Mad Honey Overdrive

Based on: Amount of parts: Enclosure type:

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Average, total 45 components 1590b
Overdrive Technology: Get your board at:
Effect type: Dual OpAmp based overdrive Mad Honey Overdrive
Low Gain Drive Power consumption: Get your kit at:
Build difficult: 5mA (9v) 10mA (18v) Das Musikding (Europe)
Average

Project overview:
The Mad Honey is a touch sensitive low gain Overdrive; ideally suited to giving a clean sound a little
pepper or for pushing crunch sounds. It is the dynamics provided by this pedal that make it convincing;
the treble can be emphasized with the focus controller, distorting earlier without losing in transparency
and dynamics.

Real measures are:

48mm width x 48mm height

1.82” width x 1.82” height

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Index
1. Project overview 6. Build Notes
2. Index, Introduction & Controls 7. Schematic
3. Bills of Materials, BOM 8. Wiring Diagram
4. Shopping Lists 9. Drill Template
5. Components Recommendations 10. Licensing and Usage

Introduction
The Mad Honey is a touch sensitive low gain overdrive pedal; designed to overdrive distorted amplifiers
and give dynamically controlled light overdrive on clean sounds.

Based on Mad Professor’s Sweet Honey Overdrive, this circuit has also roots on the Honey Bee
Overdrive by BJFe Pedals, which was inspired by the sound of an old Supro amp.

The magic of this circuit is on the Focus Control, which delivers a very dynamic and tube-like tone,
making of this pedal a really outstanding and sensitive overdrive.

Distortion level can be controlled by pick attack and pickup strength. Harder picking for overdrive and
softer for a cleaner tone. With the unique Focus control, you can adjust the feel and dynamics of the
pedal as well as overall EQ. Turning Focus CCW you need to play harder to get distortion and the tone is
softer, great for jazz and blue. Focus turned CW gives a slight treble boost and earlier distortion.

Controls
 VOLUME: Sets the output volume.
 DRIVE: Controls the amount of overdrive.
 FOCUS: Controls how easily the circuit distorts as well as adjusting overall EQ. Turning CCW
gives less distortion and a mellow effect, turning CW gives a slight treble boost and earlier
distortion. Good starting point is 11 o’clock.

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Bill of materials
Resistors
Part Value
Capacitors
R1 1m
Part Value
R2 6k8
C1 4n7
R3 360k
C2 100p
R4 3k
C3 220n
R5 1k
C4 22u electro
R6 5k6
C5 1u electro
R7 2k
C6 22u electro
R8 15k
C7 22n
R9 10k
C8 4n7
R10 150k
C9 22n
R11 1m
C10 22n
R12 5k6
C11 1n
R13 2k7
C12 4n7
R14 47k
C13 100u electro
R15 51r
C14 22u electro
R16 47k
C15 1u electro
R17 47k
R-LED 4k7
Ics
Part Value
Diodes
IC1 OP275
Part Value
D1 1N5817
D2 LED 3mm
D3 LED 3mm
D4 1n4007
D5 1n4007
D6 LED 3mm
LED LED 3mm

Pots
Part Value
VOL 50k B
DRIVE 500K A
FOCUS 50K B

Shopping list
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 Resistors Diodes
Qty Value Parts Qty Value Parts
2 1m R1, R11 1 1N5817 D1
1 150k R10 4 LED 3mm D2, D3, D6,
1 2k7 R13 LED
3 47k R14, R16, 2 1n4007 D4, D5
R17
1 51r R15
Pots
1 6k8 R2
Qty Value Parts
1 360k R3
1 500K A DRIVE
1 3k R4
2 50K B FOCUS,
1 1k R5
VOL
2 5k6 R6, R12
1 2k R7
1 15k R8 Ics
1 10k R9 Qty Value Parts
1 4k7 R-LED 1 OP275 IC1

Capacitors
Qty Value Parts
3 4n7 C1, C8,
C12
1 1n C11
1 100u electro C13
1 100p C2
1 220n C3
3 22u electro C4, C6,
C14
2 1u electro C5, C15
3 22n C7, C9,
C10

Components Recommendations

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As many people like to experiment some pedals with higher voltage, always ensure the max tolerance
of your electrolytic capacitors is over 25v.

