Wampler's Two Most Misunderstood and Misused Pedals

In this video, we take a closer look at two of the most misunderstood and misused pedals in the history of Wampler Pedals.
The complexity of these pedals starts with their backstories. Created from the necessity of having a tonal Swiss Army knife while playing in bands, these pedals have been misunderstood as mere overdrive or distortion units, and often confused users when the pedals were available.
One of the biggest misconceptions lies in the EQ settings. If you've tried using these pedals as standalone overdrive or distortion units and felt let down, you're not alone. We'll break down the often perplexing EQ settings.
Many users overlook another brilliant feature of these pedals: their utility in situations where an amp might fail, or when dealing with subpar backline amps. Furthermore, they excel in a pedalboard-to-IR-loader setup, offering an alternative that many have never even considered.
While the world moves increasingly toward digital modeling, these analog circuits offer something uniquely compelling. They provide the kind of authentic edge-of-breakup tones that can be a simple yet potent alternative to their digital counterparts.
For a limited time only: We've re-released a limited batch, available now on our website and Reverb store. As a bonus, each purchase includes an exclusive video that uncovers their intended uses, optimal settings, and other untapped potential.
Reverb Store:
reverb.com/shop/official-wampler
Tweed '57 page:
www.wamplerpedals.com/product...
Black '65 page:
www.wamplerpedals.com/product...
Wampler Guitar Pedal Courses Now Available!
www.guitarpedalcourse.com/
00:00 Which two pedals?
01:29 What does a cranked Bassman sound like?
02:04 What does a cranked black panel deluxe reverb sound like?
02:30 Ignore “logical” eq settings
03:37 the pedals into a vox ac-30
06:06 using them as a preamp vs into front input
08:04 using them in an ampless setup, like a modeler
10:55 the “special” thing to stick around for

[@TheJoern]

The Black 65 is the most important pedal on my board, since a decade now! I use it as a relatively clean soundshaper after my drive and boost pedals in front of several British amps (Vox AC15 HW, Orange Rocker 15 Terror, Marshall DSL40). The drive sound I get using a compressor and the Boss GE7 EQ set on midboost in front of it is priceless and beats every single drive pedal I have. It also makes my drive pedals sound better. It took me some time to find out how to use it best, but now I see this video absolutely confirming my discoverys!

[@user-oq3ik6mh1l]

I love using the black 65 as my preamp running into a Tech 21 Power Engine 60. The result is absolutely beautiful!

[@scottcurry4116]

Nice video Brian. Thanks for explaining that the EQ shapes the overdrive and is not post gain. You do an excellent job at adding EQ to your pedals.

[@skatertrev7]

Good call bringing these back. I bought a used Tweed 57 a month back and it's currently my favorite pedal. I run it with the gain nearly off. For color and boost it's 10/10

[@mdmusic2130]

Brian I am glad you did this videos because sometimes I feel people misunderstood pedals and how to use them. Personally it happened to me with the Wampler Pinnacle Deluxe v2. The 3 band EQ section is extremely powerful . When you did your original video you talked about the EQ but almost at the very end of the video ( Around the Minute 10 from the original Pinnacle Deluxe V2 video) saying that this is not your standard EQ control so do not start with everything at noon 🕛 assuming that neutral is there because it’s not. A really important concept that I wished you mentioned it as soon as you started that video because people need to know it right away. It is a fantastic pedal which many people had issues with the brightness adjustment between the vintage/ modern and how the treble knob works. I would love to see a Wampler video with the full history and evolution of the Pinnacle pedal. Like Josh did with the Morning Glory. Both are great classic guitar drives! 🤟🏻🎸🔥🎵

[@antonstefanov2146]

It's a blessing to have such a an opportunity to learn from this videos. Thank You Mr. Wampler

[@AlexandredeSanti]

I have owned a Tweed 57 for several years and took me while to understand everything Brian is saying in the video. Now it's one of my all-time favorites. It's really a TOOL, not just a pedal.

[@christians9617]

TOOL is favorite band

[@ashbody3499]

I love my Black ‘65 soooo much! I first discovered them just after they were discontinued & was on the lookout for a used one for years. I finally found one about a year ago. It is everything I hoped for. A stunning, stunning drive/tone shaper. Thank you Brian.

