This shootout review dives deep into the world of overdrive pedals, specifically comparing the Wampler Tumnus Deluxe against its predecessor, the original Tumnus. We also include the popular Soul Food and EP Booster for a comprehensive tonal comparison. All are put through their paces, revealing their unique characteristics and suitability for various musical styles and playing techniques. The goal is to determine not only how well the clones emulate the coveted Klon-style transparency but also to highlight the individual strengths of each pedal.Using a consistent setup—a Mesa Boogie Mark V 25 amp, a custom shop Stratocaster, and minimal post-processing—we ensure a fair and accurate evaluation of each pedal's inherent tone. The review includes detailed audio demonstrations across various musical contexts, from clean chords to aggressive rock solos. We explore dynamic response, gain structure, and the potential for using these pedals in conjunction with one another, demonstrating their versatility in a range of musical applications. Ultimately, we aim to help you choose the best overdrive pedal to fit your needs.
Pros And Cons
- Won online shootouts, including the Andertons shootout.
- Sounds close to the original Wampler Tumnus.
- Cannot fully duplicate the sound of the original Wampler Tumnus, particularly in the low-midrange.
- Has a unique sound in the mids and low mids that the Deluxe version cannot replicate.
- With the hot switch engaged, it has more gain than the Deluxe version.
Read more: Top 5 Guitar Chorus Pedals You Need
The Contenders: A Klon-Style Pedal Face-Off
This shootout pits four popular overdrive pedals against each other: the Wampler Tumnus Deluxe, the original Wampler Tumnus, the Soul Food, and the EP Booster. All but the EP Booster are considered Klon-style pedals, aiming for that coveted transparent overdrive sound. The EP Booster, while a booster, adds a touch of natural gain.
The goal is to compare their tonal characteristics and see how closely the clones match the original Tumnus, and to assess the unique qualities of each. The setup is straightforward, ensuring a fair comparison of each pedal's inherent tone.
The Setup: Gear and Methodology
The pedals were tested using a Mesa Boogie Mark V 25 (running on the 10-watt setting), a custom shop 59 Stratocaster with all controls cranked to 10 (with a slight out-of-phase setting between the neck and middle pickups), and a Shure SM57 microphone placed slightly off the cone of the amp.
The signal chain was kept clean: straight from the guitar to the pedals, into the amp, then mic'd to a Zoom R24 recorder, and finally to the computer for mixing with minimal reverb added. This eliminates external factors and focuses solely on the pedals' tones.
Sound Comparison: Clean, Blues, and Rock
The video provides audio demonstrations of each pedal in various musical contexts, including clean chords, blues-style riffs, and rock solos. This allows listeners to directly compare the nuances of each pedal's tone and gain structure.
The reviewer explores each pedal's response to dynamic playing and its suitability for different musical styles. The audio clips illustrate the subtle differences in character and how each pedal responds to the guitar’s output.
Boosting Capabilities: Taking it to the Next Level
The video explores the potential of using the EP Booster and the Tumnus pedals as a boost for the Soul Food and the Tumnus Deluxe. This section highlights the versatility of these pedals as part of a larger pedalboard setup.
The reviewer demonstrates how the different boost combinations create a range of tones. He observes how the combinations impact overall gain, clarity, and harmonic content.
Conclusion: The Verdict
The reviewer found the EP Booster to have a fantastic bottom end, excellent for solo practice, but possibly too bass-heavy for a band setting. The Wampler Tumnus Deluxe and the original Tumnus were very close in sound, although the original has an edge in the mid-range.
The Soul Food was deemed a bit thin. The Wampler Tumnus Deluxe was the overall winner for gigging and practice due to its versatility. The hot-switched version of the Tumnus Deluxe offers more gain for rock and roll styles.
