Electro-Harmonix Lumberjack Log Overdriver Guitar Effects Pedal

There are certainly enough overdrive pedals on the market these days, and most of them get the job done admirably. In this sea of comparable pedals, there isn't a lot that sets them apart. The Lumberjack Log Overdrive, however, is a different breed of overdrive pedal that uses a logarithmic curve as opposed to a linear curve as most overdrives do. There's some science in there that needs explaining, but the sonic result is a very unique and responsive overdrive effect that responds to your playing dynamics. Bassists will also want to check out the Lumberjack as it works really well without disturbing low frequencies.

 What You Need To Know

•  First, it's helpful to understand what sets the Lumberjack apart from other overdrives—its logarithmic curve. Typical OD pedals use a linear curve, where each point is equally spaced from one another. In a logarithmic curve, we're dealing with multiplication rather than addition, resulting in a much smoother curve. If you think about it in visual terms, our eyes process light logarithmically, which allows us to see greater detail between light and dark areas within our visible spectrum. If they processed linearly, each increase in light would be much more intense, eventually overwhelming our eyes. Sonically this can be desirable, but that's not the way the Lumberjack behaves.

• The Lumberjack has three controls: Volume, Boost and Log Factor. Boost controls your input level, Volume the output and Log Factor the amount of logarithmic distortion.

• What's interesting about the Lumberjack's tone is that rather than overwhelming your signal, it seems to harmoniously co-exist with it no matter the setting.

• Lower settings of the Log Factor control give you a splendid clean boost that really brings out the best in your guitar's sound.

• As the Log Factor control is brought up, you get a dynamic overdrive that sparkles with harmonic overtones and cuts through like a razor. There's a fantastic range of sounds achievable both for chorded and single notes, from torn-speaker fuzz to warm drive that maintains note clarity.

• The Lumberjack is also a very bass-friendly pedal, as its wiry drive sits on top of your low end. I highly recommend for bassists looking for a gritty, tube-like addition to their sound that doesn't disturb the bottom end.

• The Lumberjack includes a power supply and is true bypass.

• With a street price around $60, it's a steal.

 Limitations

• The Lumberjack is very good at what it does, but don't go in thinking it's your standard OD. Because of its logarithmic curve it behaves and sounds differently. Not really a limitation per se, but an expectation setter.

Conclusion

Boost, overdrive and fuzz are all close cousins to one another, and I found that the Lumberjack does a great job dancing between all three. Although it's labeled as an overdrive, which is certainly does, the tonal character to my ears sounds more like a well-behaved fuzz pedal. It's capable of many things, from a transparent clean boost to a killer bass fuzz, with all sorts of overdrive options in between. It truly is a modern player's overdrive pedal and makes for another winner from Electro-Harmonix.

Resources

The Electro-Harmonix Lumberjack Log Overdriver at Musician's Friend

Electro-Harmonix Lumberjack at ehx.com

Electro-Harmonix Lumberjack Demo

Ara Ajizian, Harmony Central's Editorial Director, has been playing bass and guitar as well as singing since he was 18, and soon that love of music combined with a passion for writing; launching what's now a decade-long career immersed in the gear world. He's thrilled to be back on the Harmony Central team after two years as Managing Editor for Musician's Friend covering gear, bands and events and gigging in the Los Angeles area.