The Greer Amps Lamplighter Optical Compressor is an optical compressor pedal that takes a studio-style compression sound and puts it on a pedalboard. Pedal of the Day described it as one that "takes that classic studio sound and brings it front and center to your pedalboard," and the maker built it in Athens, Georgia1.
Controls
Beyond the standard Volume and Compression knobs, the Lamplighter carries a blend, a treble tilt and a release toggle, which is more shaping than most simple compressors offer1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level, one of the two standard compressor controls1 |
| Compression | Amount of compression, the other standard control1 |
| Comp Mix | A blend control to let you have as much or as little of the compression effect present in your signal path1 |
| Treble | Lets you boost or cut the higher frequencies, with bite when cranked up1 |
| Release toggle (F/M/S) | Three-way switch that chooses how quick the compressor's release is1 |
The Comp Mix blend is the control many players look for on a compressor: it lets you keep some of your uncompressed picking dynamics in the signal while the compressed portion sits underneath, rather than committing to a fully squashed tone1.
The F, M and S release settings
The three-way toggle sets how quickly the compressor lets go of a note, and each position suits a different playing style1:
- F (Faster): a faster release, nice for adding just a hint of subtle compression to your sound.
- M (Medium): the standard and even keel setting all around.
- S (Slow): excellent for long sustaining chords and slide guitar, creating a bloom of sustain.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's 2017 review was favorable on both the feature set and the result: "A stunning compression experience through and through, the Lamplighter adds everything you need to your rig to make it sparkle and shine overall"1.
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Questions
Where is the Greer Amps Lamplighter made?
The Lamplighter Optical Compressor is made in Athens, Georgia, by Greer Amps. Pedal of the Day notes the Athens, GA origin in its 2017 review of the pedal, and the maker's name appears throughout coverage of the release as the Athens-based builder behind it.
What does the Comp Mix knob do on the Lamplighter?
Comp Mix is a blend control. It lets you set how much of the compressed signal sits in your overall sound, so you can run anything from a barely compressed clean tone to a heavily squashed signal, keeping your dry picking dynamics in the mix if you want them.
What do the F, M and S release settings do?
The three-way toggle sets how quickly the compressor's release is. F is a faster release, good for a hint of subtle compression. M is the medium setting, described as standard and even keel all around. S is slow, suited to long sustaining chords and slide guitar, creating a bloom of sustain.
What does the Treble knob do on the Lamplighter?
The Treble knob lets you boost or cut the higher frequencies as you see fit. Pedal of the Day called it an excellent addition, noting that cranking it up adds bite to the compressed signal.
When was the Greer Amps Lamplighter released?
Greer Amps released the Lamplighter Optical Compressor in 2017. Delicious Audio reported the launch on 31 May 2017, and the pedal later appeared in The Tone Report's Top 5 Pedals of 2017 list published that December.
Sources (2)
- Greer Amps Lamplighter Optical Compressor, Pedal of the Day, 2017-07-31
- Best 5 Stompboxes Of 2017 According To The Tone Report, Delicious Audio, 2017-12-12
