The Greer Southland Harmonic Overdrive is an overdrive pedal from Greer Amps, built on the same platform as the company's Lightspeed Organic Overdrive but with more gain and two stages of clipping that use different diode types for each stage1. Greer positions it as a mild to medium overdrive and crunch pedal, with a focused midrange and a bit of presence on top of the signal to help a guitar cut through the mix1.
The pedal's signature feature is its Harmonic control, which blends between two distinct clipping characters. It was released on October 14, 20141.
What it does to your sound
Greer describes the Southland as delivering mild to medium overdrive and crunch, with a focused midrange the company distinguishes from an annoying midrange "hump", plus a bit of presence on top of the signal to help cut through the mix1. The extra gain over the Lightspeed comes from its two stages of clipping, each using different diode types1.
The Harmonic control is where the two clipping characters live. Writing on Delicious Audio, Paolo De Gregorio explained how it works2:
"The magic is in the Harmonic control. It blends between two distinct clipping modes."2
On one side of the Harmonic control, the pedal produces a softer, more open drive with even-order harmonics. On the other, the character becomes grittier and more compressed, with odd-order harmonics pushing into distortion territory2.
The Drive and Range controls also have depth to them. Pedal of the Day's Mike B found that the two controls "coax a vast variety of tonal options", from a boosted signal with the Drive around 10:00 to a thick, creamy overdrive when maxed3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets gain level, from a boosted signal around 10:00 to thick, creamy overdrive when maxed3 |
| Range | Tones and shapes the drive character, with enough depth for a variety of options3 |
| Harmonic | Blends between two clipping modes: a softer, open, even-order drive and a grittier, compressed, odd-order character2 |
How it differs from the Lightspeed
The Southland started life on the Lightspeed Organic Overdrive platform1, and Delicious Audio notes it began as a modded version of the Lightspeed2. Pedal of the Day framed it as Greer's next step up from the wildly popular Lightspeed3.
The practical difference is gain and character. Mike B found the Southland has "more pronounced gain and chime than it's less driven little brother", ranging from a clean boost sound to an almost distorted, bordering-on-fuzz overdrive3. Where the Lightspeed sits in the light overdrive range, the Southland reaches further into crunch and near-distortion territory while keeping the same family feel.
Stacking and pairing
Greer says the Southland fits with any musical style and "pairs amazingly well" with the Lightspeed Organic Overdrive, stacking for a rich, harmonics-filled overdrive tone1. Running the two together is a common way to use the pedal: the Lightspeed can supply the low-gain foundation while the Southland adds the higher-gain layer.
The pedal also stacks well beyond its own family. Delicious Audio's writeup notes the Southland has earned its reputation through sheer reliability and good tone, showing up on serious boards and not leaving, and that it "stacks beautifully with other pedals because it doesn't try to dominate the signal"2.
Power, bypass and build
The Southland runs on a 9-volt battery or a standard negative center, 2.1mm power supply, and accepts 9 to 18 volts with a negative center pin only1. It draws 10mA at 9 volts, light enough for most isolated power supplies1.
Greer specifies a negative center pin only. Check your power supply's polarity before plugging in, since a positive center supply can damage the pedal.
Switching is true bypass, so the pedal leaves your clean signal alone when disengaged1. The enclosure measures 4.77" x 2.6" x 1.39" and comes in a natural raw finish, so minor tooling or manufacturing marks may be visible on the sides1. Greer covers the pedal with a 5 year warranty to the original owner1.
The pedal is currently built to order and ships within 1 to 2 weeks of order and payment1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Southland around its release in October 2014. Mike B's verdict13:
"If you're looking for a sweet-sounding, focused, mid-level overdrive with just enough gusto and presence to cut through"3
He found the depth in the Drive and Range controls coaxed a wide variety of tonal options, and confirmed the true bypass switching and 9-volt battery operation3.
Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio, in an updated 2026 writeup, emphasized the pedal's longevity and its Harmonic control as the heart of the design, noting it has been around for a while and earned its reputation through reliability and good tone2.
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Questions
Can the Southland run at 18 volts?
Yes. Greer specifies a power range of 9 to 18 volts, with a negative center pin only. Running it at 18 volts is within the maker's stated operating range, and the pedal draws 10mA at 9 volts.
Does the Greer Southland take a 9V battery?
Yes. Greer lists the pedal as using a 9-volt battery or a standard negative center, 2.1mm power supply. Either power option works, so it can go on a powered board or run standalone.
Is the Greer Southland true bypass?
Yes. Greer specifies true bypass switching, so the pedal passes your clean signal without buffering when it is switched off. Pedal of the Day's review confirms the same.
How is the Southland different from the Lightspeed?
The Southland is built on the Lightspeed Organic Overdrive platform but offers more gain, with two clipping stages using different diode types. Pedal of the Day described it as having more pronounced gain and chime than the Lightspeed, ranging from a clean boost to an almost distorted, bordering-on-fuzz overdrive.
Can you stack the Southland with a Lightspeed?
Yes. Greer says the Southland pairs well with the Lightspeed Organic Overdrive, stacking for a rich, harmonics-filled overdrive tone. Delicious Audio also notes it stacks beautifully with other pedals because it does not try to dominate the signal.
Sources (3)
- Southland Harmonic Overdrive, Greer Amps
- Greer Southland Harmonic Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2026-05-19
- Greer Amps Southland Harmonic Overdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2014-10-07
