What no one tells you about Guitar Pedals & "clone" circuits

Often we hear about how "such and such" pedal is "just a clone" of something else. While sometimes, yes it's true that a pedal is a straight up 1 for 1 clone of another, more accurately it can be looked at as "building blocks", similar to legos. In this video I'll take the same basic circuit and turn it into an overdrive, clean boost, distortion, Fuzz, and velcro-glitchy-super fuzz, all by changing an handful of parts and adding a few things around the base circuit.
Side note: If y'all like the sounds here, I might be able to make a handful of one-offs. Let me know in the comments.

[@wampler_pedals]

Music from My Darn Jam Tracks: kzbin.info/door/55xyo8HvJMuTROnqpPgG5Q

[@Underfluked]

Would be really brilliant if you could make your DIY pedal books available for people interested in this stuff. Is there any way to buy a digital copy of them or download them please? Love your pedals, content, guitar playing and attitude. 😎👍👍

[@wampler_pedals]

@@Underfluked There's one currently on amazon. The next version is currently still being written/edited

[@Underfluked]

Any thoughts on re-releasing the older ones? 🤔🙏

[@wampler_pedals]

@@Underfluked Other than the mods, they're outdated too much

[@Underfluked]

Ahh ok, thanks for responding. People must ask you the same stuff time and again, appreciate you coming back to me. 😎👍👍

[@jadenmiller5116]

I'm in the electronic engineering program at my local college and this video is GREAT! You've combined my education and my favorite hobby into this video. Please continue to make these "nerdy" videos. Also, I would love an in-depth explanation of how to make different effects at the basic level, like what its doing to the voltage signal, current, etc.

[@brunoroque192]

"I spent 3 minutes breadboarding this" and still sounds great. I'm impressed how every breadboarded circuit Brian does in his videos are great. You're awesome, Brian. Cheers from Brazil.

[@jhspedals]

Great job on this!

[@christianmarroquin8370]

Gee I wonder why Josh Scott likes the video where it shows that cloning a circuit exactly is pretty hard. I have an idea, make a silicon fuzz circuit with and without a certain redundant capacitor. But you've already done that, haven't you ;)?

[@jhspedals]

GAYLIEN the Gay Alien you seem like a really fun guy!

[@christianmarroquin8370]

@@jhspedals Oh I'm great at parties.

[@maxonmendel5757]

Josh, you should get the guy doing production on your videos to Indiana to do a few videos for Brian.

[@battletoad01]

They both have great shows. Brians way of filming reflects his personality perfectly. As im sure Joshes does as well. I find the jhs channel to be a very different type of education more about the history of gear this one is more about the creation. A nice change of pace from one to the other. Both very nice to have access too.

[@JazzzRockFuzion]

Brian Wampler doesn't gig with a pedalboard; he brings five breadboards, some wire and a bag of alligator clips...and changes 'pedalboards' between tunes! Seriously, I would throw money at any of those impromptu "circuits" you whipped up. Very educational/enlightening. You're a true artist at what you do! Also: My V.1 Sovereign is probably my favorite distortion pedal of all time. Cheers!

[@rickc2102]

Picture it: effects circuitry you can shift mid-gig, much like moving around the patch cables on an analog synth rig.

[@shadowgolem9158]

@@rickc2102 that is basically what the switches and pots on the top of any pedal make available. Especially rotary switches as you can totally change your path multiple ways.

[@nzeches]

Why bother adding a foot switch ? Just wiggle around a few jumper wires and you’re good to go ! :)

[@saam6768]

@@rickc2102 like modular for guitarists' pedal boards.

[@LTJR.]

@@nzeches yeah but you wiggle the wrong way and you're not going anywhere, ha!

[@pdwhite-ue3md]

Dang, Brian’s breadboard sounds better than many pedals I’ve owned 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@elonmush4793]

I agree. Here's an idea: Can you put all those sounds in one box? Since the circuits are pretty much the same. "The stompbox that can be whatever you need it to be: fuzz, clean boost, overdrive, ..."

[@samberg8181]

@@elonmush4793 there's the JHS colour box

[@jaychen2000metal]

dad \m/etal phil try the east river drive 👍

[@good_king_guitarman1334]

I thought the same!!

[@ToddtheExploder]

dad \m/etal phil Yessir! Wish I had his knowledge.

[@Sadlander2]

I'm not into electronics, I don't understand much about what's going on inside these boxes but here's why I love this channel: Often, when people talk about this box or that effect, about this brand and about that model, they make it seem as if there was something mysterious, something magical going on inside the box but in your videos, you're showing how at the end, it's just a matter of what you use in a circuit and where you use it. That's it! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!!

