The Wampler decibel+ is a buffer and boost pedal, announced in November 2012 as a new addition to the Wampler Pedals lineup. It combines two jobs players often need at once: stable buffering to protect your signal through long cable runs and crowded pedalboards, and a clean boost for pushing an amp or lifting a solo. Wampler described it as "a pedal that offers excellent, stable buffering AND a fantastic clean boost, in one great, durable, easy-to-use package"1.
It belongs to the same family of tools as other buffer pedals and boost pedals, but it is both in one enclosure, and it does it with a single knob1.
What it does and how it is controlled
The decibel+ has one control, which Wampler says "Adds gain and volume simultaneously at the perfect rate". In practice that means one knob governs both how loud the pedal is and how hard it drives, moving together as you turn it. There is no separate level and gain to balance, no tone control, no switches. Wampler's pitch for the pedal was as "a one-knob problem solver toolkit in pedal form" for studio or stage1.
The design goals came from Brian Wampler himself. According to the announcement, "Brian's goal was to make sure that this pedal can buffer with excellent fidelity, boost like nobody's business, yet be a" simple pedal to use1.
Wampler's stated aims for the pedal come down to three things:
- buffering with excellent fidelity
- a boost strong enough to push an amp
- a pedal that stays simple to use1
Power and bypass
The pedal runs from a 9v power jack with a barrel plug like a Boss pedal, and it also includes a battery connection, so it can run either way1. Its power draw is 6mA, a small figure that will not trouble a shared supply1.
Wampler describes the decibel+ as completely true bypass1. That is worth noting given the pedal's other job: when it is switched on, the buffer is in the circuit doing its work, and when it is off, true bypass removes the circuit from your signal path entirely.
Because the buffer only works while the pedal is switched on, a player who wants buffering all the time has to leave the decibel+ engaged; in bypass mode the circuit is out of the signal path entirely1.
Circuit and construction
Wampler states that the decibel+ is "NOT a clone or copy of any other product on the market"1. The company also says it uses high grade film capacitors and resistors picked for their superior sound and response, and that the pedal is hand made in the U.S.A.1.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Buffer and boost1 |
| Controls | One knob, gain and volume together1 |
| Bypass | Completely true bypass1 |
| Power | 9v jack, barrel plug like Boss; battery connection1 |
| Current draw | 6mA1 |
| Dimensions | 2.25" x 4.25" (57.15mm x 107.95mm)1 |
| Construction | Hand made in the U.S.A., high grade film capacitors and resistors1 |
At 2.25" x 4.25" (57.15mm x 107.95mm), it is a compact pedal that fits easily on a crowded board1.
Videos
Wampler Pedals
Wampler Pedals
Tom Quayle
Questions
Is the Wampler decibel+ true bypass?
Yes. Wampler describes the decibel+ as completely true bypass, so when the pedal is off your signal passes through without the circuit loading it. That matters because the pedal is also a buffer: when it is on, the buffer stage conditions the signal, and when it is off, true bypass takes it out of the chain entirely.
Does the Wampler decibel+ take a battery?
Yes. The pedal includes a battery connection alongside a 9v power jack with a barrel plug like a Boss pedal, so it can run from either a battery or a standard 9-volt supply. Its power draw is low at 6mA, which is easy on any supply.
How much current does the Wampler decibel+ draw?
Wampler lists the power draw at 6mA. That is a small figure even by pedal standards, so the decibel+ will not strain a daisy-chained supply or eat through a battery quickly.
Is the Wampler decibel+ a clone of another pedal?
No. Wampler states plainly that the decibel+ is not a clone or copy of any other product on the market. Brian Wampler set the goals for the design: buffering with excellent fidelity, a strong boost, and ease of use.
Where is the Wampler decibel+ made?
Wampler says the decibel+ is hand made in the U.S.A., using high grade film capacitors and resistors picked for what the company describes as their superior sound and response.
Sources (1)
- Wampler Pedals Releases the Decibel+ Buffer/Boost, Premier Guitar, 2012-11-28
