Vintage Pow - Colorsound Overdriver / Power Boost

New version as of May 2023...

A hunka hunka burning vintage overdrive tone right here.

The Power Boost was one of the major components of Gilmour's sound around DSOTM, with luscious, rich overdrive on just the right side of saturation overload.

This kit offers the choice of making the Power Boost, which likes 18V or the Overdriver, which runs at 9V. They both sound great, but the Power Boost has a lot more headroom to play with, so you get more oomph with less clipping.

Both versions can be built with either BC169C, BC184L or BC109 transistors, but opinion around here is the PB is best with 169 or 184, OD with 109. The board has been designed so you can use either without any leg twisting, despite their different pinouts.

There's an optional on-board charge pump so you can get your 18V from your standard 9V supply. Result!

The kit is supplied with vertical-mount pots which have round shafts, so you'll need set-screw fitting knobs.

If you want the PCB without parts there's a link for that at the bottom of the page.

Partial kit: PCB, all board-mounted components, pots.

Full kit: As above, plus footswitch and appropriate daughterboard/components for your selected bypass type (see Downloads section for details of those), jack sockets, DC socket, battery snap, hook-up wire, LED.

Enclosure (pre-drilled) is available as an option with full kits, and will not take a battery. Knobs are not included.

Inspired by: Colorsound Overdriver / Power Boost

Difficulty: Medium

PCB size: 50 x 40mm

Knobs required: 4

Enclosure: 1590B

Direct-Connect compatible (4-way)

Download the INSTRUCTION PDF

Product Code: PowerBoost

Brand: Pedal Parts

Weight: 110.0g

Product Condition: New

Kit type* Transistors* Ribbon connector?* Charge pump* Pre-built? (UK only.)*

£33.60 inc. tax

£28.00 ex. tax

? Tax based on United Kingdom.

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Customer Reviews

13 review(s) posted (write review)

Everyone should have one of these! (Overdriver version)
"Did the 9v Overdriver version and am surprised by how much I like it. Out of the dozens of fuzz/dirt pedals I've tried it's probably in my top 3. It's a sort of fuzzy overdrive that works really well into a crunchy amp. The EQ is spot on as well. It's hard to believe it is a vintage circuit as it feels very refined and modern to me. I tried the orignal 10kB value for the gain pot and it was literally horrible, so don't do that. I settled on 1kC which gives you just the last little bit of rotation of the 10kB, and is almost clean at 0 with a nice taper.
" Rob - 16 February 2024

Fuzzy Boost, oh yeah!
"I love fuzz, and I love boost. They're the only two types of "drive' pedals I use, and this one is a bit of both, so what's not to love? I built the Power Boost version with the charge pump and BC184L cans. It's a great versatile pedal that loves running into an already cooking amp and gives you that extra bit more. Be sure to build it in a bright orange enclosure for extra mojo. Thanks for another great one Fuzz Dog!" Vance - 13 July 2020

BOOST!
"I got this to pair with a FF à la Gilmore on DSOTM and it is just wonderful. Gives me control over my ton without having to go to the am and just sounds lush. I set my FF to just below unity and get the POW to hit the amp with all that fuzzy wonderfulness at the correct volume and tone. Great! It has replaced mu Kline.... Just get one, you know you want to...." Dave - 07 January 2020

Overdriver 9v
"This guy sounds great on guitar and bass. For guitar, I back off the gain and use the pedal like a preamp. It adds some "mojo" to my Jazzmaster sound. For bass I crank up the gain for a massive bass fuzz. Really considering getting another one." Awkbinoc - 24 October 2019

Power Beast
"If modern boutique transparent IC based stompboxes are you thing, then look elsewhere, as this is 110 % with plenty to spare retro badness(goodness). Quite simply it growls. Or mine does anyway, as after seeing a previous review stating the use of 184s as used by Stu Castledine, I checked his demo(Stu Castledine) and thought "I want mine to have that retro dirt". There's a Master volume which was not on the original that gives you the option of using it as a standalone fuzz(when gain is maxed) at unity gain. But i prefer mine as a full barking boost into guitar amp rumble for heavy late 60s acid rock tones. This thing should, or could be listed in the Boost, and Fuzz catergories. These Fuzzdog circuits and PCBs are brilliant." Woody - 27 January 2019

Great pedal kit!!
"A superb sounding overdrive/power booster that come in a great kit which is easy to put together. Highly recommended 5" Johnny Sharp - 22 September 2018

Fantastic
"Nice quality pbc I recommend the ribbon cable for wiring the switch. If possible, get some sockets for the transitors too. I built the power boost with 109's which does sound good. After reading that stu castledine builds his with 184's, I decided to try them. It's like a completely different pedal now. I love that the pcb accommodates both types of transistors. That's just perfect planning." Aiken - 10 September 2018

Brilliant! Not your usual...
"This is a great pedal. Not your usual boring boost/ OD - it can push your amp or another pedal really well, give you a treble, bass and/or big level boost for solos, and has a great natural sounding OD when cranked. It's almost more like power stage distortion than preamp. I've built a couple of these now, as well as a few BYOC's over the years. Fuzz Dog kits are cheaper and have more options than BYOC. They are great kits and I am happy to recommend them to beginners or pros. Love 'em." Tim O - 04 September 2015

Power Boost Clone
"being a Gilmour fan, I've been building my rig around those tones and obviously a Power boost was on the cards. However, I'm on a tight budget, and happened across this clone kit when Googling. I had never built a kit before, my soldering skills are ok, but not the best, however I decided to take the plunge and buy the kit. I opted for the power boost variant running on 2 9v batteries. I was also going to install the adaptor socket as I want the flexibility of running the pedal in my rack, or stand alone through a combo for smaller gigs. So far I haven't been disappointed.... It went together easily, I checked and over checked twice before soldering anything, and the end result has been a revelation.... The tonal qualities are excellent, and the gain is good, however the boost in volume is colossal, good job this has a volume control (The originals didn't) so you can tame the beast. It will rattle windows." Andy Betts - 22 September 2014

Fantastic!
"Sounds absolutely amazing! Member of a Gilmour forum and the guys there are amazed at how good this sounds - they know their stuff! Love love love this pedal!" Phil R - 22 August 2013

Excellent kit.
"The PCB is excellent, high quality. Fits easily in the enclosure leaving space for a charge pump if you are building the P.Boost. The build is relatively easy and the instructions are more than clear. I had some questions - they were answered in a friendly and understandable manner." Ian - 03 August 2013

Vintage POW!
"This kit/pedal is just great! Simply great! My plan was to go for the "original" 18v Power Boost rather than the 9v slightly different circuit Overdriver. I used thePB trannies and circuit but so far have only run it on 9v. Put it together (quickly ... in a hotel room in the Hauge!) checked and it worked first time. Boxed it up and it still worked (this is incredible for me!). Now why do I like it so much ? It's not for the overdrive ... not the distortion (although great) but for the range of tones. It is a Baxendall tone circuit after all. My modded Epi Valve Junior clone doesn't have the greatest range of tone control, but this gives it to you. And with the extra umph! the pre-amp value just gets pushed over the edge for crunchy goodness. So, it's not a clean boost, it can be a treble boost, it can be a bass boost, it can be a mids boost, it does overdrive and it does distort ... just love it!" Jonathan Dean - 08 April 2013