[@wampler_pedals]

Exactly! 👍🏻

[@cameronjenkins6748]

One of the most important things that I've learned from your videos is that the only fundamental difference between a fuzz and a distortion is how much bass you let get distorted.

[@jonnyalec5646]

insanely good tidbit of info

[@rileyioacura]

The broken fuzz is perfect!!

[@hrlarson]

The last fuzz sound was right up my alley.

[@dobeeeeval]

Sounded like some White Stripes

[@stephenparry6811]

So to get that fuzzed out tone you just need all your wires exposed which is almost a moment of synchronicity that is exactly what i did last night testing a newly soldered fuzz circuit totally bare going into amp wires were picking up signal like crazy had to put guitar volume just a smidgen above 0 or the utter devasting tsunami of noise would've been literally earsplitting even at that volume the sputters & spits & fuzziness were like awesome...

[@WaRLoKWYATT]

Garbage. It sounded like a fart, but not as good as that.

[@EpicStuffMan1000]

@@WaRLoKWYATT sorry Mr. Bluesrock. Scheduling will be back to normal klons, tubescreamers, light crunches and spring reverb, don't worry

[@yuribillones5094]

Look for Devi Ever - no-fi fuzz. Not sure if that was the original fuzz name, but you can get this type via the chaos mode switch on a soda meiser fuzz.

[@bpdarragh]

Man, thats so insightful. You should make pedals. Oh, hold on...

[@SalemSick]

Brian, could you do a beginner's guide series for those of us who are interested in building and tinkering but are just plain ignorant from the get-go? THANKS!

[@picksalot1]

I found the video fascinating! I've never built a pedal before, but it looks like it would be a lot of fun. Brian, perhaps you could do a video on how to build a breadboard pedal (fuzz, distortion, etc.) It would be useful to first see the basic signal path, and then see where resistors, capacitors, op amps and other components are added and changed to modify the sound as desired. Thanks

[@StuartBridson]

That distortion sound - considering you spent three minutes making this - is ridiculously good. It sounds fantastic, Brian!

[@intothevoid3962]

Wow, this video was amazing. I am a newb to circuits and this was such a good video to demonstrate the little components tweaks for modeling the wave forms. Can't wait to start breadboarding and experimenting.

[@griffmurph7067]

Release the bread board circuit Call it The Bread Winner Make DAT Bread Also, if it sounds good, it IS good.

[@albertplaysguitar]

Thank you! Between you, TPS and JHS vlog... Man, I feel invigorated to tackle tone in the most inspiring yet realistic way possible.

[@violinmiata]

This is really amazing to watch when you have been stuck in pedal design. Add more stuff and things happen! I never bread board, instead create small sections of circuits and lego them together in different ways until happy, then tweak away at values. This really makes sense to me with the blocks of “more stuff”. Thanks Brian!

[@CockySoupNazi]

That transistor gain stage with the opamp sounded a whole lot like a Superfuzz, cool. And, the last circuit sounded like something you would dial in with a Fuzz Factory, amazing. Love this breadboard stuff.

[@mertgunes9854]

Confirming my suspicions. Every electric guitar player should see this video

[@tomaskey6844]

I enjoyed this video. My interest is in trying to build my own effects and have no desire to duplicate anyone else's work. You definitely gave me some ideas. Thank you!

[@bradleyb4920]

So, I'd stumble across this 5 years later after it was posted. I'm looking to learn more, so I hope you still kick this kind of content out

[@timothygibbs8160]

Really appreciate your contribution to the music world brother! Keep up the good work.

[@LIGHTintheHALLS]

That’s very helpful. Knowing how different pedals arrive at drive sounds helps me narrow down what I’m looking for. Thanks Brian!

[@asamcqueen3513]

In all honesty, I love the idea of videos that show off the electrical engineering side of effects, whether explaining clones, or something else. It's akin to what CSGuitars does when he explains the physics of how guitars and amplifiers work.

[@KnowThings]

This is EXACTLY why I love you channel. Thank you Brian!

[@njcranes]

Thanks for all the useful information you give us, Dude. We all appreciate it!!

[@joeefenmama]

Never heard a fuzz I liked till 4:42. Amazing

[@vacustoms]

I want that first one you hooked up.... Thanks for the explanation. Anything that helps us define and label that ever elusive "tone" we have in our heads is a good thing.

[@FabianPulidoJerez]

Brian and Josh, Gods of Guitar Tone.

