The Wampler Black '65 is an analog amp-in-a-box overdrive pedal from Wampler, designed to harness the cranked tones of a mid-'60s "blackface"-style amplifier1. It is Brian Wampler's take on the American-voiced "blackface" or "black panel" amps of the 1960s from a legendary American guitar and amplifier company, and through a clean amp the maker says it offers a faithful reproduction of the tones Brian loved from that classic period, while also being able to add nuanced grit to an existing rig2. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley called it "Brian Wampler's love letter to vintage tube amp tones, housed in a compact pedal"3.
The pedal is not a high-gain machine. As Horsley put it, "this isn't a fire-breather, and it is designed to complement any amp"3. The original circuit was born after nine months of design, tweaking and testing, developed from various A/B tests with Fender amps and gain settings14.
What the Black '65 does: a blackface amp in a pedal
The Black '65 falls in Wampler's amp-in-a-box category: a pedal that aims to reproduce the sound and feel of a specific amplifier rather than just add generic grit. Here the target is the mid-'60s Fender black panel amps, whose Bass, Middle and Treble controls the pedal's EQ is voiced to replicate3. Wampler describes the pedal as capturing "the tonal nuances and rich harmonics associated with this classic era"2.
The circuit is completely original circuitry, built with high grade film capacitors and resistors picked for their superior sound and response, in a powder coated durable finish1. Wampler positions the analog design against the current trend:
"While the world moves increasingly toward digital modeling, these analog circuits offer something uniquely compelling."
Because it is voiced as a vintage amp rather than a modern high-gain unit, the pedal suits players who want blackface-style breakup at any volume, either pushing a clean amp on its own or adding grit on top of an already driven tone231.
The controls
The control layout is shared with its sibling, the Wampler Tweed '57: Bass, Middle, Treble, Drive and Volume3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Adjusts the overall level1 |
| Drive (Gain) | Sets the amount of overdrive1 |
| Bass, Middle, Treble | 3-band EQ similar to a vintage "black panel" amp, for sculpting tonality, feel, compression and gain structure2 |
| Boost switch | Toggles between lower and higher gain mode; controls the amount of internal gain available to the pedal23 |
The three-band EQ is the heart of the amp-in-a-box concept: because it mirrors the tone stack of the amps being emulated, the controls interact the way a blackface amp's controls would, shaping compression and gain structure as well as frequency2.
Power: 9V or 18V
The Black '65 runs on a 9V power jack with a barrel plug like a Boss pedal, and both the reissue and its Tweed '57 sibling can be run at 9V to 18V from a pedalboard power supply31. A battery connection is included on both the original and the Limited Edition21.
Current draw is very low: approximately 3mA at 9V and 9mA at 18V2. That makes it easy to place on almost any isolated power supply, and the battery option is practical given how little the circuit draws.
Running the pedal at 18V raises the current draw to approximately 9mA. Make sure your power supply can deliver 18V on the socket you use; most 9V-only outputs cannot be doubled safely.
History: Brian Wampler's design and the Limited Edition reissue
The Black '65 Overdrive launched on August 30, 2010, priced at $199.97, after nine months of design, tweaking and testing1. Wampler's founder Brian Wampler, who the maker's page affectionately calls "Grand Pappy BDub," turned his take on the American-voiced amps of the period into what the company now calls the legendary Black '65 pedal2.
After the pedal went out of production, Wampler reissued it in September 2023 alongside the Tweed '57, as limited edition amp-in-a-box overdrive pedals available only direct from Wamplerpedals.com, priced $1993. The Limited Edition is built in the U.S.A. and carries a 5 year limited warranty to the original purchaser against defects in material and workmanship2.
The Limited Edition reissue is a limited run sold only online from Wamplerpedals.com, and Wampler states that once they're gone, they will not return2.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar reviewed the original pedal in September 2010 and was positive about its core job4:
"Priced at $199, the Black '65 Overdrive does the valve amp tone very, very well."
The review also noted the pedal's reported nine months of development from A/B testing against Fender amps and gain settings4.
Black '65 vs Tweed '57
The Black '65 shares its control layout with the Tweed '57: Bass, Middle, Treble, Drive and Volume, plus a switch that toggles between a lower and higher gain mode3. The difference is the era of amp each one emulates. The Black '65's EQ is voiced to replicate mid-'60s Fender black panel amps, while the Tweed '57 takes its cue from the earlier tweed-covered Fender era. Both were reissued together in 2023 as limited editions at $199, direct only3.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
gearmanndude
JetCityMusic
Questions
Is the Wampler Black '65 true bypass?
Yes. The original Black '65 Overdrive was described by Wampler as completely true bypass, so the pedal's circuit is fully out of the signal path when it is switched off. The Limited Edition reissue carries the same analog circuit design.
Can the Black '65 run on a battery?
Yes. Both the original 2010 pedal and the Limited Edition reissue include a battery connection alongside a 9V power jack with a barrel plug like a Boss pedal. Current draw is approximately 3mA at 9V, so a battery lasts a long time.
Can I use the Black '65 straight into an IR loader without an amp?
Yes. Wampler says the Limited Edition works great with any amplifier or direct into a cabinet sim or IR loader, and MusicRadar reported that Wampler suggests running it through a cab sim or IR loader and using it direct.
What is the difference between the Wampler Black '65 and Tweed '57?
The two pedals share the same control layout: Bass, Middle, Treble, Drive and Volume, plus a boost switch that toggles between lower and higher gain mode. The difference is the amp they model. The Black '65 targets mid-'60s Fender black panel amps, while the Tweed '57 goes after the earlier tweed era.
Is the Wampler Black '65 discontinued?
The pedal was out of production for a time, then Wampler reissued it in 2023 as a limited edition sold only online from Wamplerpedals.com for $199.
Sources (4)
- Wampler Pedals Releases Black '65 Overdrive Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2010-08-30
- Black ’65 Limited Edition, Wampler Pedals, 2026-05-27
- Wampler brings back its Fender-inspired Tweed '57 and Black '65 amp-in-a-box drive pedals, MusicRadar, 2023-09-22
- Wampler Black '65 Overdrive, MusicRadar, 2010-09-20
