Lightspeed Vs. Southland: Which Greer Amps Overdrive Is Right For You?

The Lightspeed or the Southland, which overdrive do you suggest?

This is a question I get asked quite a lot from guitarists looking to add some excellent Greer Amps effects into their setup. 

You can't go wrong with anything made by Nick Greer at Greer Amps; everything is just so good.  But when it comes to adding overdriven tones to your setup, which is the best fit for you, from arguably his two most popular overdrive pedals?

In all honesty, they are both fantastic, and wouldn't look or feel out of place if they were both in your setup, as in actual fact they have been engineered and designed to stack super well with each other.  But, with many key differences between the two, when it comes to crafting your own perfect tone, each one offers unique sonic characteristics.

So, for your setup, which one is right? Let’s break it down.

The Greer Amps Lightspeed

There is no doubt that the Lightspeed is one of the most popular effects pedals with many guitarists worldwide, as its always seen on countless boards, and is one of the best sellers we have here on Pedal Jungle.

But what characteristics make it so popular, and are they right for you?

The Greer Lightspeed 'Organic' Overdrive is a pedal designed with transparency in mind. It offers a light to mild overdrive that enhances your guitar’s natural tone without overshadowing it.

The term 'Organic' is a way of describing the Lightspeed as an overdrive pedal that will offer it's user, the clearest and most natural feeling possible, blending with the tone of the guitar and amplifier, to deliver a more natural drive for those looking for it.

Key Features

• Light to Mild Gain: The Lightspeed excels in providing a subtle overdrive that complements your playing rather than dominating it.
• Rich Harmonics and Smooth Clipping: The clipping is complex, but smooth, which ensures an organic and natural-sounding overdrive that retains the clarity of your instrument.
• Dynamic Response: The Lightspeed is highly sensitive to pick attack and your playing dynamics, making it a favourite for players who value expressiveness.

Ideal Use
The Lightspeed is perfect for guitarists who want to add a touch of warmth and grit to their sound without losing the essence of their guitar’s original tone.  It's also perfect to be utilised as an 'always-on' pedal, as it's one that will just sit nicely in your setup, adding subtle tone enhancements, and can be pushed to add a little more gain if need be.  A go-to for genres that demand clarity and articulation, such as blues, country, and indie rock.

You can check out the Greer Lightspeed here.

The Greer Amps Southland

Now for the Greer Amps Southland Harmonic Overdrive.

The Southland builds on the foundation of the Lightspeed platform but takes things a step further by introducing more gain and harmonic complexity.

Key Features

• Mild to Medium Gain: The Southland offers a more pronounced overdrive, providing enough gain and crunch to push your amp into rich harmonic territory.
• Dual-Stage Clipping: The different diode types for each stage of the clipping adds depth and complexity, delivering more gain and a thicker, more textured overdrive with amazing sustain.
• Midrange Focus: The Southland enhances your midrange frequencies without the typical hump, ensuring your guitar cuts through the mix with clarity.

Ideal Use
The Southland is for players who need a more robust overdrive that can handle everything from classic rock crunch to soulful leads.  Its harmonic richness and midrange focus make it versatile for any musical style, but you'll often find one behind the awesome tones of many rock, alternative, and blues artists.

You can check out the Greer Amps Southland here.

Key Differences Between the Lightspeed and Southland

Now you've heard about both pedals, what are the key differences we can clearly see between the two?

Gain Structure

• The Lightspeed offers a lower gain range, ideal for subtle overdrive and clean boosts.
• The Southland provides a higher gain range, suitable for more aggressive overdrive tones.

Tone Characteristics

• The Lightspeed is known for its transparency and natural tone, preserving the character of your guitar.
• The Southland adds a more focussed midrange, without the annoying 'hump'.

Presence Complexity

• The Lightspeed’s single-stage clipping ensures a pure and organic overdrive.
• The Southland’s dual-stage clipping introduces and harmonic complexity, giving it a more pronounced and extended presence that cuts through the mix.

Although the Southland is built upon the platform of the Lightspeed, the do not cover the same sonic territories.  They do, however, offer the player a very dynamic response, as both are touch sensitive, and respond well to pick attack, but, The Southland simply goes to places the Lightspeed doesn't.

While different and amazing on their own, they work even better together.

Stacking Potential and Versatility

One of the most exciting aspects of the Lightspeed and Southland is their ability to stack super well when used together.  In fact, the Southland was engineered and designed to do just that.

By stacking these pedals, you can achieve a wider range of tones, from subtle boosts to higher gains, and a more saturated overdrive, as the combination of the Southland and the Lightspeed will make for one of the most heavenly overdriven tones you're likely to hear.

Start with the Lightspeed for a clean boost and add the Southland to push your sound into those heavier gain, harmonic territories when needed, while still retaining the dynamic response characterised in both units.

In Conclusion

Both the Lightspeed and Southland overdrives from Greer Amps offer exceptional tone and versatility, and your choice ultimately depends on your playing style and tonal needs.

If you’re after a transparent, low-gain overdrive that preserves your guitar’s natural sound, the Lightspeed is your match. On the other hand, if you need a more pronounced overdrive with rich harmonics and a focused midrange, the Southland could be more suited to your setup.

Of course, you don't have to stack them; they both do amazing things on their own, but it's good to know that awesome stacking option is there.

Whichever you choose, both pedals deliver the quality and craftsmanship Nick Greer and Greer Amps are known for, you will never be disappointed with anything they produce.

Haven't tried either of these pedals out yet? Take a look and discover what all the fuss is about.

Or, we'd love to hear about your experiences with any of these pedals.  Drop a comment below and tell us how they've transformed your setup.

Thanks for being part of our FX Pedal Brotherhood. Your support means the world to us!  And remember, we're always here, ready to help you elevate your sound.

Much love,
Paul

Frustrated with your pedalboard, feel like you’re always chasing the sound that lives in your head, or effects simply just not sounding right, then maybe our new Secret Setup Blueprint Guide could be the answer.