The Wampler Dracarys is a high-gain distortion pedal from Wampler Pedals, designed by Brian Wampler and introduced at NAMM 201712. It is modeled on the classic Marshall Shredmaster, and reviewers describe it as having that pedal's distinctive, spiky clipping tone and amp-like EQ3. Wampler pitches it squarely at metal players, with a Tight/Open switch and a tuned EQ meant to cover any sub-genre of the style1.
Guitar Pedal X describes the pedal as Brian Wampler's take on Ola Englund's Chug Sound, and Wampler's own page quotes Englund on what it delivers41:
"It can definitely deliver the chug."
A Shredmaster-style metal distortion
The Dracarys traces its lineage to the Marshall Shredmaster, the discontinued '80s-era rack-era metal distortion. Guitar World's reviewer writes that the pedal is "modeled on the classic Shredmaster" and has "characteristics similar to the original Marshall pedal, with its distinctive, spiky tone and amp-like EQ"3. An earlier Guitar World buying guide made the same point, calling out its "distinctive, spiky clipping tone and amp-like EQ"5.
For a player, that means the Dracarys is not a smooth, saturated modern gain machine by design. It leans on the sharper, more aggressive clipping character of the original, with an EQ section that behaves more like an amp's than a typical pedal's35.
Wampler's own framing is broader: the company describes it as a "fire breathing legend of a high gain distortion" that "effortlessly embraces any sub-genre of metal, thanks to its finely tuned EQ and Tight/Open switch"1.
Controls and switching
The control set is straightforward for a high-gain pedal4:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level |
| Gain | Amount of distortion |
| Bass | Low end, part of the 3-band active EQ1 |
| Mids | Midrange, part of the 3-band active EQ1 |
| Treble | High end, part of the 3-band active EQ1 |
| Tight/Open switch | Selects between two styles of clipping1 |
The EQ is Wampler's signature 3-band active design, which gives each band cut and boost rather than the cut-only sweep of a passive tone stack1. The Tight/Open switch is the pedal's main voicing decision, changing the clipping style to suit tighter or looser high-gain feels1.
Top-mounted jacks keep the input and output on the same face as the knobs, which makes the pedal easier to place close to its neighbors on a pedalboard1.
Power
The Dracarys runs on a 9V to 18V power supply or a 9V battery, with both a battery connection and a 9V power jack on the pedal16. Current draw is 29mA at 9V and 31mA at 18V1, low enough for any isolated supply and easy to accommodate on a daisy chain if the pedal is true bypass, which it is, via a relay-based switching system1.
Running it at 18V is an option for players who want more headroom out of the volume stage; the pedal draws only slightly more current at the higher voltage1.
Availability and warranty
The pedal carries Wampler's limited 5-year warranty and is built in the U.S.A.1.
Players comparing it against other Wampler high-gain options can also look at the Wampler Sovereign and the Wampler Pinnacle Deluxe, both covered elsewhere on this site.
What reviewers said
- Guitar World (2026): The Dracarys is modeled on the classic Shredmaster and shares the original Marshall pedal's distinctive, spiky tone and amp-like EQ3.
- Guitar World buying guide (2022): Listed among distortion pedals for metal, praised for its "distinctive, spiky clipping tone and amp-like EQ"5.
- MusicRadar buying guide (2023): Included in a round-up of distortion pedals for metal, noting its 9-18V power supply and 9V battery options6.
- Guitar Pedal X (2025): Described as Brian Wampler's take on Ola Englund's Chug Sound, in a round-up of compact high-gain and metal pedals4.
- Premier Guitar (2017): Demoed at NAMM '17, where Jason Shadrick noted that "Game of Thrones fans will dig Brian Wampler's new modern-flavored distortion"2.
Videos
Sweetwater
Andertons Music Co
Wampler Pedals
Questions
What does the Tight/Open switch on the Dracarys do?
The Tight/Open switch selects between two styles of clipping, letting the pedal shift between tighter and more open feels. Wampler pairs it with a finely tuned EQ so the pedal can cover different metal sub-genres, from tight modern chugging to looser, more open high-gain tones.
Does the Wampler Dracarys take a battery?
Yes. The pedal has both a battery connection and a 9V power jack, and it accepts a 9V to 18V power supply. Current draw is 29mA at 9V and 31mA at 18V, so it is easy on most pedalboard power supplies.
Is the Wampler Dracarys still in production?
The pedal was introduced at NAMM 2017 and carries Wampler's limited 5-year warranty. Players wanting one may need to look at the used market.
Is the Wampler Dracarys good for metal?
Yes, that is its stated purpose. Wampler describes it as a high-gain distortion built for any sub-genre of metal, and Ola Englund's maker-quoted verdict is that it can definitely deliver the chug. Reviewers have noted its spiky, amp-like tone modeled on the Marshall Shredmaster.
Sources (6)
- Dracarys Distortion, Wampler Pedals, 2025-08-25
- Wampler Pedals Dracarys & Ethereal Demos, Premier Guitar, 2017-02-22
- Solar Chug Lite high-gain distortion pedal review, Guitar World, 2025-05-10
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-11-27
- Best distortion pedals for metal: get the ultimate metal tone, Guitar World, 2022-04-26
- Best distortion pedals for metal: High gain tones, MusicRadar, 2020-12-21
Ola Englund
