KMA Machines Logan

The KMA Machines Logan is a low-to-mid gain overdrive pedal built in Berlin by KMA Audio Machines, and it is the German maker's first entry into the low-gain overdrive arena¹². What sets it apart from most drives at this gain level is its midrange section: a parametric mid EQ you can sweep, boost, cut, footswitch in and out, and even control with an expression pedal. KMA describes its sound as smooth and harmonically rich, with more hair, grit and sizzling depth as gain is piled on, fitting anything from clean boost and amp-like breakup to indie clang and a full-on rock machine³.

The pedal is also built with headroom in mind. KMA cites up to 25 dB of headroom and calls the design perfect for use as a preamp with an IR cab sim or modelers³. Guitar.com's Daniel Seah found the same flexibility, noting it can be deployed as a sweet sounding low- to mid-gain drive, run as a preamp with 25 dB of boost, or used to deliver mid-centric tones from wah-like quacks to slow-phaser-style tones via its wide mid-EQ range⁴.

What the Logan does to your sound

The Logan is divided into two parts: an overdrive stage and a Mid Boost section¹. The overdrive side carries controls for Level, Drive, Low and High, with the Low and High knobs forming an active 2-band EQ that can each boost or cut by around 15 dB³¹. On top of that sits the parametric mid section, which is where the pedal earns its reputation for flexibility.

Guitar World's reviewer Trevor Curwen summed up the range: it can serve as a low- or mid-gain drive, be used as a preamp, or deliver a squelching cocked-wah sound⁸. MusicRadar's launch coverage framed the same idea as a question of gain staging: whether you want a preamp boost up to +25 dB, some low to mid-gain crunch, or more hair-raising drive, the Logan offers ways to shape it⁹.

Controls and the sweepable mid EQ

The control set breaks into the drive side and the mid section:

The MID control lets you set your preferred mid frequency between 100 Hz and 2.5 kHz³. Curwen described the range in Guitar World as running from the low-end thump of 100 Hz through to the chimey presence of 2.5 kHz, with cut or boost of up to 12 dB around the chosen frequency⁶.

The PRE/POST switch is the detail experienced players will notice. It lets you place the mid EQ either before the main gain stage or after it³. Curwen highlighted this choice of where the midrange sits in the pedal's signal path as a key feature⁶. Putting the EQ before the gain stage lets boosted mids drive the clipping harder; after it, the EQ shapes the already-overdriven tone.

There are two internal tweaks as well. A trim pot blends in clean signal with the overdriven tone for increased tonal options⁶. A second trim pot, accessible through a hole in the base plate, sets the bandwidth (Q) of the Mid-EQ: counter-clockwise for a broad bandwidth, fully clockwise for really resonant sounds².

The expression input

On the side of the pedal is an expression input that takes hands-free control of the Mid-EQ frequency via a regular expression pedal³. Curwen found an expression pedal can set the mid EQ frequency on the fly⁶, and Delicious Audio reported wah-like results from controlling the mid frequencies this way². Gearnews' reviewer Jef put it plainly: with the expression input you can move the center band with your foot, a bit like a wah pedal, and together with the internal controls this can get you close to true wahwah functionality¹. MusicRadar's launch coverage described the same capability as on-the-fly filter sweeps and throaty wah tones⁹.

As a preamp with IRs and modelers

KMA positions the Logan's high-headroom design, up to 25 dB, as perfect for use as a preamp with an IR cab sim or modelers³. That headroom figure matches the +25 dB of boost Guitar World cited for the pedal¹⁰. For a player running a direct rig, the Logan can sit in front of a cab simulation as the gain and EQ stage rather than as a traditional stompbox into an amp.

History and versions

KMA Audio Machines announced the Logan Drive in September 2019⁹. Gearnews called it a boutique overdrive pedal built in Berlin¹, and Guitar World's launch coverage noted the German brand was promising big things from its latest effort⁷. The pedal launched as the Logan Transcend Drive, available from September 6, 2019 for £175 / €189 / $219⁷.

In May 2020, KMA followed it with the Logan Desert Transcend Drive, a limited edition built on the same Logan drive pedal base¹¹. It shipped in an ultra-limited Desert White colorway with matching anodized red knobs¹⁰, limited to 100 handmade units¹². Gearnews described it as a "Super touch-responsive" overdrive pedal design with lots of headroom, up to 25 dB¹¹, and it carried the same three-band active EQ with adjustable mids frequency, dedicated mids footswitch, pre or post gain switch and standard expression input as the standard Logan¹⁰¹².

What reviewers said

Guitar World's Trevor Curwen reviewed the Logan Transcend Drive and listed its strengths as a wide range of drive tones and attention to midrange detail⁶. Gearnews' Jef called it a flexible boutique drive pedal with a secret, pointing to the hidden internal controls¹. Guitar.com's Daniel Ong described it as a versatile, touch-responsive overdrive pedal⁸, and Pedal of the Day highlighted its 3-band active EQ and the PRE/POST switch for the mid EQ¹³.

Price and availability

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