[@STVG71]

Thank you for the video Brian! Just purchased the Tweed 57 which will be my very first Wampler pedal and I'm so much looking forward to getting it!

[@Corporations8MyBaby]

I learned so much here... I was surprised.. the opposite of what I thought was going to happen. I ended up LOVING the 57 Tweed into the Effects Return. Never woulda thunk it. You're so right. The analog circuit into tubes just does all of that pushing and cleaning up BETTER than the more impressive models / profiles which shine when you leave them exactly as they are. I prefer to push and bend the sound like you do. Thank you for this video. I'm your target. I misunderstood these pedals and I have a new appreciation and understanding of them now.

[@user-sp2ml4yo2k]

Thank you for this video & bringing these back! I bought the black 65 when they first came out and use it on my board ever since. It is by far my most used pedal. My main amps are a variety of fenders a tweed blues jr and a tweed blues deluxe both handle the black 65 beautifully i use it as my warm (just a bit of dirt) pedal. I never had to use any other pedal into it for more gain. Just recently i purchased a Roland jc-40 and while i was expecting the same results as my fender amps ironically, the black 65 did not have as much dirt on that pedal. Totally bummed i started my search for a Tweed 57 to see if it would give me the dirt i was looking for (sidenote: while searching for the sound i tried other lighter gain pedals as a possible replacement for my beloved 65 & nothing delivered & i tried just about everything under the sun) finally i found a tweed 65 used and jumped on it. No regrets and it fits perfectly and gives me the sound i wanted. I have to agree the eq section on these wonderful gems is often overlooked as they are a silent secret that is precise and a little goes a long way! I own probably 10 different wampler pedals and the Black 65 & the Tweed 57 are my most used & favorite! Thank you Brian for bringing them back even if it is limited. Great Pedals!

[@toilettunes1]

great vid brian...always loved your take on amp in a box pedals

[@cyanasmr7203]

Really good info. I myself had a hard time incorporating the tube screamer with the metal petal but eventually found it gave a fuller higher end distortion especially when recording and not playing through an amp, just listening through headphones. I found an EQ pedal very useful in the mix too, scaling back some of the hum I was getting through them when both engaged and cranked.

[@hypnosis_phantastica]

The "special" video you get to watch when you purchase one of these, is very informative and enlightening. And I thought I was the one going crazy, until I watched it.

[@hiddennotesberlin]

i used to run a tiny little shop almost ten years ago in and got the chance to try all of your pedals who are available at that time, and i´m not a big "tweaker".the tweed 57 stood out for me the most of, not just your, pedals.it sounded so "natural" and made me wanna play the whole time.that´s what i´m looking for when it comes to gear

[@michaelshearer3559]

Always fascinates me how many great pedals (like these 2) that get overlooked in the vast sea of new effects, and how often people come back around to their greatness. I just got a Dual Fusion and love it.

[@markdakel9253]

Your video was very informative and helpful- I hope you do another one in the future with a different pedal

[@MrSkyfish7]

As a side hobby, "fun at home" project, I've kept an all analog "modeling" pedalboard. A lot of money, time and effort went into setting it up. It isn't practical but it is a hell of a lot of fun and keeps me always lookin' at new pieces for it. The center stage of this pedalboad contains a Wampler ACE30 and a Wampler Plexi Deluxe. I have changed out the Fender pedal 7 times in the past 5 years trying to find the right one. A Black '65 with top mount jacks? I can't resist having a Wampler trio, I own more Wampler pedals than any other. I ordered one immediately after watching.

[@richardpenhardt6100]

excellent points ... alot,too many people don't realize the range of good quality pedals. small adjustments make significant changes

[@sassycat]

I am sold on getting both, thank you for the video!

[@JimijaymesProductions]

Would love to see some more of the amp in the box pedals back and revamped (these two are great too) . Plenty of Marshall pedals around but vox in a box and fender in a box isn't that common and the slostortion and triple wreck were awesome.

