The Wampler Tumnus V2 is a Wampler overdrive pedal. Close alternatives include the J. Rockett Archer and the Warm Audio Centavo. It pairs well with the Soldano Astro-20 Head and the Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head.
Wampler Tumnus V2
Wampler · pedal
The Wampler Tumnus V2 is a compact Klon Centaur-style transparent overdrive, the second version of Wampler's Tumnus. It follows the Klon voice: a largely transparent drive that preserves the guitar and amp's own character while adding a pronounced midrange push, a tight, controlled low end and a clear treble sparkle. At low gain it works as a clean boost with light grit for pushing a valve amp harder; higher gain settings give a smooth, compressed overdrive that stays articulate rather than saturated. The V2 adds a three-band EQ in place of the original's single tone control, giving more shaping range in the same mini enclosure.
What stands out
“The V2 adds a three-band EQ in place of the original's single tone control, giving more shaping range in the same mini enclosure”
— from the listing
“It follows the Klon voice: a largely transparent drive that preserves the guitar and amp's own character while adding a pronounced midrange push, a tight, controlled low end and a clear treble sparkle”
— from the listing
“At low gain it works as a clean boost with light grit for pushing a valve amp harder; higher gain settings give a smooth, compressed overdrive that stays articulate”
— from the listing
“The core appeal is transparency with a midrange lift: it thickens and pushes , which is why it is used most often as an always-on boost into an already driven amp”
— from the reviews
“The low end stays tight and the top end retains sparkle”
— from the reviews
- eq
- sparkle
- low end
- midrange
- tight
- treble
- low gain
- boost
Good for
- Busking
- Live
Genres the Wampler Tumnus V2 is commonly used in
- Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Wampler Tumnus V2
Soldano Astro-20 Head
Soldano
25% matchSoldano Astro-20 Head leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head
Revv
25% matchInto a transparent tone, Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Friedman BE-Mini Head brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 brings a pull toward high gain that's missing
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin
Blackstar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the Wampler Tumnus V2
EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter
EarthQuaker Devices
24% matchInto a transparent tone, EarthQuaker Devices Dirt Transmitter brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
22% matchInto a transparent tone, Greer Black Mountain brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Comes later in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Monument CS
Walrus Audio
17% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Wampler Tumnus V2's airy voice out front: Walrus Audio Monument CS goes after Wampler Tumnus V2 in the signal chain so its harmonically rich voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive
Vox
13% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive leans toward smooth, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Eventide Modulated Delay's modulated voice goes after Wampler Tumnus V2 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Wampler Tumnus V2's own airy character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte
Caroline Guitar Company
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run Caroline Guitar Company Kilobyte after Wampler Tumnus V2 in the signal chain, clear of Wampler Tumnus V2's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a transparent tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 brings a pull toward fuzzy that's missing
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Warm Audio Jet Phaser goes after Wampler Tumnus V2 — modulation sits after the gain for a defined swirl
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
J. Rockett Archer
pedal
61% similarityShared character: high gain settings, gold sparkle, boost
Warm Audio Centavo
Warm Audio
61% similarityShared character: original, boost, treble
Analog Man King of Tone
Analog Man
59% similarityShared character: high gain settings, grit, boost
MXR Super Badass Distortion
MXR
59% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, treble
Colorsound Power Boost
Colorsound
57% similarityShared character: high gain settings, boost, treble
JHS Pedals JHS Tumnus
JHS Pedals
56% similarityShared character: boost, transparent
J. Rockett Jeff Archer
J Rockett
56% similarityShared character: boost, transparent
Shins Music Shin's Music Velvet Boost
Shins Music
56% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, smooth
Electro-Harmonix ERD
Electro-Harmonix
56% similarityShared character: gold sparkle, high end, boost
Boss BD-2W Blues Driver Waza Craft
Boss
56% similarityShared character: high end, grit, boost
Fulltone Fulldrive 2 MOSFET
Fulltone
55% similarityShared character: grit, boost, bass
Warm Guitar Pedals WA-CVS
Warm Guitar Pedals
55% similarityShared character: transparent, smooth
See all alternatives to the Wampler Tumnus V2 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Wampler Tumnus V2?+
The closest matches in character are the J. Rockett Archer, the Warm Audio Centavo, the Analog Man King of Tone.
What pairs well with the Wampler Tumnus V2?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Soldano Astro-20 Head, Revv Generator G20 20-Watt 2-Channel Tube Head, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — Soldano Astro-20 Head leans this transparent tone toward high gain, which it doesn't make on its own.