The Greer Amps Little Samson is a high-gain overdrive/distortion pedal that pushes the Plexi-style sound into heavier territory. Writing at Pedal of the Day, Mike B described it as a pedal that "captures all the spirit of the old Marshall Plexi amps in a beautifully clean and crisp pedal package," and said it takes that tone "into the realm of a true high-gain overdrive/distortion pedal"1. It sits in the distortion lane of Greer's range, and it was designed in collaboration with Andy from Elliott Guitars1.
Greer Amps pedals are designed by Nick Greer and hand-built in Athens, Georgia2. The Little Samson continues on from the company's Southland Overdrive, taking that foundation into higher gain1.
What it does to your sound
The Little Samson is aimed at players who want Plexi-style character with more drive on tap. Mike B summed up its character as "high gain distortion with full body and touch sensitive presence"1. The touch sensitivity matters here: like the amps it draws on, the pedal responds to how hard you pick, cleaning up when you ease off your attack.
The circuit lineage is worth knowing if you already know Greer's range. The pedal "continues on where their famed Southland Overdrive left off," so players familiar with that pedal will find a related voice with more gain available1.
The three controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Outputs enough signal to cut through any mix; can be cranked with the guitar volume eased back for level control and extra boost1 |
| Tone | Keeps the high end in check while keeping the low end present and tight, with balanced mids1 |
| Gain | A wide sweep covering drive and distortion territory, from chunky drive at lower settings to singing lead tones1 |
The Gain control is the heart of the pedal. Mike B called it "about six pedals in one," with a range wide enough to cover "any drive or distortion territory," from chunky lower-gain drive through to singing lead tones1. The Volume control also doubles as a boost: with the guitar volume rolled back, the pedal can be cranked for extra level1.
Power and bypass
The Little Samson runs on a 9-volt battery or a standard center-negative 2.1mm power supply, the same arrangement as most compact pedals1. It is true bypass, so the signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off1.
The 2.1mm center-negative connector is the standard used by most pedalboard power supplies, so the Little Samson will run from a typical daisy chain or isolated supply1.
Build and warranty
The pedal is built with top quality components and carries a lifetime warranty to the original owner1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's 2016 review was positive about the pedal's range. Despite having only three controls, the reviewer found a wide spread of usable tones1:
"With such a range of sounds, you'd be hard-pressed to find a setting you couldn't use, anywhere on this pedal."
The same review highlighted the Tone control's balance, noting that it keeps the high end in check while the low end stays present and tight and the mids stay balanced1.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Eirik Stordrange
Questions
Is the Greer Little Samson true bypass?
Yes. The Little Samson is a true bypass pedal, so with the effect switched off your guitar signal passes through without the circuit coloring it. It was reviewed as true bypass by Pedal of the Day in 2016.
Does the Little Samson run on a 9V battery?
Yes. The pedal runs on a 9-volt battery or a standard center-negative 2.1mm power supply, so it works with the common 9V DC adapters most pedalboards already use.
Who designed the Greer Little Samson?
The Little Samson was designed in collaboration with Andy from Elliott Guitars. Greer Amps pedals as a whole are designed by Nick Greer and hand-built in Athens, Georgia.
What power supply does the Little Samson use?
It uses a standard center-negative 2.1mm 9V DC power supply, the same connector and polarity as most effects pedals, or a 9-volt battery.
Sources (2)
- Greer Amps Little Samson Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2016-03-05
- Greer Tarpit review, MusicRadar, 2017-05-20
