The Wampler The Fearbox is a limited edition Halloween version of the Wampler Gearbox, a dual overdrive and distortion pedal from Wampler that puts modified versions of two of Brian Wampler's best loved drive circuits, the Tumnus and the Pinnacle, in one enclosure. Channel 1 is a tweaked Tumnus-style overdrive; channel 2 is based on the Pinnacle, one of Brian's most popular distortion pedals, and Wampler says it delivers that legendary "Brown Sound". The pedal was developed with guitarist Andy Wood and, per Wampler, was used by him live and in the studio1.
Wampler lists The Fearbox as discontinued. It was a limited edition release, so the standard Gearbox is the version to look for if you want the same two-channel design.
Two channels: Tumnus and Pinnacle
The Fearbox carries two independent drives, each with its own footswitch and controls. Wampler describes channel 1 as a "Tweaked Tumnus", referring to the company's compact transparent overdrive, while channel 2 is a modified Pinnacle, the high-gain distortion pedal associated with the "Brown Sound"1. The two can run at the same time: Wampler says "Both channels can be used at the same time for ultimate 'stacking' tones", so the Tumnus-style side can push the Pinnacle-style side for a heavier sound1.
The controls are split between the channels:
| Control | Channel | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Volume and Gain | Both channels | Independent level and drive amount for each side1 |
| Tone | Channel 1 | Single tone control for the Tumnus-style overdrive1 |
| Bass, Middle, Treble | Channel 2 | Three-band EQ for the Pinnacle-style distortion1 |
| Noise Gate | Channel 2 | Gate for taming the high-gain channel1 |
| Channel Order switch | Global | Sets which channel comes first in the signal path1 |
The pedal has two pairs of Input and Output jacks, one pair per channel, which is what lets each side work as its own pedal in a rig1.
Fearbox versus Gearbox
The Fearbox is the same pedal as the Gearbox in a different set of clothes. Wampler describes it as "a special spooky edition of the Gearbox: the Tumnus and the Pinnacle all in one frightening enclosure", a Limited Edition Halloween take featuring a Midnight Matte Black finish and unique artwork1. The circuitry, controls and feature set are those of the Gearbox, which Wampler says "features modified versions of two of Brian Wampler's best loved drive circuits: the Tumnus and the Pinnacle"2.
The Gearbox itself drew press attention when it launched. Guitar World called it a "dual-channel pedal [that] houses the company's popular Tumnus and Pinnacle circuits under one roof"3, and MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley described it as "A two-channel design... the Gearbox brings the Tumnus and Pinnacle circuits together for one fully-featured drive pedal"4. Guitar.com's Cillian Breathnach summed it up the same way: "The dual-channel drive pedal combines a Tumnus and a Pinnacle"5.
Size, power and practicalities
The Fearbox measures 4.5" x 4.5" x 1.5" (114.3mm x 114.3mm x 38.1mm), with the height excluding knobs and switches1. It draws 52mA at 9v and takes a 9v DC supply only; Wampler warns not to exceed 9v DC. A battery is included1. Switching is Relay True Bypass1.
For players weighing it against other Wampler dual drives, the company's catalog includes related two-channel designs such as the Wampler Pinnacle Deluxe, the Wampler Pantheon Dual Overdrive Deluxe and the Wampler ReWired, alongside single-channel drives like the Wampler Dracarys and the Wampler Sovereign. The Fearbox's own tags on Wampler's page list it as combined overdrive and distortion, distortion, overdrive and stacked1.
Questions
Is the Wampler Fearbox still available?
No. Wampler lists The Fearbox as discontinued on its product page. It was a limited edition Halloween take on the Gearbox, so it was never intended as a permanent catalog item. The standard Wampler Gearbox, which shares the same two-channel Tumnus and Pinnacle design, remains the way to get the same circuit combination.
Does the Fearbox take a battery?
Yes. Wampler's specifications state the pedal ships with a battery included, running through its 9v power jack. The company also warns that the jack accepts a DC supply only and that you should not exceed 9v DC, so a higher-voltage supply could damage the pedal.
Is the Fearbox true bypass?
Yes. Wampler specifies Relay True Bypass switching, which uses a relay rather than an electronic switch to route the signal, so the pedal is out of the signal path when off.
Can both channels of the Fearbox run at once?
Yes. Wampler says both channels can be used at the same time for stacking tones, with the Tumnus-style channel 1 typically feeding the Pinnacle-style channel 2. A Channel Order switch lets you choose which channel comes first in the signal path.
What is the difference between the Fearbox and the Gearbox?
The Fearbox is a limited edition Halloween version of the Gearbox with a Midnight Matte Black finish and unique artwork. Under the hood the two are the same pedal: dual independent drives based on Brian Wampler's Tumnus and Pinnacle circuits, developed with Andy Wood.
Who helped design the Fearbox?
The underlying Gearbox design was developed with guitarist Andy Wood, whose music Wampler describes as blurring the line of preconceived genres. Wampler notes the pedal was used by Wood live and in the studio.
Sources (5)
- The Fearbox, Wampler Pedals, 2026-05-27
- 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 releases the Andy Wood Gearbox Signature Overdrive, MusicRadar, 2021-05-07
- Wampler launches the Gearbox, a signature dual overdrive for Andy Wood, guitar.com, 2021-05-05
Andy Wood
