The Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive with Fat Bee mod is a limited-edition version of Mad Professor's Sweet Honey Overdrive, a low- to mid-gain overdrive pedal1. The Fat Bee mod adds extra bass after the drive circuit, on top of the bass adjustment the Sweet Honey Deluxe places before the drive circuit2. Mad Professor describes the result as having the "bottom end tweaked to the limit"2.
The mod came out of real-world feedback. Mad Professor's headquarters had received messages more than once that the Sweet Honey Overdrive could use more bass with certain amps3.
What the Fat Bee mod does
The Fat Bee mod is a bass enhancement applied after the drive circuit, which is what separates it from the earlier Deluxe version. Mad Professor worked off the Sweet Honey Overdrive Deluxe, which features bass adjustment before the drive circuit, and then added additional bass after the drive circuit2. The Deluxe's bass control acts before the drive section, so it shapes the signal feeding the drive; the Fat Bee mod fattens the output after the drive has done its work3.
The mod keeps the character of the drive the same while adding extra bass character3. For a player, that means the pedal's core overdrive tone, its touch response and gain structure, stay as they are on the standard pedal, with more low end on the output.
"The 'Fat Bee' mod (not to be confused with the Beetronics pedal of a similar name) adds in extra bass character after th"
How it differs from the standard Sweet Honey
The standard Sweet Honey Overdrive is Mad Professor's take on the low- to mid-gain overdrive pedal1. MusicRadar found it best suited to classic blues and rock sounds, though it will go heavier when combined with an overdriven amp channel4. Its three controls are Volume, Drive and Focus5:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets output level6 |
| Drive | Sets drive amount, from clean boost to raunch1 |
| Focus | Fully clockwise: slight treble boost while enhancing the overdrive; fully counterclockwise: bassier tone while cutting the overdrive level a bit4 |
The Focus control is the standard pedal's tool for tilting the frequency balance, but it trades bass against drive level. The Fat Bee mod addresses the low end directly instead, adding bass after the drive circuit rather than asking the Focus knob to do that job24.
The Sweet Honey also exists in a handwired version, built with Alpha pots, Switchcraft jacks and top-mounted everything, and a mass-produced version that is a lot cheaper5. The use of PCBs brought the price of the pedals down by a fair margin4.
Where it came from
The Fat Bee mod belongs to a limited run of custom pedals Mad Professor introduced during lockdown in 2020, using time the company had freed up3. Guitar World reported it as another limited-edition overdrive pedal creation, available for €167.74 (approx. $180) until further notice2. Guitar World's review of the standard pedal also notes the company has a limited-edition version with its Fat Bee mod that essentially tweaks the bottom end1.
What reviewers said
Reviews of the standard Sweet Honey Overdrive give a picture of what the Fat Bee mod builds on. MusicRadar called it a wonderfully responsive overdrive324:
"The sheer dynamics of the Sweet Honey Overdrive make it one of those pedals you have to own before you die."
MusicRadar's verdict carried one reservation on price, listing it as still a little pricey for some4. The standard mass-produced Sweet Honey lists at $229, with a UK price of £1991. Delicious Audio's review of the handwired version praised its touch sensitivity and Focus control5.
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Questions
What is the Fat Bee mod on the Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive?
The Fat Bee mod adds extra bass character after the drive circuit of the Sweet Honey Overdrive. It was Mad Professor's response to feedback that the pedal could use more bass with certain amps. Mad Professor describes the result as having the bottom end tweaked to the limit.
Does the Fat Bee mod change the drive character?
No. The mod adds extra bass character after the drive circuit while keeping the character of the drive the same. It differs from the Sweet Honey Deluxe's bass control, which acts before the drive section and so shapes the tone going into the drive.
Is the Sweet Honey Overdrive with Fat Bee mod a limited edition?
Yes. It is a limited edition, part of a limited run of custom pedals Mad Professor introduced during lockdown in 2020. Guitar World reported it would be available until further notice.
How much does the Sweet Honey Fat Bee cost?
Guitar World reported the Sweet Honey Overdrive with Fat Bee mod at €167.74, approximately $180, when it launched in 2020. The standard mass-produced Sweet Honey Overdrive lists at $229, with a handwired version costing more.
What kind of overdrive is the Sweet Honey?
The Sweet Honey Overdrive is Mad Professor's take on the low- to mid-gain overdrive pedal. MusicRadar found it best suited to classic blues and rock sounds, though it will go heavier when combined with an overdriven amp channel.
Sources (6)
- Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive review, Guitar World, 2024-01-18
- Mad Professor's Sweet Honey Overdrive with Fat Bee mod boasts “bottom end tweaked to the limit”, Guitar World, 2020-05-01
- Mad Professor introduces second custom pedal during lockdown, guitar.com, 2020-04-17
- Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive review, MusicRadar, 2011-03-31
- Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive Handwired, Delicious Audio, 2026-06-02
- Mad Professor Amplification Sweet Honey Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2015-02-05
