DIY Modded Bluesbreaker-Style Overdrive 2026

This is the "Metropole" overdrive, a modded Bluesbreaker-type circuit I built recently. The PCB was from the now-defunct Grind Customs. What we have here is an excellent, versatile drive that works well into a clean amp, giving a flatter EQ and a basic Marshall-esque tonal signature than the typical TS-style drive. It's also a bit livelier and more rockin' than the typical BB-type. It has a dynamic-sounding hard clipping rather than the usual soft clipping diodes. The clipping switch has three options to vary the compression and distortedness of the tone:

• Up - symmetrical silicon 1n4148s, which have the most driven tone and most compression.
• Middle - symmetrical red LEDs, which has the cleanest tone and least compression while being the loudest and with a fast, agressive attack.
• Down - asymmetrical silicon 1n4001 and 1n914 with a real-deal 1n60 germanium. This is my favorite! Louder and articulate, but with a good amp-like growl.

This runs on standard 9v and had a violet LED. I used a high-quality Alpha DPDT footswitch with quite optical bypass. I enjoyed building this and hope you will enjoy playing it! I have a very similar build that a friend gifted me; otherwise would probably be hanging onto it. It is full of lower-gain classic rock tone!