The Greer Amps Special Request is a single-knob boost pedal with a FET preamp circuit inside. Greer Amps describes it as a boost that is based on the circuitry found in some of the world's most expensive amplifiers, and positions it as a D-Style FET preamp rather than a plain volume lift1. One knob sets the level, and the rest of what it does happens in the circuit.
What the maker says it does to your sound goes beyond volume. Greer Amps describes slight compression, textural enhancement, what they call unique and selective midrange performance, and more clarity and focus, with single notes and chords coming across as more articulate1. These claims come from Greer Amps themselves rather than from published reviewers.
What it does: a single-knob FET boost
The front panel has one knob.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the amount of boost; the preamp's compression, texture and midrange character are fixed in the circuit rather than on a knob1 |
Greer Amps calls the Special Request "a single knob boost, but there's so much more going on with it"1, and the "more" is the FET preamp stage. Where a basic clean boost like the Greer Amps Sonic Boom raises the level while leaving the tone largely alone, the Special Request is built around preamp circuitry, so the boost comes with the character the maker describes1.
In the maker's own words, here is what Greer Amps says the circuit adds to your signal:
- Slight compression1
- Textural enhancement1
- Unique and selective midrange performance1
- More clarity and focus, with single notes and chords coming across as more articulate1
"a single knob boost, but there's so much more going on with it"
For a player, that means the choice between the two comes down to intent: a transparent level raise in front of an amp, or a boost that also shapes the note. Greer's other boosts, such as the Sure Shot Clipping Boost and Pork N Beans Boost, sit elsewhere on that spectrum, each with its own clipping and voicing approach.
Power: 9V, 6mA, doubled to 18V inside
The Special Request runs on a 9-volt battery or a standard center-negative 2.1mm power supply, and draws only 6mA, which is light enough that it is easy to fit on a shared pedalboard supply1. Inside, an internal voltage doubler pushes those 9 volts up to 18 volts to feed the circuit1. Raising the internal supply voltage like this gives a FET stage more headroom before it runs out of room, which is part of how the pedal keeps its clarity at higher settings.
| Power specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input voltage | 9V DC, center negative, 2.1mm barrel1 |
| Battery | 9V1 |
| Current draw | 6mA1 |
| Internal operating voltage | 18V (doubled from 9V)1 |
Feed it 9 volts only. Greer Amps specifies a 9-volt center-negative supply, and the doubler makes the 18 volts internally, so an 18V adapter at the input is not the way this pedal is designed to be powered1.
Buying, shipping and warranty
The Special Request is built to order. Greer Amps says pedals ship within 1 to 2 weeks of your order and payment, and each pedal carries a 5 year warranty to the original owner1. The maker's page lists the price as £112.00 GBP1; a US dollar list price is not given.
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Questions
Is the Greer Special Request true bypass?
Yes. Greer Amps lists the Special Request as true bypass, so when the pedal is off your signal passes through without the circuit coloring it. Humbucker Music's product page lists the same true bypass switching.
Does the Greer Special Request run on a battery?
Yes. The pedal uses a 9-volt battery or a standard center-negative 2.1mm power supply. The internal voltage doubler then pushes those 9 volts up to 18 volts to feed the circuit.
Can the Greer Special Request take an 18V power supply?
No. Greer Amps specifies a 9-volt center-negative supply only. The pedal makes its own 18 volts internally with a voltage doubler, so feeding it 18 volts at the input is not how it is meant to be powered.
How long does a Greer Special Request take to ship?
Greer Amps builds the Special Request to order. The maker's page says pedals ship within 1 to 2 weeks of your order and payment, and each one carries a 5 year warranty to the original owner.
Sources (2)
- Special Request, Greer Amps
- GREER AMPS SPECIAL REQUEST, Moog Audio (moogaudio.com)
