Too many overdrive pedals are liars. They promise touch sensitivity but deliver a brick to the face. The Sweet Honey Overdrive (an evolution of Björn Juhl’s Supro-amp-inspired BJFe Honey Bee) isn’t one of them. This Handwired version is hand-soldered in Finland (with love) by the new Mad Professor team: point-to-point guts, Alpha pots, Switchcraft jacks, top-mounted everything – this is a low-gain pedal that actually earns its name.
The Focus control is the secret weapon. Turn it counterclockwise and you have to fight for your distortion: soft, dynamic, almost polite. Turn it clockwise and a treble boost kicks the door in, distortion arriving early and uninvited, like that guy at a party who tells you he used to be in a band.
Your pick attack does the rest. Play soft and it’s clean. Dig in and the overdrive breathes naturally, following your hands instead of fighting them. No artificial walls. No sudden drop-offs. Just feel.
Volume, Drive, Focus. Runs on 7.5 to 18 volts, draws practically nothing, true bypass. Built for players who actually listen to what their guitar is telling them. Not a crutch. A conversation.
P.S. There’s also a mass-produced version that’s a lot cheaper (but doesn’t look as nice).