[@CreepyT]

This is funny timing as Josh at JHS just posted a vid about Behringer Clones. haha

[@Superjet113]

YA, I know I was just thinking the same thing as i just came from watching that JHS video, then here..lol

[@wampler_pedals]

Serendipity! I haven’t seen the JHS one yet

[@JimijaymesProductions]

@@Superjet113 Same!

[@iagobroxado]

I wonder if he'll make a video on the clone subject featuring his whole line of pedals...

[@scottiejordan1064]

@@wampler_pedals10 years ago I went all analog pedals, I bought two beringers cuz they were cheap , both 25.00. The tuner showed up D. O A. New and the chorus worked a week. MXR PEDALS !!!!

[@jeffharrison2840]

Just to say the video was a much better "let's fool around with some basic circuits and show you what's going on" than "what no one tells you" -- the title of the vid grossly undersells why this was a great video to watch!

[@mountainmanmusic3846]

Honestly I don’t know anything about pedal building but i can watch this stuff all day long. It helps me learn the lingo and understand a few things here and there. Thanks man!✌🏻🎸🤘🏻

[@punishmentdue73]

Probably my favorite Wampler vid so far! Great job.

[@carlcraig3974]

Great video. If I like the way the pedal sounds than it's good. I don't get wrapped up in the right circuits or chips.

[@nathanschad8048]

That’s first fuzz rocked my socks! That sustain was choice!

[@castleanthrax1833]

Choice?

[@regentparksongs]

Thanks for the video, it did a great job showing just how versatile a basic circuit outline can be.

[@kevinedgeman4259]

Brian, I am just an old picker that knows what I like to hear.....how it is achieved is up to you. You sir, make the best sounding, tone shaping gear I have ever had the pleasure of using. Thanks for the videos and the little magic boxes😆

[@lalberts]

All of these breadboard videos are really turning my gears. Both of the examples you used today would be awesome to utilize.

[@rockitlikeawolf]

thank you for the demonstration. i find it super interesting that small changes in a circuit can elicit so many different sounds.

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

This is an excellent demonstration of how tweaking a few parts by just changing/adding a few components. You always were the master of the breadboard. I really dislike using them.

[@beau5375]

I'm amazed at how much time & money "musicians" spend on Legos combinations of op amps, transistors & diodes in search of that perfect sound & Wes Montgomery just plugged a Gibson into a Fender amp & played with his thumb. Of course, if people are having fun, who cares. I like your playing BTW & dig that well worn maple fretboard.

[@adrianhiggins4723]

Very cool way to explain basic knowledge of how these gain pedals are created. Nice Lesson!

[@shiftgears211]

Never really enters my mind. However I do LOVE that you explain circuits and pedals opens my eyes to what I’m buying, and what goes into it. Thx.

[@sigma5054]

awesome just simply some of the best guitar tones I've ever heard listening to this channel

[@drewmello6462]

I really like that fuzz from about 5:00-5:20, that would make a sick pedal Mr. Wampler!!!

[@lucasbrunne5193]

I am loving your videos. I'm interested in building my own pedals and i find your vids to be very useful to help point me in the right direction. I must admit that the fuzz tones you got in this video are what I've been initially seeking to build. Nasty, gnarly fuzz barely contained in a box!

[@greggjones2000]

Thanks! I enjoy all the electronics explanation videos.

[@JASTANSELL]

Very helpful for my (newb) level of pedal electronics & circuitry understanding!

[@ejejej9200]

So cool! Thank you! This is wonderful to see! Love that we get to see the breadboard and the logic behind everything.

[@corybettison8361]

I love these kinda videos. I love the way you bread board the pedal in mins lol. I know there's a lot of knowledge that goes into it but you make it look simple.

[@nelsonw2096]

I really liked the two fuzz sounds you had there. Personally I like having a reference point for what a pedal sounds like. Realistically a “clone” is never going to be exactly the same.

[@bigbasil1908]

I thought those two fuzz sounds were truly awful. I guess different people have different ideas about things lol

[@Shaun.Stephens]

Thanks for this, I found it very enlightening. New subscriber here!

[@leftchicago]

Eye opening. Thanks Brian.

[@andreasdavour9973]

Very cool to see what the different changes did!

[@Damaraja]

Good stuff. Thx man. Oh, BTW, I bought a Metaverse today. Figured I’d make it my first Wampler purchase. Love a good echo-delay (and the Metaverse has many jammed into one 💁‍♂️). 🤙

[@mattsaysvideo]

By the way, I loved this. I’m trying to get into pedal modding and eventually building, mostly as a hobby for myself in the hopes that I can literally create the tone I’m looking for. Thanks for sharing.