[@ctsilva45]

I built the Runoffgroove Brittania for Vox in a box and the Azebache for Fender in a box. Both are killer!

[@godbyone]

Agree. This was. Great. And more of these type amps would be cool.

[@walterhiggs4888]

Thank you Mr. Wampler. I purchased both of these last night!

[@alexwood8555]

I bought mine today! Thanks Brian, you’re the best!

[@gregolane1]

Have had the Tweed since it was a new item at Wampler. I use it to warm up the front of Quilter and DV Mark solid state amps. Also in the loop of Headrush MX5. Analog sweetens up even the best digital.

[@robpetoletti826]

Never thought of driving your purple Plexi pedal through just the power amp instead of the front of the amp. I will have to try that! Thanks for the idea.

[@jaysmoreymusic]

Now you got me shopping for a Black 65. I swear I'm going to have one of each OD pedal in your full lineup before long...

[@xfighter1117]

Just ordered mine been waiting years thanks Brian

[@MrJingles021]

This is an answer to my prayers. I've been looking for some kind of Fender preamp to use with my Two-Notes CAB M+. Not a huge fan of the preamp in it.

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

Just ordered a Tweed 57 yesterday. I remember playing through a v1 years ago. Tried so hard to get the guy who owned it to sell it to me. No luck. Glad to get one finally

[@TimMilliken]

I have 2 Tweed 57 pedals. They turn a Fender black face style amp into something tweed or Marshall like for rock. Always wondered why he discontinued it.

[@wjniemi]

I'm just going to have to buy one of your pedals. Thanks for the videos.

[@vincentras1991]

Brian, can you please creat “the Pete”. Pete Townsends’ Hiwatt amp with a hint of fuzz. For us rhythm / solo players an essential tool. It’s halfway to Gilmour and on the other side Page.

[@mattgilbert7347]

Catalinbread Hyper Pak "Dirty Channel" If you can find one

[@douglasdog1]

I love the Black 65. I plug in into the Natural Channel on my Rocker 30 which is a single gain stage, clean, fairly uncolored preamp and instantly gives me another flavor of amp. I built a channel switching pedal for my amp that takes the Black 65 (or other pedals) out of the signal path when I switch to the Rockers Dirty Channel.

[@jonathanbauer-zi2ou]

Intrigued, I have the wampler Belle and Ep booster both always on with a love pedal clone as the od in front of my classic 30. Wondering what that 65' would do as a pre amp🤔

[@raybeeger1529]

Two of my favorite pedals and for ever on my pedalboard in front of my Mesa Boogie Lonestar! I've got mine second hand because they would no longer produced by Brians company. They are wonderful and sometimes I use a Nobels OD 1 in front.

[@douga8296]

This is great. I foolishly sold my Tweed57 a while back, and I really miss it

[@brianwood7237]

These are cool pedals Brian However, running my hot wired v2 in to my Strymon iridium on the Round channel - eq set flat, 2x10 IR - is incredibly versatile and sounds great into a DAW

[@Kymantheguyman]

Love my tweed 57. I'm glad I bought it on a whim all those years ago

[@TheLakeJake3]

The guitar nerd father I wish I had! Love learning about the fine differences in different distortion sounds and what’s actually happening

[@godbyone]

This was a good overall explanation of amp sounds drives etc

[@jedduy8144]

Oooof. Guilty about the Black 65. Was scratching my head why it was a woofy, wooly edge of breakup when I was really looking for a TS type of sound. Sorry for not knowing any better, Brian!

[@seankent1807]

Tone at 1:32 is perfection. Best tele “rock” sound I’ve heard in a long time!

[@scottakam]

Thanks. What do you recommend for a clean power supply to run into a guitar cab? Something around 50w. There aren't too many options I see out there and most have pretty steep prices for a small solid state amp.

[@dominikkvocka103]

Hi! Good explanation of use. Btw i want to make it by myself but J201 and other are hard to source now, i have some jfets but problem with them is, that with just 2 stages and source bypass cap i have hot rodded marshall gain. Any idea how to tame it?

