The Nordvang Wingman V2.0 is a dual overdrive pedal from Nordvang, a company focused on building high-quality dual-channel overdrives1. It puts two identical overdrive circuits, both based on the K-style (Klon) circuit, in one enclosure: side A on the left and side B on the right, each with its own footswitch, so you can run either side alone or stack them together21. Nordvang describes the stacked result as a boost and medium-gain overdrive with what the maker calls loads of headroom and output on tap1.
V2.0 is the updated version of the original Wingman, and the update is mostly under the hood: the internal op-amp supply voltage was changed to +/- 9 Volt (18 Volt total) for better signal handling when stacking the two sides, and a TRS split function was added for pedal looper systems21.
Two Klon-style overdrives in one pedal
Nordvang introduces the Wingman as "our new dual overdrive pedal," featuring two identical overdrives based on what the maker calls the mythical K-style circuit2. The Klon Centaur, the original that circuit copies, is famous enough that Nordvang's own single-channel pedals chase the same sound; when guitar.com reviewed the company's '83 Drive V2.0, whose side B is also a Klon-style circuit, reviewer Ed Oleszko wrote:
"The highest compliment we can pay the Nordvang next to out near-mythical original Klon is that we genuinely couldn't tel"3
The name comes from aviation. Nordvang explains that a wingman is "the plane flying beside and slightly behind the lead plane in an aircraft formation," a fitting image for two circuits that can be used separately or stacked together2.
The controls on each side
Both side A and side B have the same external control set, which keeps the two halves easy to dial in against each other2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| GAIN | Sets the drive level of that side2 |
| TONE | Shapes the frequency response of that side2 |
| VOLUME | Sets the output level of that side2 |
| Low Gain toggle | Two-position switch that adjusts the maximum gain range in the overdrive gain stage2 |
Each of the two identical channels has its own footswitch, so either side can be switched in or out independently1. The toggles are TAIWAY switches, a component choice Nordvang calls out alongside VISHAY 1% metalfilm resistors in the build21.
The order switch and internal dip switches
Between the two sides sits an order toggle switch that flips the internal order of the effects, and hence the signal path from guitar to amp2. With two overdrives stacked, which one comes first changes the character of the combined tone, so this one switch effectively gives you two different stacked sounds from the same settings. Delicious Audio describes it as an external switch to choose which order the signal passes through the two circuits1.
Inside the pedal there is more to configure:
- One set of dip switches per side, labeled "lows," which extends the bass response in the circuit2. Nordvang specifies two internal dip switches for extending the low frequency response, one in the overdrive gain stage and one in the clean signal path, for each side2.
- Three internal dip switches that enable the TRS split function2.
The TRS split, added in V2.0 by popular demand, lets the pedal work with pedal looper systems like the GigRig, where the two sides can be routed separately rather than in series21. Nordvang's Gravity Drive V2 gained the same kind of TRS split function via internal dip switches when it was updated1.
Power and connections: 18V internal headroom and TRS split
The headline change in V2.0 is the internal power. Nordvang changed all internal op-amp supply voltages to +/- 9 Volt, an 18 Volt total, for better signal handling when stacking the two sides21. Delicious Audio describes the same change as the internal supply voltage boosted to 18 Volt for increased headroom in all gain stages1. For a player, more headroom means the stacked signal stays cleaner and tighter at high output levels instead of compressing or flubbing out.
The buffer is another Klon-family trait carried over from the original Wingman. Nordvang says21:
"Staying true to the original we've kept the buffer, but added switching options for tweaking"2
That means the Wingman keeps the buffer from the original, with switching options for tweaking. Players who want to read more about that side of things can start with the buffer pedals page2.
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Questions
Is the Nordvang Wingman a Klon clone?
Yes, in the sense that both of its channels are built on the K-style (Klon) circuit. Nordvang describes the pedal as two identical overdrives based on that circuit, and it uses NOS OA91 germanium clipping diodes, a hallmark of the original. V2.0 keeps the buffered approach of the Klon design but adds switching options for tweaking.
Can the two sides of the Wingman be used separately?
Yes. The pedal is divided into side A (left) and side B (right), each with its own footswitch, and each can be used independently or together. An order toggle in the middle flips which circuit the signal hits first, so stacked tones can be voiced two different ways.
Why is it called the Wingman?
Wingman is a military aviation term for the plane flying beside and slightly behind the lead plane in an aircraft formation. Nordvang chose it because the two circuits can be used separately or stacked together, one supporting the other like a wingman.
Does the Nordvang Wingman have a buffer?
Yes. Nordvang says it stayed true to the original Wingman by keeping the buffer, but added switching options for tweaking it. This follows the Klon-style circuit the pedal is based on, which is a buffered rather than true-bypass design.
Sources (3)
- Pedal Update: Nordvang Wingman V2.0, Delicious Audio, 2023-01-27
- Wingman v2.0, Nordvang Custom
- Nordvang ’83 Drive V2.0 review: A faithful recreation of widely used drive circuits all in one box, guitar.com, 2022-03-08
