The Wampler Phenom is a compact distortion pedal from Wampler, designed by Brian Wampler as part of the company's affordable Collective Series. What sets it apart from most pedals in its price range is its clipping architecture: instead of the op-amp and diode clipping common in budget distortions, it uses JFET based clipping, where the transistors are driven much in the same way tubes can be cranked to push an amplifier into distortion1. Wampler describes the circuit as loosely based on the legendary "5150" style tones1.
Wampler says the Phenom covers a range of tones from a deep, punchy rhythm sound to an ultra-responsive lead tone suited to solos and crisp harmonics1. It sells for $99.991.
Controls and voicing
The control set is straightforward: gain and volume knobs plus a 3-band EQ, a feature Delicious Audio noted is rarely found in boutique pedals at this price2. On top of that sits a voicing switch that selects either Bright or Classic modes1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion |
| Volume | Sets the output level |
| 3-band EQ | Bass, middle and treble shaping3 |
| Voicing switch | Selects Bright or Classic mode1 |
The two voicing modes are a matter of degree rather than two different pedals. Wampler describes Bright mode as delivering added cut and aggression1. Delicious Audio characterized the 2-Voice toggle as offering a darker Classic mode and an airier Bright mode2. On his review video, Josh Scott of JHS put it in player terms:
"it's going to be a little bit darker when it's on the classic. Just a little bit, not a bunch. Uh, sort of like a speaker [change]"
How much gain, and who it suits
The Phenom is not an extreme-gain metal pedal. In the JHS review video, Josh Scott described it as sitting in mid to high gain territory, with lower gain tones also available4. He framed it as a fit for the gigs he plays:
"for the gigs that I do, we do a lot of classic rock and some a little bit more modern like '90s type rock stuff"
He also saw it as standing apart from the established British-voiced distortion pedals in this class, calling it "a really nice alternative to like the Governor Angry Charlie thing or, you know, a lot of these other kind of distortion pedals"4. For players comparing it against Wampler's own higher-priced distortions, such as the Wampler Sovereign or the 5150-adjacent Wampler Dracarys, the Phenom is the simpler, cheaper option with a three-band EQ and a two-way voicing switch rather than multiple clipping options.
History: Brian Wampler and the Collective Series
The Phenom was one of two releases that launched Wampler's Collective Series, a new affordable line of pedals, alongside the Triumph overdrive2. MusicRadar described the pair as coming from "Wampler's new affordable Collective Series"5, and Delicious Audio reported them as compact gain pedals with a price tag of just under $100 USD at launch2. Gearnews listed street pricing at $102.00 / £93.00 / 109.00€ at Thomann3.
Wampler positions the Collective Series as packed with features for players of all levels1, and the Phenom itself is a Collective Series pedal designed by Brian Wampler1. In the JHS video, Wampler himself explained the circuit's inspiration:
"This is kind of loosely based around like what a an old 5150 amp"
Despite the sub-$100 price, the build provenance matches Wampler's US-made standard pedals: the company states each product bearing the official "Wampler Built in USA" logo is custom designed and assembled in the USA using premium globally sourced components12, and Josh Scott noted in the same video that "These are manufactured in America"4.
What reviewers said
The most substantial published coverage comes from the JHS review video, where Josh Scott, described by MusicRadar as a Bad Monkey champion and JHS founder, was blown away by Wampler's new $99 overdrive and distortion pedals5. His takeaways on the Phenom: it reaches high gain but is best described as mid to high gain, it handles classic rock and 90s-style rock well with a more modern sound than a cranked Marshall, and it is a strong alternative to the Governor and Angry Charlie style of distortion pedals4. Delicious Audio highlighted the 3-band EQ as a rarity in boutique pedals at this price2. On Wampler's own product page the pedal carries a 5 out of 5 rating1.
In the video, Scott and Wampler run the Phenom through its gain range, compare the Classic and Bright voicings, and discuss where it sits against other distortions in the same price class4.
Videos
Sweetwater
SRGuitar
Alberto Barrero
News
Questions
Is the Wampler Phenom true bypass?
Yes. Wampler lists the Phenom with 3PDT true bypass, so the signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off. It runs on 9 to 18V DC at a 5mA draw, with the input, output and power connector all mounted on the top of the enclosure for tidy pedalboard wiring.
Is the Wampler Phenom good for drop-tuned metal?
Not really. On JHS's YouTube review, Josh Scott described it as a mid to high gain pedal rather than an extreme gain one, noting it does get pretty high gain but is not aimed at extreme drop-tuned metal. He positioned it as an alternative to pedals like the Governor and Angry Charlie, suited to classic rock and modern 90s-style rock.
Where is the Wampler Phenom made?
Wampler states that each product bearing the official Wampler Built in USA logo is custom designed and assembled in the USA using premium globally sourced components. Josh Scott also noted in his review video that the Phenom and its Collective Series sibling are manufactured in America despite the sub-$100 price.
What is the difference between Bright and Classic mode on the Phenom?
The voicing switch selects between two modes. Wampler describes Bright mode as adding cut and aggression, while Classic is the darker setting. Josh Scott compared the difference to a speaker change: classic is a little bit darker, not by a lot, and bright is airier. Delicious Audio called the toggle a darker Classic mode and an airier Bright mode.
Sources (5)
- Phenom Distortion, Wampler Pedals, 2026-07-06
- Wampler Phenom Distortion, Delicious Audio, 2022-12-19
- Wampler Triumph and Phenom: $99 Overdrive/Distortion Pedals, www.gearnews.com, 2022-12-06
- Wampler $99 Pedals! Triumph And Phenom Overdrive and Distortion Pedal (A Better Bad Monkey!), JHS Pedals (YouTube), 2023-07-05
- "This may be his best drive", MusicRadar, 2023-07-07