[@rileyioacura]

Sounds nice straight away

[@jonathanduffett8374]

Brian. Build that breadboard as a pedal. I’ll buy it. If you don’t, I’ll build it myself. And sell it!

[@nicks4802]

And if there was a switch on it that added clean boost..... Id pay a little bit more!

[@josedealva4205]

I was thinking it would be an interesting thing, sort of a modular analog synth, but made entirely for guitar, maybe that´s the future of mojo? @moog music?

[@ant1sokolow]

ZVex already did the Inventobox breadboard in a pedal thing.

[@beenmicrophone5817]

and then I'll buy one off u 😎🎶🎶🎶💖

[@hybridnoisebloom]

That was a lot of fun. More of this kind of video, Brian. In just a few minutes I learned a good deal about pedal circuitry. Thanks.

[@ericzenk4404]

your point makes sense. the ic manufacturers often give sample circuits. Probably a lot of those are copied all the time to make things. at this point, I want to dig my breadboard out of the basement and try some of this. nice video.

[@NarfireVA]

The high gain and fuzz were sick. Absolutely wonderful sounds!

[@markschmitt5550]

The key is in the gain stage filtering... among a few other things: impedance, bias stiffness, specific part typology and specs.

[@jeremycharlerie7523]

Great job. You have open my eyes to the world of pedal building. Please. Teach us

[@markelder2484]

Can you do a pedal for dummies segment where you go in to more detail about op-amps and such?

[@kevotheclone]

Another amazing instructional video from Professor Wampler! I'll probably never build a pedal, even though there are all of those kits available, but your breadboard circuits are waaay too cool for words, so keep it up. I definitely look at what a pedal may be a "clone" of, but I don't let it's clone-iness or lack of clone-iness make the decision to purchase for me; gotta leave that to my ears, and the way it response to my playing. Thanks again Brian!!!

[@stereointellect]

Super appreciate this perspective Brian

[@williammcdonald9833]

I found this video really informative. Thank you for your passion and search for tone and your will to share it and the knowledge to everyone!

[@mariodriessen9740]

I actually really loved the sound of that first circuit. I hope I didn't offend you. :-D

[@us3r11]

The Fuzz got me. I need to learn that stuff!

[@stephenratliff486]

One of the most interesting videos on drive pedals I've ever seen. Also very entertaining 10/10

[@jstro-hobbytech]

That's a sweet jig man. You should put a little scope on it. People don't realize that every circuit is a clone of a clone of second year ee level circuit theory. I think you do great work.

[@markhammer643]

I'm a big fan of "imploding" sounds, like you get around the 6:30 mark. These are generally achieved by using cascaded high-gain circuits. One of my pedals is basically an MXR Distortion+ clone, feeding an Ampeg Scrambler clone. Implosion sounds abound. Another is essentially a heavily modded EHX Double Muff circuit, which is fundamentally a pair of silicon Fuzz Faces in series. It makes a terrific platform for experimentation.

[@davidborg1136]

I would totally be gasing for a pedal that did all these tones in one box. Nice job Brain!!

[@simonfreer9076]

Thanks Brian. I always enjoy your videos.

[@simonfreer9076]

Oh, and the plural of Lego, is Lego. I just read the description. It's a bit of a thorn with me

[@wampler_pedals]

@@simonfreer9076 oops! sorry

[@phil42069205]

Great sounds as usual.

[@jean-michelfarley9135]

Hey Brian, these nerdy videos are really interesting! It would be nice to have a video present how you choose the capacitors and resistances going between these different stages.

[@mickdebergerac1143]

I soo wish there would have been a teacher at my school that did this sort of thing. Love it , you are really good at breaking the myth of tech. As said elsewhere here, this throw together 3 minute jobby sounds better than 90% of stuff I have now or have owned in the past!!!!

[@delusionwalker8852]

You have opened a world of options in my head. Now I am thinking about how cool it could be if I could have this in form of pedal and few sockets with switches to activate abs to activate different modules and also be able to change this modules to different ones. Essentially no different than what you show in the video just more organized as a finished product. Thanks for the video!

[@markplombon7061]

I own the wampler 57 tweed, and like it alot. I just like your videos, because I do not know much about the electronics of pedals, and your videos are great that you kind of explain what is going on with all of that. I did not answer your question, but gave you feedback on what you do, and it is great.

