The Lumpy's Tone Shop 7 Series Lemon Drop Overdrive is a guitar effects pedal that sits between the overdrive and fuzz camps. It is an amp-in-a-box style pedal that emulates the Vox 7&4 Series amps, a then new generation of 1960s Vox amplifiers that combined a tube power amp with a solid state preamp and a built-in fuzz circuit1. Those amps have a notable track record: many known bands used them, notably The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, with the Beatles' "Paperback Writer" and most of Led Zeppelin II among the documented uses1.
What it sounds like
Because the pedal recreates an amp that already had a fuzz stage built in, its character is a hybrid. Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Laurent, described it this way1:
"It's very open sounding. There's great string-to-string definition when you play chords. It's articulate like a transparent overdrive usually is but has that gritty, fuzzy note decay that most fuzzes have1."
Laurent's overall verdict was that it is "a non-ordinary distinct sounding fuzz-overdrive hybrid" worth a look at, with no regrets overall1. If that blend of articulate overdrive and fuzzy decay is what you are after, it is a different flavor from either a straight distortion or a conventional fuzz.
Controls and versions
The control layout is simple, with a single Volume knob: more volume clockwise, less volume counter clockwise1.
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Volume | More volume clockwise, less volume counter clockwise1 |
There is also a pedal board space saving Mini Lemon Drop version available that has the exact same circuit as the full sized version1.
The Mini Lemon Drop gives up one thing to save space: it has no possibility for a 9 volt battery, so it must be powered from an adapter. The full sized version keeps the battery option1.
Power and connections
The pedal has a power input so you can use an AC adapter or daisy chain it with other pedals1. The full sized version can also run on a 9 volt battery1.
Custom options
Lumpy's builds the Lemon Drop to order, and the pedal is highly customizable. At the same price, you can request1:
- Multiple color choices1
- Top mount or side mount jacks1
- Additional tone shaping pre-gain or treble knobs1
The pedal's guts are all point-to-point, which suits a shop building each unit by hand1.
Videos
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Questions
What is the difference between the Lemon Drop and the Mini Lemon Drop?
The Mini Lemon Drop is a pedal board space saving version that has the exact same circuit as the full sized Lemon Drop. The difference is in the hardware: the full sized version can run on a 9 volt battery, while the Mini drops that possibility. Both are built by Lumpy's Tone Shop, and the customization options such as jack placement and extra knobs are available on the full sized version by request.
Which Vox amp is the Lemon Drop based on?
The Lemon Drop emulates the Vox 7&4 Series amps, a then new generation of 1960s Vox amplifiers that combined a tube power amp with a solid state preamp and a built-in fuzz circuit. Those amps were used by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, notably on Paperback Writer and most of Led Zeppelin II.
Is the Lemon Drop built point-to-point?
Yes. According to Pedal of the Day's review, the pedal's guts are all point-to-point, meaning the components are wired by hand rather than mounted on a printed circuit board. That hand wiring is part of why the pedal is offered with custom options such as jack placement and extra tone shaping knobs.
Can you get the Lemon Drop with top-mounted jacks?
Yes. The pedal is highly customizable, and top mount or side mount jacks are available by request at the same price, along with multiple color choices and additional tone shaping pre-gain or treble knobs.
Sources (2)
- Lumpy's Tone Shop Lemon Drop Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2015-04-06
- Lumpy's Tone Shop 7 Series Lemon Drop Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2015-03-22