The Wampler Leviathan is a fuzz pedal from Wampler Pedals, built for players chasing big, saturated fuzz tones rather than a faithful copy of a vintage design. Wampler touts the Leviathan's circuit as completely unique and not derived from any fuzz pedal in particular: the company came to it after being, in Premier Guitar's words, "inundated with pleas to release their own fuzz pedal"1. The pedal instead takes its cues from players' sounds, with Billy Corgan's tone on the Smashing Pumpkins' 1994 landmark album Siamese Dream named as a major influence, alongside the sounds of Mastodon1.
Controls and clipping modes
The Leviathan keeps its control layout simple. A 2-band EQ with Treble and Bass knobs shapes the low- and high-end content of the fuzz1. The clipping switch flips between two diode modes: Roar is the germanium-diode mode and Rumble is the silicon-diode mode, giving two distinct flavors of fuzz from the same circuit1.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar's reviewer tested the Leviathan with a Stratocaster routed through the pedal and into a Bogner Barcelona 40-watt combo1. Their verdict on the pedal's overall character was emphatic:
"this has to be one of the most raging, over-the-top fuzz pedals I've come across in quite some time"
Battery replacement
The Leviathan uses a battery but has no battery door: replacing it means unscrewing the back panel, which Premier Guitar's reviewer called "still a hassle"1.
If you run the Leviathan on battery power, plan the swap for a moment when you can take the pedal off the board and get a screwdriver to the back panel1.
Where it sits in Wampler's fuzz range
The Leviathan is one of several fuzzes in the Wampler line. The company also makes the Wampler Fuzztration, an octave fuzz with a three-band EQ and pre- or post-fuzz octave routing, and the Wampler Cryptid Fuzz, an all-original fuzz design. For a broader look at the effect type, see Fuzz Pedals.
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Questions
Is the Wampler Leviathan based on an existing fuzz circuit?
No. Wampler describes the Leviathan's circuit as completely unique and not derived from any fuzz pedal in particular. Instead of cloning a classic design, the pedal was inspired by the sounds of particular players, notably Billy Corgan's tone on the Smashing Pumpkins' 1994 album Siamese Dream and the sounds of Mastodon.
Does the Leviathan run on a battery?
Yes, the Leviathan uses a battery, but there is no battery door. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that replacing the battery means unscrewing the back panel, which they described as a hassle. Plan battery changes for a moment when you can take the pedal off the board and get a screwdriver.
How do I change the battery in the Leviathan?
There is no dedicated battery door on the Leviathan. To change the battery you unscrew the back panel of the pedal, swap the battery, and screw the panel back on. Premier Guitar's reviewer found this a hassle compared with pedals that offer a pull-out battery drawer.
How much does the Wampler Leviathan cost?
Premier Guitar's review lists the Leviathan at a street price of $199 in the US, as of the review's September 2026 publication.
Which tones inspired the Leviathan?
Premier Guitar reports that Billy Corgan's tone on the Smashing Pumpkins' 1994 landmark album Siamese Dream was a major influence on the Leviathan, and that the pedal also draws on the sounds of Mastodon for modern metal fans.
Sources (1)
- Wampler Pedals Leviathan Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2011-06-14
Billy Corgan