[@DaisyHollowBooks]

I just happened upon this channel. This is very interesting stuff. Pedals have always been mysterious to me. I’ve subscribed, and look forward to learning more.

[@Adamhauk22]

I remember the 1st Time I breadboarded a working overdrive n got to hear n feel the difference between swapping op amps diodes & different parts so many things that you’re conditioned to believe will make a larger change such as changing the op amp is incredibly subtle n things you didn’t expect like changing the size of cap or resistor can make a drastic difference.. that started the endless rabbit hole of building amps n pedals n constantly modded n tweaking.. your the king of gain BTW Brian. Me n most of my pedal tinkering friends agree

[@Adamhauk22]

www.leadfoot.rocks

[@derrick_builds]

Cool setup. Great video. Thanks for sharing your builds.

[@olivergiles6731]

Very enlightening! ! Thank you!

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

Killer circuit is that my birthday present ?? Apr 11th ...sounds great Brian !!

[@ernieflanaganstingraybassm1463]

Now it sounds like a Fuzz face !!! yuk yuk...

[@jasonwilding6334]

I wish everyone would just shut up about the pedals/tone and start to appreciate the real winner in this video. THE SHIRT!

[@darrellwestrick2110]

After watching this channel, I had sussed a clean boost was a distortion box without the clipping diodes. This confirms. Helps nubes like me

[@wampler_pedals]

It can be, usually without eq flavorings.

[@darrellwestrick2110]

@@wampler_pedals that makes sense. My clean boost has a single knob. Is that simply gain?

[@zingaman101]

Very interesting. Great video! love your take on building and explaining how circuits work. Cheers

[@lurkerlid]

Very illuminating and dare I say, educational. Thanks.

[@saskfarm]

I stay away from tube screamer circuits because they dial back in some clean. So I’ve been told. Like I’m going for dirt, and you leave some clean in there? Thanks for the video Brian. That’s what I do with my life. Watch you.

[@youngtough00]

Very cool. I've built some pedals(one on perfboard and the rest on PCBs) and feel like I've hit a rut. I was just following layouts and afraid to jump into breadboarding. I'm gonna give it a whirl and see what I can come up with!

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Interesting and informative. Thanks.

[@shader26]

The OD sounded fantastic. I focused more on the very cool “jig” you set up around your breadboard. Since I play with making pedal I had already hit on the idea of using a plate with in and out jacks, and on/off switch, but you took it much further and now I have to make something similar. Great video too!

[@wampler_pedals]

I moved away from that a little while ago and created this: modyourownpedal.com/products/breadboard-module-bb-1-for-prototyping-guitar-pedals

[@shader26]

@@wampler_pedals damn. Fell for it immediately, and the price is good, only problem, it’s sold out. I definitely would buy it, but any idea when you will have more for sale?

[@wampler_pedals]

I’m getting ready to put a new batch up here shortly

[@shader26]

@@wampler_pedals cool! I will keep checking for it. If possible had one other question. I would like to have a looping guitar input to some pedals while I tweak them with things like trying different transistors, op amps, bias, etc. was thinking that it would be important to duplicate a guitars output impedance to get it right. Can you advise? Or maybe have something that does that? I can of course loop, but it is the guitars impedance I’m more interested in.

[@wampler_pedals]

I usually just buffer into whatever effect I’m working on but you can use a “pickup simulator” circuit and increase the impedance if you need to.

[@tonyp7651]

“Oh, that’s nasty” = subscribed...

[@jodysanders1111]

Absolutely fantastic ! I can't thank you enough for a video like this. Even though I don't fully understand electronic circuitry,I am starting to. I hear of people building or modifying their own pedals alot. Wow,the things I could do if I possessed that kind of knowledge. Regardless,,,thanks again for a great knowledge share. Hats off to the creative pedal makers everywhere. Hope to see more videos like this soon.

[@royzic]

Very educational and entertaining !

[@yummyklown9226]

Brian: "I spent about 3 minutes on this breadboard....." Me: "I spent 3 years on this breadboard....."

[@johnnymankins1139]

Those were some great fuzz tones!! Box them up and take my money. Seriously great video

[@kevinharrington4009]

Amazingly thorough and informative, thank you for the peak behind the curtain

[@musashihumar]

I got a hand made clone of the Maestro MFZ-1 fuzz pedal a few years back. Definitely captures that raw, untamed, wild fuzz sound of the first two or three Black Keys records.

[@SFolkes97]

Great info. What I know for sure is that I liked that first circuit miles better than some - make that many - production pedals.