kit comes with one of JedsPeds' JP125B enclosures. If you buy the Full Kit & Drilling version, drilling includes all the holes for a complete pedal, as an optional extra with a small surcharge.
How long does a pre-built High Pocket take?
Pre Built Kits have a 1 to 4 week build time, according to JedsPeds. If you want the pedal sooner, the other versions, from PCB Only through Full Kit, are supplied for you to build yourself.
Does the High Pocket clean up with the guitar volume knob?
JedsPeds describes the High Pocket as incredibly responsive to playing dynamics, and says it cleans up very well with the guitar volume control. That makes it usable as a light boost at lower settings and a fuller overdrive when the guitar is rolled up.
What warranty comes with a pre-built JedsPeds kit?
Pre-built kits carry a 12 month repair warranty, and JedsPeds says no returns are accepted on them. Should a fault develop, the maker will repair the pedal under that warranty.
Sources (4)
- Heartbreaker, JedsPeds
- Guitar Effects Pedals by Roger Mayer, Roger Mayer
- The Sound of Rock, tru-fi.com
- NAMM 2020: SolidGoldFX releases the Communication Breakdown fuzz, MusicRadar, 2020-01-08
