The JAM Pedals LucyDreamer Supreme is a two-in-one overdrive and boost pedal, announced in September 2017 as the flagship model of the company's OD/Boost line. JAM describes it as featuring a transparent overdrive with a Dry / Wet Mix, alongside a boost carefully voiced to complement the overdrive side when running either in pre or post mode1. Premier Guitar's coverage of the press release calls the boost "a powerful new guitar-friendly boost, which we carefully voiced to compliment the overdrive side"2.
An overdrive and a boost in one pedal
The two sides are built to work together or apart. Both the Overdrive and Boost sides of the LucyDreamer Supreme work as standalone pedals, each engaged by its own footswitch1. Guitar World's report on the release notes that the Boost is independently accessible via a dedicated foot switch and retains the open, harmonically rich sound of the LucyDreamer circuit4.
The Boost is designed to run optimally either in Pre or Post modes, meaning you can place it before the overdrive to push it harder or after it as a clean level lift4. Premier Guitar's report on the press release describes the LucyDreamer Supreme as the first JAM pedal with expression-controllable dry/wet mix and a dedicated boost footswitch2.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Output level of the pedal3 |
| Tone | Tone shaping3 |
| Gain | Amount of overdrive3 |
| Dry / Wet Mix | Adjusts the ratio between the overdriven and clean signal on the Overdrive side4 |
| High / Low Gain toggle | Ranges from barely "hairy" to full-blown overdriven tube-amp style saturation4 |
The Dry / Wet Mix is the feature that sets the overdrive side apart from a conventional drive pedal: it lets you blend clean signal back in with the overdriven signal4. It is also controllable via an expression pedal, granting the user complete real-time creative control4.
Boost placement and expression inputs
The LucyDreamer Supreme carries two expression pedal inputs, for better control of the wet/dry overdrive signal and the amount of boost or cut3. That makes it one of the more expression-friendly drives of its generation: you can sweep the blend of clean and driven signal with your foot while playing, and ride the boost level the same way.
There is also a volume-pedal trick built in. Guitar World reports that setting the internal trimmer to the minimum value (the default position) and employing the dedicated Boost expression input lets users run the Boost section as a volume pedal4.
Using the Boost expression input as a volume pedal requires the internal trimmer to be set to its minimum value, which is the default position from the factory4.
Price and release
The LucyDreamer Supreme's Boost side can be placed before or after the OD side, and JAM Pedals notes that it works "when running either in pre or post mode"14. MusicRadar's coverage of the pedal's release gives its MSRP as $2493.
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Questions
Can the LucyDreamer Supreme's overdrive and boost be used separately?
Yes. Both the Overdrive and Boost sides of the LucyDreamer Supreme work as standalone pedals, and each has its own footswitch for independent access. The Boost is designed to run optimally either in Pre or Post mode relative to the overdrive side, so you can place it before the overdrive to push it harder or after it for a clean level lift.
Does the LucyDreamer Supreme take an expression pedal?
Yes, it has two expression pedal inputs. One controls the wet/dry overdrive signal and the other controls the amount of boost or cut. JAM Pedals says the Dry / Wet Mix is controllable via an expression pedal, granting the user complete real-time creative control. With the internal trimmer set to its minimum default value and the dedicated Boost expression input in use, the Boost section can also be used as a volume pedal.
What does the Dry / Wet Mix do?
The Dry / Wet Mix sits on the Overdrive side and lets you adjust the ratio between the overdriven and clean signal. Blending in some of your clean tone is one way players keep a pick attack and low end intact under drive, and because the mix can be assigned to an expression pedal you can sweep it while playing.
How much does the JAM Pedals LucyDreamer Supreme cost?
At its September 2017 release, the LucyDreamer Supreme carried an MSRP of $249, which MusicRadar reported on 18 September 2017. Premier Guitar and Guitar World reported a $249.00 street price around the same announcement.
What does the High / Low Gain toggle do?
The High / Low Gain toggle helps users get sounds ranging from barely hairy to full-blown overdriven tube-amp style saturation, according to JAM Pedals. It sets the overall drive range the Gain control works within, from light edge-of-breakup textures to heavier saturation.
Sources (4)
- JAM Pedals, Delicious Audio, 2017-06-22
- JAM Pedals Releases the LucyDreamer Supreme, Premier Guitar, 2017-09-13
- JAM Pedals unveils LucyDreamer Supreme overdrive/boost, MusicRadar, 2017-09-18
- JAM Pedals Unveil LucyDreamer Supreme, Guitar World, 2017-09-13