[@damonstewart70]

Not only great tones but great playing as well

[@MyCrazyDogs32]

I asked for it before, and I'll ask for it again. Please put a second foot switch on the Black 65 for the Boost instead of a mini toggle. I would buy that in a heartbeat.

[@dmesser06]

Mark, I have a couple of your pedals and just ordered a couple of more today from Sweetwater. I wondered if you have ever thought about making a pedal that would simulate sitar sounds and leslie sounds from the 60's ? Sort of a specialty pedal to have those effects on hand that would be cool for recording and live. And what ever other sounds like that that might be integrated into a pedal like that.

[@PooNinja]

Very cool special bonus how Brian does it video🤘🏽 You are the GOAT of Gain Sir

[@PooNinja]

Please don’t tell Lawrence Petrov, Mike Matthews or Robert Keeley i said that 😂

[@EccentricAuntWanda1]

Recently got the Black 65 - it is already in my top 3 dirt pedals with the Euphoria and Half-horse. delightful.

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Special Announcement: "The cat wouldn't stop asking about the Univibe, so I'm selling him off!"

[@SergioFilho]

If I want to use the cranked sound and also have the crunchy sound for “cleans” should I buy two tweed pedals, and stack them?

[@brandonleespitler]

Both the 57 and 65 in front as an overdrive, sound insane!!

[@nicholasbeydler1257]

@wampler_pedals What did you use for the direct sound…analog cab sim or IR? And what cab sim / IR loader?

[@lazmonti]

Good information, Brian. I have the Plexi Drive Deluxe pedal. Do these concepts apply to that as well? What did you have in mind when you designed that pedal? It seems to have way too much base even with the bass boost switch off and the bass pot turned down to 10 o'clock. I am using a clean channel of a Boss Katana Artist and a Marshall DSL40c clean channel. I can make it work with a Boss EQ200 pedal in front and after it. Was it designed with an amp that has much less bass or am I using it wrong? I love your work Brian. Great videos and pedals.

[@marce211275]

Yes, like the pinnacle deluxe v2, with all knobs at noon it doesn't mean you get perfect neutral guitar sounds. i also put the bass at 10 o clock and treble around 1or 2 o clock. We need to use our ears . it is a powerfull 3 band eq section.

[@joeldowdy404]

I've had them both and understand them well, love them both!!

[@jamieskillman6972]

Also glad you put this out. Weird thing about Perception, I enjoyed my Imperial MK2 amp I could dial in some beautiful tones and the playability of the amp was great, in the long run I couldn't get past where the settings were . Dumb right, I almost repurchased one and was going to dial it in then pull the Knobs and put them where my Brain thought they should be. The Brain knows what the Brain wants.

[@jamieskillman6972]

Nice Pedals

[@mikecorey8370]

I got my Black 65 two days ago. it is AWESOME!! Going on the board and replacing two drive pedals. I've also run my Wampler Belle into it when playing my Telecaster. It's like I have a new amp and guitar. Keep the gain down running into a Blues Deluxe. My PRS absolutely burns, as does my Les Paul. My Strat sounds really good. Brianmight still have a few of these. Check Reverb and get one. This is my 7th Wampler pedal. Actually 8th but I sold the Plexi when I got my Gearbox. Brian is THE MAN when it comes to pedals.

[@12cmf]

I've had both of the original pedals for about a dozen years. The '57 rarely leaves my board. I probably should get a backup. I love the '65 too, but don't have as much use for it.

[@lebowski2007]

Oh man…I had a black years ago and sold it…need this one back, ordered!

[@AndiPicker]

As a matter of interest, what happens if you use one of these to push an already crunchy Marshall, does the eq response become more tweedy or does it just end up being a massive mess?

[@OgamiItto70]

That Bassman, though. It said, "Early-to-mid-Seventies ZZ Top." I heard it. Loud and clear. _Just Got Back from Baby's._ _It Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell._ Maybe make a pedal that does _that._

[@friedrudibega6384]

I find the Pantheon to also be a versatile pedal. Both these pedals sound great too.

[@DevTechAudio]

Love the shirt Brian! Great pedals

[@coffeedudeguy]

I like the Tweed. They both sound good direct too!

[@gph2193]

I hear you and I'm working on it Brian. Moneys tight yet the Black 65 is calling...

