The Wampler Gearbox is a dual-channel overdrive/distortion pedal that puts two of Wampler's best-known drive circuits in one enclosure: a tweaked Tumnus on Channel 1 and a modified Pinnacle on Channel 21. It was developed by Brian Wampler with Andy Wood, the country-rock guitarist whose playing crosses genres, and Wampler lists it as used by Wood live and in the studio1. It is built in the U.S.A. and carries Wampler's limited 5-year warranty1.
A Tumnus and a Pinnacle in one pedal
The Gearbox combines and modifies two of Wampler's previously existing pedals: the Tumnus overdrive and the Pinnacle distortion2. Channel 1 is the Tumnus side, a circuit players know from the mini Klone-style pedal; Channel 2 is the Pinnacle side, which Wampler says delivers that legendary "Brown Sound"1. Guitar World described the pedal at launch as housing "the company's popular Tumnus and Pinnacle circuits under one roof"2.
Wampler positions Channel 1 as a perfect addition to any board and any playing style: it can be stacked with another pedal to push or shape the total amount of gain, used as a standalone overdrive, or used as a slightly dirty boost2. In Sweetwater's demo video, Don Carr described the Tumnus side as "a medium gain drive with great dynamics and touch sensitivity that cleans up really well"3.
Channel 2, based on the Pinnacle, one of Brian Wampler's most popular distortion pedals, adds a three-band EQ for tone sculpting and a noise gate to keep clarity on point42. Delicious Audio noted at launch that the pedal combines "reworked and refined versions of the Pinnacle and the Tumnus and adding in an extremely powerful noise gate"5.
The controls for each channel
Each channel has its own independent Volume and Gain controls1. On top of those:
| Channel | Controls | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Channel 1 (Tumnus) | Gain, Tone, Volume | Tone, Gain and Level arranged triangularly6 |
| Channel 2 (Pinnacle) | Gain, Volume, Bass, Middle, Treble, Noise Gate | Three-band EQ plus side-chained gate with its own knob15 |
The Channel 2 EQ lets you dial in a lead tone, while the gate knob sets how much of the high-gain hiss gets silenced between phrases45.
Stacking the channels and the Order switch
Both channels can be used at the same time for what Wampler calls "stacking" tones, and the company describes the stacked result as "warm, yet brutal grunt; delicate and controllable harmonic overtones; beautifully defined distortion that cuts through the mix"1.
The Order switch, mounted on top of the pedal, lets you select which pedal comes first in the signal chain1. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley called it "a handy little toggle switch lets you run the Tumnus into the Pinnacle or vice-versa"6. That choice matters: running the lower-gain Tumnus into the Pinnacle pushes the distortion harder, while the reverse order lets the Pinnacle's EQ shape the tone the Tumnus then boosts.
Power and connections
The Gearbox has two pairs of input and output jacks, which is what makes the routing flexible1. As gearnews.com reported at launch, both sets of inputs and outputs can be connected to an external switcher to mix or match the channels in parallel or series7. That means the two channels can live in separate loops of a larger switching system, or one channel can feed an amp while the other feeds a different destination.
Power comes from a 9V power jack, DC supply only, and Wampler warns not to exceed 9V DC; a battery is included1. Current draw is 52mA at 9V1.
The Gearbox has no bypass buffer switch. Wampler says its Channel 1 is more like the Tumnus mini version of the circuit, so players looking for the Tumnus Deluxe's extra switching features will not find them here1.
Designed with Andy Wood
The Gearbox was developed by Brian Wampler with Andy Wood, an artist Wampler describes as known for blurring the line of preconceived genres1. Guitar World framed the partnership at launch as Andy Wood teaming up with Wampler for the new Gearbox Overdrive2, and MusicRadar confirmed the pedal is built in the USA6. Wampler lists the pedal as used by Andy Wood live and in the studio1.
What reviewers said
Press coverage at the 2021 launch was largely descriptive of the concept. MusicRadar called it a two-channel design that "brings the Tumnus and Pinnacle circuits together for one fully-featured drive pedal"6. Sweetwater's Don Carr, demoing the pedal, found the Tumnus side to be a medium gain drive with strong dynamics and touch sensitivity that cleaned up well with the guitar's volume knob3.
Videos
Wampler Pedals
Andy Wood Music
Questions
Does the Wampler Gearbox take a battery?
Yes. The Gearbox runs on a 9V DC power supply or an internal battery, and Wampler lists a battery as included. The power jack is DC supply only and should not exceed 9V DC, so a standard 9V center-negative pedal supply is the safe choice for long sessions.
Is the Wampler Gearbox true bypass?
Yes. Wampler specifies relay true bypass for the Gearbox, so the pedal removes itself from the signal chain when switched off rather than leaving a buffered path in line.
Does the Gearbox have a buffer switch like the Tumnus?
No. Wampler says the Gearbox has no bypass buffer switch and that its Channel 1 is more like the mini Tumnus version of the circuit, rather than the fuller Tumnus Deluxe layout with its extra switching options.
Can the two Gearbox channels be used in separate loops?
Yes. The pedal has two pairs of input and output jacks, and both sets can be connected to an external switcher to mix or match the channels in parallel or series, so each channel can sit in its own loop on a larger switching system.
Sources (7)
- Andy Wood: Gearbox, Wampler Pedals, 2026-08-31
- Wampler unveils Andy Wood Gearbox Signature Overdrive, designed to be the “driving force behind your sound”, Guitar World, 2021-05-04
- Wampler Gearbox Andy Wood Signature Overdrive Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2021-07-27
- The Fearbox, Wampler Pedals, 2026-05-27
- Wampler Gearbox Andy Wood Signature Overdrive/Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2021-05-13
- Wampler releases the Andy Wood Gearbox Signature Overdrive, MusicRadar, 2021-05-07
- Wampler Andy Wood Gearbox Signature Overdrive combines Tumnus and Pinnacle circuits, gearnews.com, 2021-05-05
Andy Wood
