Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive main image

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive image 2

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive image 3

Photo of Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive and more gear in a pedalboard, guitar, and signal chain

Brand claimed

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

^# 67

Equipboard's ranking is determined by analyzing factors such as professional artist usage, popularity, user ratings, reviews, and more.

$183.00 to $212.33 Price Tier: High-end

4.5 (16)

2 Critic Reviews

3 Reviews

All time low price

Find out who is using Mad Professor Sweet Honey

2 community setups

Featured in

Best Transparent Overdrives for Guitar Tone

4 wishlisted

39 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 3 stores. Prices updated July 4, 2026.

Store

Reviews

Price

$212.33

View Deal

5.0 (31)

$187.08 22 available New

$129.00 13 available Used

View Deal

4.7 (68)

$184.00 $183.00 $1.00 · All time low

View Deal

Average Price: $178

High-end/Boutique

$50

$176+

Price Tier

In the Overdrive Effects Pedals category, Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive is priced in the High-end/Boutique range. This premium gear is built to very high standards and offers premium features.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 19, 2026.

^* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

Edit description

Introducing the Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive, a perfect blend of dynamic response and harmonic richness. This medium gain pedal is specifically designed for musicians who seek an overdrive that responds to their unique touch, adding just the right amount of grit based on their pick attack. The standout feature is the Focus knob, a clever tool that adjusts the level of attack required to instigate that sweet crunch. Whether you're a pedal stacking enthusiast or a fan of "always-on" effects, this pedal serves as a versatile addition, available in both cost-effective PCB and premium hand-wired versions.

Key Features:

Medium gain, touch-sensitive overdrive
Focus knob for controlling the attack/breakup response
Works well as a stackable or "always-on" pedal
Available in PCB and hand-wired versions

Product specs

Available since	August 2010
Overdrive	Yes
Distortion	No
Fuzz	No
Metal	No

FAQs

What kind of tone can I expect from the Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive?: The Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive delivers a touch-sensitive, low-gain overdrive with a warm, natural tone. It's designed to enhance your amp's sound by adding a dynamic, harmonically rich overdrive that responds well to your playing style.
Is the Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive suitable for clean and distorted amplifiers?: Yes, the Sweet Honey Overdrive is designed to work with both clean and distorted amplifiers. It provides a light overdrive on clean sounds and enhances the drive of distorted amps, allowing for versatile tonal shaping.
How does the Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive respond to playing dynamics?: The Sweet Honey Overdrive is highly responsive to playing dynamics, allowing you to control the level of overdrive with your pick attack and pickup strength. This makes it ideal for players who want a pedal that reacts naturally to their playing style.
Can the Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive be used for high-gain distortion?: No, the Sweet Honey Overdrive is not designed for high-gain distortion. It excels at providing a low-gain, touch-sensitive overdrive that enhances the natural tone of your amplifier rather than delivering heavy distortion.
Does the Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive require a specific power supply?: The Sweet Honey Overdrive typically requires a standard 9V DC power supply. Always check the manufacturer's specifications for any specific power requirements to ensure optimal performance.

Equipboard's Expert Review

Equipboard tested this

Sweet Honey Overdrive: Organic Tone Machine

Right out of the box, the Sweet Honey Overdrive impresses with its sturdy build and attractive golden finish. This pedal feels solid and ready for the rigors of gigging. It exudes reliability and quality craftsmanship, traits we’ve come to expect from Mad Professor.

The controls are straightforward and intuitive. The Volume, Drive, and Focus knobs are easy to tweak, allowing us to dial in the perfect tone quickly. The Focus control, in particular, is subtle yet effective, shaping the character of the overdrive without overwhelming the original signal.

When it comes to sound, the Sweet Honey Overdrive truly shines. This pedal is all about organic, touch-sensitive overdrive that responds beautifully to playing dynamics. Whether we tested it with a clean Fender amp or a cranked Marshall, it delivered rich, midrange-focused tones that felt like an extension of our amps rather than an added layer. The overdrive is clean and articulate, preserving the guitar’s natural character and providing a high-end loud signal without any unwanted compression or coloration. At lower gain settings, it mimics an amp on the edge of breakup perfectly, making it extremely versatile for various playing styles.

However, the pedal isn’t without its drawbacks. It’s not the most versatile overdrive out there, and some might find its softer overdrive unsuitable for heavier, fully distorted tones. Additionally, the input/output jacks on the sides can be a bit inconvenient for tight pedalboard setups. Finally, while it’s worth every penny, the Sweet Honey Overdrive doesn’t come cheap.

The Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive is ideal for musicians seeking an organic, touch-sensitive overdrive that enhances rather than masks their guitar’s natural tone. It’s perfect for blues, classic rock, and any genre that benefits from dynamic playing. However, those who need a more aggressive distortion or are on a tight budget might want to look elsewhere.

Rated 4

Videos

Add video

ProGuitarShopDemos

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

ProGuitarShopDemos

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

JetCityMusic

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive demo by Marko Karhu

Mad Professor Pedals

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

shnobel

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive Demo

Visual Guy

I finally play the Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

Leonard Griffie Blues

Reviews

Add review

PROS

Organic, slightly midrange-focused sound
Highly sensitive to pick attack
Seamless integration with amps like Princeton Reverb
Versatile, from light dirt to chunky overdrive
Preserves original sound signal without mushy distortion
Responsive to playing dynamics
Simple to use with subtle Focus control
Works well with both clean and cranked amps
Attractive design

CONS

May be considered expensive
Not suitable for high-gain distortion needs
Slight mid boost and bass cut when engaged

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive.

Features and functionality

0 0

The focus knob is praised for its unique ability to enhance touch sensitivity, making the pedal highly responsive to playing dynamics.
Source

Use cases and applications

0 0

The Sweet Honey Overdrive is set as an always-on pedal in setups preferring an "edge of breakup" sound, effectively thickening clean tones.
Source
0 0

The pedal is favored by musicians for its versatility across various amps, consistently delivering a homely feel regardless of the setup.
Source
0 0

Andrew Bird's use of the SHOD suggests its suitability for artists seeking a unique, touch-responsive overdrive in their tone.
Source
0 0

The SHOD's circuit topology resembles that of the ODR-1, making it less subtle for genres like jazz or neo-soul but suitable for blues and rock.
Source

Comparisons

0 0

The Joyo Sweet Baby is often mentioned as an effective clone, with some users finding it superior to bluesbreaker-type pedals in certain rigs.
Source
0 0

The Sweet Honey Overdrive (SHOD) is preferred over Klon-style pedals for its softer, more dynamic sound, contrasting with the sharper edge of the Klon.
Source
0 0

The Nobles ODR-1, especially models with a bass cut knob, can replicate the SHOD sound closely, offering more tone shaping capabilities for blues or rock styles.
Source
0 0

The Blues Driver BD-2 can achieve some of the SHOD's warmth by increasing gain and rolling back the tone, although it is a different circuit.
Source

User experience

0 0

Owners note that the pedal provides a surprising level of distortion with gain and focus knobs maxed, expanding its usability beyond low-gain applications.
Source
0 0

Owners describe the SHOD as an immediate favorite, often becoming a permanent fixture on their pedalboards due to its touch sensitivity.
Source
0 0

Some users report that without the SHOD's focus path, alternatives like the ODR-1 may lack subtlety for certain musical styles.
Source

Mods and upgrades

0 0

Owners suggest exploring Zen Drive or DIY kits as alternative options to replicate SHOD tones if accessibility is an issue.
Source

Critic Reviews

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive review | Guitar World

guitarworld.com

The Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive earns acclaim for its compact size, sound quality, and simple controls, making it a versatile addition to any pedalboard. Its ability to deliver a smooth, warm tone with dynamic response is highlighted, offering a range from clean boost to amp-like raunch. However, some may find the side-mounted connections and power input inconvenient. Overall, it's praised for its stacking capabilities and expressive nature, marking it as a desirable pedal for both subtle and pronounced effects.

positive

Full Review

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

The Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive is a standout pedal, praised for its old-school simplicity and killer tones. Its dynamic response mimics that of a great valve amp, cleaning up with softer playing and delivering rich overdrive when you dig in. The three controls—volume, drive, and focus—offer versatility, with the focus control adjusting both EQ and overdrive levels. While the price might be a concern for some, the introduction of a more affordable PCB version makes it accessible without sacrificing tone quality. Overall, the Sweet Honey Overdrive is a potential classic, especially for blues and rock enthusiasts.

positive

Full Review

Add review

4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 16 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

jegergud

266

over 11 years ago

Soft overdrive

I like this pedal, but it's a very soft overdrive pedal, you can't make the complete distorted overdrive. But you can make a very round and soft sound. And one thing I especially like about this pedal is the focus button, which allows you to set how hard you have to stroke the strings to make a really distorted sound.