[@ltxr9973]

This would be really cool as a clean channel for any single channel amp with a fx loop with some '4 cable method' style switching.

[@ronaldsmith8966]

Thanks, Brian!

[@simply3141592654]

I heard Eddie Perez of the Mavericks uses the Black 65 pedal

[@OssianEMills]

Currently don’t “need” one, but you pretty much just sold me at least on of the two. 🧐

[@picksalot1]

The Nerd video sounds like a great accompaniment to the Pedals. Your understanding of the design and uses should prove quite valuable.

[@MatheusMachadom7]

Great pedals, great video!

[@davebarone506]

Brian, in my experience, with different pedals, the experience changes drastically between sitting in front of an amp in my basement and if you're playing out live on stage

[@MrArnoldarnold]

I would love to see how you would do a full ampless pedalboard with delay, reverb, etc.

[@andypearce5537]

You’re a great player Brian! 👍

[@jcf6]

I run pedals like these (eg, Catalinbread WIIO or Formula 55) into an EHX 5mm power amp into a speaker cab. It is pretty cool.

[@ChrisBrayden]

Got my Tweed ‘57 yesterday in the mail, can’t wait to plug it in. Congrats to all at Wampler for the hard work on the release! Love that Tele!

[@Stray_Cat55]

I still have my Wampler Analog Echo orange square box with four white knobs on top. On back plate looks like it was signed by Justin Simpson #1119 dated 11-2-2008.

[@dannymorrisWNY]

Brian - do you feel like the amp tone stack and the pedal's tone stack kinda fight one another? Seems like the Vox (assuming top boost) and the Black 65 with different midrange scoop frequencies would be conflicting. I personally like running amp-in-a-box pedals into an amp with a flat EQ and let the pedal shape the voicing.

[@wampler_pedals]

When ran into the input yes, unless you fight the urge to use the eq on the pedal like you would normally. Note how I have the mids way up and the bass and treble down here

[@mattmanley7118]

Oooh the 65! If I plug this into a certain brand of amplifier 😅 will I get double the tone? 65 into a 65 😅❤😂 or double the Tweedy Tone into a tweed ??😅

[@BenEvansUSA]

What is the amp in back with the Vox-like grille cloth, on top of the Soldano? I keep seeing it in your videos and it’s driving me nuts!

[@wampler_pedals]

Ceriatone dumble type clone

[@chadromney]

Hi Brian, i ordered the Tweed and am so excited. How is it for low gain? I love Neil Young's cleaner, edge of breakup tones and have been looking for that in a pedal.

[@wampler_pedals]

VERY good at this! That’s my favorite use for it. I typically use the “normal” setting

[@chadromney]

​@@wampler_pedalsI'm even more excited! I've had a few used Tweed 57s on my reverb watchlist but am very happy to buy direct from you!

[@skatertrev7]

I love mine run super clean. Into a Marshall combo in the 'linked' setting

[@chadromney]

@@skatertrev7 can't wait to try it out, thanks for the tip

[@ryanenlow2687]

Greetings Brian, I have a Tweed 57,' Black 65' and an Ace Thirty... I use them to Tweed up my Tweeds, to get more sag out of my Blackfaces and get the Brian May sparkle thing out of My Vox Ac4 head... All fantastic... Now, however, I feel like I might not have been getting the most out of them... Typically, I will put an EP boost in front instead of a TS9... that also ends up in low volume breakup all day... I would NEVER sell my Wampler stuff. ❤❤

[@godbyone]

I m glad. U did this. I played lot of amp s but not a tweed. Not into it. ( not insulting anyone that likes it . I didn’t know til now I wasn’t into it.I like more smooth drive. Dumble. Vibe.

[@waynegram8907]

WAMPLER, I hope the new versions will have a SAG control, Variac control and Bias controls to get those tube breaking up tones. A Super Reverb pedal to get those SRV tones would be a better pedal.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

If you pull up your videos on KZbin do you detect a noticeable difference in the ability to hear differences in tone samples when compared to your "pre-upload" quality?

