The JET Lamb Overdrive is a programmable overdrive pedal from JET Pedals, a maker based in Kansas City. It has a 100% all analog signal path, three selectable clipping circuits, three onboard presets and full MIDI control over every knob, switch and feature12. JET Pedals describes it as a "do-everything" overdrive, and positions its tone alongside the Marshall BluesBreaker, Analog Man King of Tone and JHS Morning Glory1.
The pedal is an op-amp based overdrive circuit with soft clipping diodes inside the feedback loop, the same general design as the Blues Breaker family of pedals12. JET Pedals says it delivers smooth, organic breakup and a transparent boost that enhances your natural tone, with touch-sensitive response for dynamic playing3.
What the Lamb does
The Lamb is an op-amp based overdrive with soft clipping diodes placed inside the feedback loop of the op amp, a Blues Breaker-inspired design2. Soft clipping in the feedback loop means the diodes round off the waveform gradually rather than chopping it hard, which is the classic recipe for a low to medium gain overdrive that cleans up with your guitar's volume knob. Delicious Audio, covering the pedal at launch, noted that the default quad symmetrical silicone diodes offer the least amount of compression for maximum clarity and "tube" like breakup2.
JET Pedals says the pedal provides smooth, transparent overdrive for natural tone enhancement, with warmth, clarity and an articulate edge, plus touch-sensitive response for dynamic playing3. The workflow is similar to JET Pedals' Revelation Reverb: there is a Live mode, where the knobs work as you'd expect, and a Preset mode, where the pedal recalls saved settings2.
The two footswitches are soft click "smart" switches with time based functions2:
- Long press Bypass (at least half a second): cycles the clipping circuits
- Long press Preset: cycles the presets
- Double press Preset: engages Lead Boost
- Hold both: enters Preset Save Mode
Three clipping circuits: Cyan, White and Yellow
The Lamb's main trick is three selectable overdrive circuits, each a different diode clipping arrangement1:
| Circuit | Clipping arrangement | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Cyan | Quad silicone diodes | Least compression, maximum clarity, "tube" like breakup2 |
| White | Dual silicone diodes | 1 |
| Yellow | Asymmetrical silicone diodes | More headroom, good for pushing an amp into saturation2 |
The Yellow circuit removes the clipping diodes from the bottom half of the waveform, which creates asymmetrical clipping and more headroom; Delicious Audio described it as a good choice for pushing an amp into saturation2. You can switch circuits from the front panel with a long press of the Bypass switch, or over MIDI: CC #27 values 0 to 42 select Cyan, 43 to 85 select White, and 86 to 127 select Yellow4.
Presets and MIDI control
The Lamb stores three selectable onboard presets, and the knobs are inactive while the pedal is in preset mode1. Saving is done by holding both footswitches to enter Preset Save Mode2.
MIDI control covers every knob, switch and feature, and the pedal conforms to the MIDI Association TRS to MIDI adapter specification12. From the factory it receives on MIDI channel 1, and the channel can be changed on power-up; channels run 1 through 16, wrapping back to 1 after 164.
The manual documents these MIDI assignments4:
| Message | Function |
|---|---|
| CC #23 | Bypass switch: 0 to 63 off, 64 to 127 on |
| CC #24 | Preset switch: 0 to 63 off, 64 to 127 on |
| CC #25 | Any value 0 to 127 increments the preset number |
| CC #26 | Any value 0 to 127 decrements the preset number |
| CC #27 | Circuit: 0 to 42 Cyan, 43 to 85 White, 86 to 127 Yellow |
| CC #19 | Volume knob: values 1 to 8, 1 fully counter-clockwise, 8 fully clockwise |
| PC #1 | Recalls the second preset (Red) |
The manual also describes a second way to build presets: a "smart" MIDI controller can send multiple simultaneous MIDI messages, one CC to turn the Bypass switch on, one to select the circuit, and one for each knob value4.
Power: 9V, 200mA
The Lamb runs on a 9V DC power supply with a negative tip connector, which is not included1. It requires a 200mA or larger supply; JET Pedals warns that anything less will cause performance issues1. Internally, an 18V charge pump converts the standard 9V supply to 18V for maximum headroom and response2.
The 200mA requirement means the Lamb is a poor candidate for a low current daisy chain output. Give it its own isolated 9V output rated at 200mA or more, and note that no battery option or included supply is offered.
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Questions
Is the JET Lamb Overdrive true bypass?
Yes. JET Pedals specifies true bypass switching for pure signal clarity, so the pedal passes your signal untouched when it is off. It also uses soft click Bypass and Preset footswitches with time based functions, including a long press of the Bypass switch to cycle between the three clipping circuits.
What circuits inspired the JET Lamb?
JET Pedals says the Lamb's tone is inspired by classic circuits like the Marshall BluesBreaker, the Analog Man King of Tone and the JHS Morning Glory. It is an op-amp based overdrive with soft clipping diodes inside the feedback loop, the same general topology as the Blues Breaker family.
Do the knobs work in preset mode on the JET Lamb?
No. The Lamb has three selectable onboard presets, and the knobs are inactive while the pedal is in preset mode. In Live mode the knobs work normally; you can save a knob setting into a preset by holding both footswitches to enter Preset Save Mode.
How big is the JET Lamb Overdrive?
The enclosure measures 4.7 in x 3.7 in x 1.66 in, which is 119 mm x 94 mm x 42 mm, and it weighs 369 grams. JET Pedals describes it as a compact, pedalboard-friendly enclosure.
Sources (4)
- Lamb Overdrive, JET Pedals
- Jet Pedals Lamb Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2022-01-17
- Powerhouse Set, JET Pedals
- Voes | MIDI-CC, Voes, 2024
