Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31 vs Wampler Tumnus Deluxe
The Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31 and the Wampler Tumnus Deluxe are both pedals sharing crunchy, mid-forward. The Tone City Model B Distortion TC-T31 leans full and high gain. The Wampler Tumnus Deluxe leans edge of breakup and transparent. Current prices: $88.80 vs $183.08.
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Blended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.32% — somewhat different
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Derived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.- crunchy
- mid-forward
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Citation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.$88.80via Reverb
$183.08via Reverb
The Tone City TC-T31 Model B is a budget US-style high-gain distortion inspired by a Mesa/Boogie Rectifier, the hottest-voiced pedal in Tone City's range. A Vintage/Modern mode switch changes its character substantially: Vintage gives a crispy, tight crunch building into the saturated high gain of the 1980s and early '90s, while Modern scoops the mids further and lets the low end bloom for the thick, chunky rhythm tone heard on countless '90s and 2000s metal records. A three-band EQ gives real control over the voicing, and a boost switch adds volume and saturation for lead work. It spans tasteful crunch to fully saturated modern metal, though reviewers note it does not fully match a real valve preamp. True bypass, 40mA draw, requires a 9V DC supply and will not run on a battery.
The Wampler Tumnus Deluxe expands the compact Tumnus into a fuller-featured Klon-style overdrive with a three-band EQ and a switch that spans nearly transparent boost to serious overdrive. It keeps the string-to-string clarity, high-headroom output, and amp-like breakup of the Klon voicing, staying transparent as a boost and warm and organic in its crunch, with natural compression and breakup that feels like an amp rather than a pedal. The added Bass, Mid, and Treble controls work as cut and boost to tailor the pedal to any amp, with warm lows, an identifiable midrange, and the right amount of top-end sparkle. It preserves the guitar's natural tone and dynamics, cleaning up with the volume knob, and suits blues, rock, and country. Its only quirk is that pushing the mids past about two o'clock can produce a cocked-wah character.
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Genres this gear is documented as being used in.- Metal
- Blues
- Blues Rock
- Country
- Rock
- full
- high gain
- saturated
- edge of breakup
- transparent
- bright
- dynamic
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Occasions this gear suits — judged per model, or derived from its wattage, connectivity and category.- Busking
- Live