The Lotus Pedal Designs Snowjob Ge Underdrive is a limited germanium version of the Snowjob Underdrive, a boost/overdrive pedal that Pedal of the Day called one of its favorites from over the years. The Ge variant keeps the same simple two-knob format but swaps in germanium parts: an AC187 germanium transistor hand selected for gain and leakage, a matched pair of 1N34A germanium diodes, and Mullard Tropical Fish capacitors. Only 30 units exist1.
How it differs from the Snowjob Underdrive
The Ge Underdrive is, in Pedal of the Day's words, "a special version of this pedal, the Ge Underdrive"1. The standard Snowjob Underdrive had already established itself with the site, which named it among its favorite pedals from over the years1. The Ge version keeps the same underdrive/boost concept but changes the components, and with them the sound.
"this pedal reveals a nice twist on the first version, with some different components and different sounds as well"
The idea behind an underdrive, as Lotus described it, is that it "adds harmonic content in between the notes"2. Rather than pushing an amp into heavy distortion, an underdrive works within the notes themselves, which is why the format pairs naturally with a clean boost.
Controls and modes
The control section is deliberately simple: a Volume knob and a Gain knob, plus a toggle switch that selects between two voicings1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level1 |
| Gain | Amount of drive1 |
| Toggle (left) | White Snow mode: like the regular Snowjob, a rich and full sound with more warmth and low end than the other position1 |
White Snow mode is the setting that carries over the character of the standard Snowjob. Pedal of the Day described it as "like the regular Snowjob, giving you a rich and full" sound with more warmth and low end than the toggle's other position1.
Availability
The Snowjob Ge Underdrive was a limited run of 30 units. Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote that "you'd better scoop one up if you happen to be lucky enough to find one"1, so the pedal turns up only secondhand, if at all.
For players who miss the run, the standard Snowjob Underdrive and the germanium parts it inspired remain the reference points: the Ge version stands as a small-batch take on a pedal the reviewer already rated highly1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
How is the Snowjob Ge Underdrive different from the Snowjob Underdrive?
The Ge Underdrive is a special version of the Snowjob Underdrive. Pedal of the Day described it as a nice twist on the first version, with some different components and different sounds as well. Where the regular Snowjob uses standard parts, the Ge version adds a hand-selected AC187 germanium transistor, a matched pair of 1N34A germanium diodes and Mullard Tropical Fish capacitors, which give it its own character.
What does White Snow mode do on the Snowjob Ge?
With the toggle to the left, the pedal is in White Snow mode. Pedal of the Day described this as being like the regular Snowjob, giving a rich and full sound with more warmth and low end than the toggle's other position. It is one of the two sounds available from the pedal's simple control layout.
How many Lotus Snowjob Ge Underdrive pedals were made?
Pedal of the Day reported that only 30 of these pedals exist, making the Ge Underdrive a limited edition variant of the Snowjob Underdrive. The reviewer suggested scooping one up if you happen to be lucky enough to find one, since the run was that small.
What transistor does the Snowjob Ge Underdrive use?
The Snowjob Ge uses an AC187 germanium transistor, hand selected for gain and leakage, according to Pedal of the Day's 2017 review. Germanium transistors are a large part of why this variant sounds different from the standard Snowjob Underdrive.
Sources (2)
- Lotus Pedal Designs Snowjob Ge Underdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2017-10-20
- Lotus Pedal Designs Snowjob Underdrive, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2014-04-04