This board has been tested using Film box capacitors for most of the values over 1nf, and ceramics
discs for the ones under 1nf. However, high quality components such as Wima’s Capacitors and
Panasonic’s electrolytics can deliver a better performance.

All the resistors used for testing this project are 1/4W Metal Film.

The BOM and Shopping list are exclusively regarding this project. It doesn’t include all the hardware like
the 3PDT bypass switch, audio/dc jacks, enclosure, etc.

Build Notes
If this is one of your first projects I recommend you to take a look on our Pedal Building Guide

For a successful and tidy build it’s recommended the following order:

1. Resistors & diodes

2. Capacitors, starting with the smaller ones and the ceramic ones.
3. Electrolytic capacitors (always check the polarity)
4. Transistors
5. Wires
6. Potentiometers and switches
7. Off board wiring

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 R-LED LED

CTRL
9V D1 R15
Schematic

VR
1N5817 51r
GND

C13

100u

R16
47k
GND.

VB
GND

GND GND
C6

22u
R17
47k
VB
GND GND

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VB

Mad Honey Overdrive by PCB Guitar Mania

VR

R3
360k
1m
R11
OP275

8
IN C1 R2 3 IC1_A C5 C10 O P275
1 R7 R9 5 I C1_B C15
4n7 6k8

IC1_PWR +
2 2k 10k 7

-
1u 22n 6

R1
1m
1u
C11
47k
R14
C12
4n7

GND

D4D5
1n4007
GND C2

1n4007
1n
R6 R5 D6
100p 3
5k6 1k D2 GND
2

C4
C3
C7
C8
C9

R12

22u
22n
4n7
22n
VOL

220n
50k B

OUT
5k6 1

1
GND GND D3 GND
R13
2k7

2 GND
R10
150k

50K B
FOCUS

R4
3k
3
22u
C14

500K A
DRIVE

1
3

2
R8
15k

GND

6
Wiring Diagram
All our projects include a free 3PDT Board to make the wiring easier and tidier. Also all of our PCBs
feature the status LED on board.

The pad named “Ctrl” or “LED” is the one that controls the status of the led, wire it to the “LED”pad on
the 3PDT board, or in control slug of your 3PDT.

You can take a look on the following diagram to understand the general connections. For further
information check our Pedal Wiring guide.

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Drill Template
This Project has been planned to fit into a 1590B enclosure type (122x67x35mm approx.)

Check the Attached “Drilling templates” to drill the box properly. The files are on Scale 1:1, ready to
print in an A4 page.

Licensing and Usage

We really appreciate your trust and support buying this PCB, as well as your will to dive into the DIY
electronics world. That’s why for us is really important that you can make this project work properly and
to enjoy not only the building process, but also to experiment and play with it on your rig.

We try to reply to every question we receive on our email or in our social media, but we try to encourage
all our customers to join our PCB Guitar Mania – Builders Group on Facebook, in order to post all your
doubts, issues, suggestions or request, as well to share your builds and have some feedback from us
and other fellow builders!

All of our projects have been tested following this same guide on their standard configurations.
Although, not all of the variations and mods have necessarily been tested. These are suggestions based
on the schematic analysis, and on the experiences and opinions of others. Feel free to share with us
your opinions and suggestions regarding the mods your own personal experimentation.

These boards may be used for commercial endeavors in any quantity unless specifically noted. No
attribution is necessary, though accreditation or a link back is always greatly appreciated.

If you are a builder planning to make your own run of pedals we also offer the service of custom made
boards with your brand and logo, design according your specifications.

The only usage restrictions are that, first, you cannot resell the PCB as part of a kit without prior
arrangement with us, and second, you cannot scratch off the silk screen, or other way of trying to hide
our logos and the source of the PCBs. Like it’s written above, if you want to have your own designs, with
your brand and logo we could certainly reach an agreement.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay in tune with the latest projects!

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