[@drivin69]

wicked makes that tele hum nice and clean got good bite two the phase in and out

[@paulkreeft2091]

Tweed 57 sounds great 👍 what fender tweed amp is that in the beginning?

[@wampler_pedals]

Bassman reissue

[@davidmurphy4844]

Its a pity that the instructions my pedal came with said nothing about using it as described here. Will now give it another try.

[@wampler_pedals]

I have a whole separate video for those who bought the pedal and/or are on our email newsletter list. Shoot me an email and I’ll send you a link which details much more than the manual. Brian@wamplerpedals

[@pastorkev777]

The Classic and Power Station are my initial preferences for different reasons. There were harmonic changes sometimes that would work better for somethings, but that's the rabbit hole of a guitarist.

[@dmesser06]

Mark I have the ego and the hot wire pedal. And they both have 9 V alkaline batteries in them I didn’t know this until I was unplugging one when the power source was disconnected and the light flashed. I’m getting ready to put them on my recording pedal board and that’s going to have a power source to it so from my dealings with batteries in the past I’m thinking I need to take those batteries out of the pedals. But if they have some other kind of function I need to stay in there please let me know as I am trying to take care of the pedals and as we all know batteries can go bad and leak and damage electronic products.

[@Tomislav_B.]

Black '65 is on my pedalboard for the last 10 years probably and it's not going anywhere. At the end of the chain where it belongs. Beautiful pedal.

[@takeawaybenji]

Rockin the lil' Devil! The Cult Electric is the bomb!

[@gilguajardo7808]

So pleasantly surprised when he did that!

[@stephanewelti8816]

actually those pedals could be really efficient before sim cab such IR's?

[@anthonybennici8748]

So when using as a preamp, the output of the pedal just goes directly to the effects return and nothing is plugged into the front input of the amp? Never tried that before

[@wampler_pedals]

Correct, by connecting direct to effects return you bypass the preamp completely

[@iLightSoundGeometry]

a lot of people dont really know what these boutique amps sound like. for example, I have never owned a soldano.. I have got to mess around with some old amps and most are cleaner than I expected.

[@williamd1891]

I have the Joyo American Sounds which is both of these pedals in one but doesnt sound half as good, but it does get you in the ball park. I would buy a double pedal in a heart beat as I love my Ego and that Wampler quality.

[@mr.d.572]

I have the Joyo too and it's good but noisy and farty at the higher gain. I'd like to eventually upgrade too.

[@williamd1891]

@@mr.d.572 I'd love to have a Wampler version of the AS which is a cheap copy of a Tech21 Blonde pedal from what I have read. Or just a "Fender in a box" pedal that does both Tweed and Blackface.

[@mr.d.572]

@@williamd1891 I have not done a lot of investigation on a dual pedal, but after looking today, there is a Volta Black Tweed and Volta Black Tweed Plus that have both amp stylings in one pedal. I have not heard it yet in a demo but I will check it out soon.

[@7171jay]

@mr.d The Joyo American is ok considering it's $40 and as long as you use it clean or with just the slightest amount of grit. It's not gonna compete with something quality like the Wampler but if all you have is $40 bucks it can be usable as a platform for other pedals. For direct sounds a cab sim is needed even though the Joyo supposedly has one built in, it's pretty slight. The Joyo American or higher quality versions like the Wamplers are improved by running them into the ADA GCS5 which is an analog cab sim pedal / DI.

[@stacks4943]

Awesome..!

[@bassblom]

the tweed at 1:32 it does not get better

[@cestjoel]

can you hook these up directly into a return of an fx loop?

[@cestjoel]

nevermind, u actually answered that later in the video lol

[@gabrielledebourg2487]

Oh, some The Cult! Now that’s a treat!

[@wampler_pedals]

sort of cult-electric-y without setting off the YT algo's lol.

[@plumbummusic2051]

Oooh that's why that riff sounded familiar

[@gabrielledebourg2487]

@@wampler_pedalsYou also got me really into that album, thanks to your breakdown of Love Removal Machine!

[@RJ-lf8ex]

@@wampler_pedals It sounded great and I like your progression with it!

[@rodrigod14]

Love my tweed 57.