The Wampler Mofetta is an overdrive/distortion pedal from Wampler, built as a modern take on the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion, a cult pedal produced in Japan between 1990 and 1993. Wampler describes it as "a supercharged MOSTORTION, reborn and amplified," keeping the original's three-band EQ and MOSFET character while adding a Texture switch that moves the pedal from smooth overdrive to a hotter distortion123. It was released in May 20244, with a first run of 600 units that sold out the day it was listed5.
Wampler's own description of the sound runs from edge-of-breakup to what the maker calls "fat, vintage amp-style crunch," with tube-like compression and musical warmth1. What that means in practice is covered below, along with what reviewers found.
The controls and the Texture switch
The control layout follows the original Mostortion idea: a full three-band EQ sitting alongside the usual Level and Gain knobs. Wampler pitches the EQ as able to dial in either full-range drive or transparent grit1. Guitar Pedal X lists the full control set as Bass, Mids, Treble, Level, Gain, and the Texture toggle6.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of drive, from edge-of-breakup upward1 |
| Level | Sets the output volume1 |
| Bass | Low-band EQ1 |
| Mids | Mid-band EQ1 |
| Treble | High-band EQ1 |
| Texture (toggle) | Down: stock silicon diode clipping. Up: cascaded MOSFET gain stages7 |
The Texture switch is the feature that separates the Mofetta from the pedal it honors. Premier Guitar's reviewer describes it as "a toggle switch for texture, which lets you choose between the original-style diode-based clipping in the down position" and multi-cascaded MOSFET gain stages in the up position7. The standard clipping on the original Mostortion was silicon diodes, so the down position is the closer match to the old circuit, while the up position is Brian Wampler's own mod5.
Wampler says the switch "takes the pedal from smooth overdrive to fiery distortion with the flick" of a toggle, activating cascaded MOSFET gain stages1. Guitar Pedal X notes the MOSFET clipping "jumps up the gain quite a bit," making it useful for solo lead sounds5. In Sweetwater's demo video, Don Carr describes the up position as the Brian Wampler modded sound, and found that higher gain settings are "Tighter and more articulate" with the mod engaged8.
"texture switch up is the Brian Wampler modded sound"
In the demo, Carr runs the Mofetta through four guitars and three amps, covering its Ibanez MT10 lineage and the texture-switch mod8.
The Mofetta runs on 9V DC only, drawing 10mA, and Wampler specifies not exceeding 9V DC. A battery connection is included alongside the 9V power jack1.
History: the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion and Brian Wampler's version
The Mofetta traces back to the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion, part of Ibanez's Power Series, produced from 1990 to 1993 in Japan3. The original used a MOSFET-based op amp with diode clipping8. TONEHOME, which tracks the Power Series, lists the MT10's availability as rare and its collectibility as high, which is why original units are hard to find and expensive on the used market3.
When the idea of a dirt pedal with bass, middle and treble controls first appeared, Wampler's product page calls it "darn near revolutionary"1. MusicRadar reports that Brian Wampler gave the Mofetta the 3-band EQ "just like the original"2.
Wampler released the Mofetta quietly in May 20244. Guitar Pedal X reported the first run at 600 units, quoting the release directly:
"We made 600 of these for this run, so get in early if you're interested."
That first run sold out the same day it was listed5. MusicRadar covered the launch the same week, pricing it at £/$199 and noting it was available then2; Premier Guitar later reported a Sweetwater listing at $169.979. The current maker list price is $199.971.
Brian Wampler, designing in the first person on the product page, says of the build1:
"I made sure that it delivered the classic, amp-like overdrive, massive headroom, and versatile 3-band EQ that made the original so famous."
What reviewers and players made of it
Guitar Pedal X reviewed the Mofetta in its roundup of 2024's new distortion pedals, calling it "a really decent take on that genre, while not quite as exceptional as the above Nordland Mosland!"6. That places it in the reviewer's MOSFET-flavored distortion category, compared there against the Nordland Mosland.
"It's a really decent take on that genre, while not quite as exceptional as the above Nordland Mosland!"
Premier Guitar published a full review in October 2024, which is where the toggle-switch clipping description above comes from7. On That Pedal Show, the Mofetta appeared in an episode exploring where distortion becomes fuzz, with its introduction at 7:15 and sounds from 8:1510.
Where it sits among Wampler dirt pedals
The Mofetta is one of several distortion and overdrive pedals in the Wampler range, alongside designs like the Wampler Sovereign, the Wampler Pinnacle Deluxe and the Wampler Plexi-Drive Deluxe. What distinguishes the Mofetta within that range is its MT10 lineage and the Texture switch's cascaded MOSFET option, a clipping arrangement the other pedals in the list do not share175.
Videos
Wampler Pedals
R.J. Ronquillo
Questions
Is the Wampler Mofetta a Mostortion clone?
No. Wampler describes it as a supercharged tribute to the Ibanez MT10 Mostortion rather than a copy. It keeps the Mostortion's three-band EQ idea and adds a Texture switch with cascaded MOSFET gain stages, a feature the original did not have. Brian Wampler says he built it to deliver the classic amp-like overdrive, headroom and versatile EQ that made the original popular.
What does the Texture switch do on the Mofetta?
It changes the clipping character. In the down position you get original-style diode-based clipping with silicon diodes. In the up position it switches in cascaded MOSFET gain stages, which raises the gain noticeably and takes the pedal from smooth overdrive toward a hotter, tighter distortion. Sweetwater's demo describes the up position as the Brian Wampler modded sound.
Can the Mofetta run on a battery?
Yes. The pedal includes a battery connection alongside its 9V power jack. It draws 10mA at 9V DC, and Wampler states you should not exceed 9V DC, so it is not a pedal for higher-voltage supplies.
Is the Wampler Mofetta true bypass?
Yes. Wampler lists true bypass switching among the pedal's features, so with the effect off your signal passes through without buffering.
Sources (10)
- Mofetta | Wampler Pedals, Wampler Pedals, 2026-07-06
- “My tribute to the MOSFET-driven magic of a 1990s classic, MusicRadar, 2024-05-17
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- Brian Wampler debuts the Catacombs delay/reverb pedal, Guitar World, 2024-11-08
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-05-17
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-17
- Wampler Mofetta Review: Unleash Bold Tones, Premier Guitar, 2024-10-08
- Wampler Mofetta: 4 Guitars, 3 Amps, 1 Pedal & a Universe of Legendary Crunch, Sweetwater, 2024-05-17
- Wampler Mofetta Overdrive/Distortion, Premier Guitar, 2024-05-30
- Where Does Distortion Become Fuzz? Hudson AP-II, Hawaiian Pizza, Hurts, TODP, Focus Fuzz Deluxe, That Pedal Show, 2025-05-23
