The Wampler Triumph is a dual-voice overdrive pedal from Wampler, part of the company's affordable Collective Series and designed by Brian Wampler himself12. Wampler describes it as "a versatile overdrive based around two of Brian's all-time favorite overdrives, the Digitech Bad Monkey and the Boss SD-1"1. A two-position voicing switch selects between Smooth and Punch modes, which change the pedal's tone, feel and response, so one box covers two classic drive flavors12. It was first introduced in December 20223 and lists at $99.991.
What it does to your sound
The Triumph sits in low-to-medium gain territory. In Sweetwater's demo video, Don Carr called it "a great sounding low to medium gain overdrive that's versatile and easy to use"2. The two voicing modes give it two distinct characters:
- Smooth mode: Wampler describes it as "classic liquid gain"1. Carr found it "uses a progressive gain structure that's slightly more compressed and has the classic midbump"2. Wampler's own page calls it "a progressive gain structure with an unmistakable gritty presence and classic mid-hump profile"1.
- Punch mode: Carr described it as "open and articulate with a lot of dynamic response"2.
On the JHS video review, Josh Scott mapped the two modes onto their ancestors: in the smooth position the pedal behaves more like a Bad Monkey, while punch mode moves toward the Boss SD-1's gain structure4.
The controls
The Triumph carries five controls in total: volume, gain, and a three-band EQ of bass, middle and treble, plus the voicing switch124.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level2 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of overdrive2 |
| Bass | Low-end shaping, part of the three-band EQ2 |
| Middle | Midrange shaping; the control Scott singled out24 |
| Treble | High-end shaping, part of the three-band EQ2 |
| Voicing switch | Two-position switch selecting Smooth or Punch, changing tone, feel and response12 |
Carr found that "all the controls have a wide range, but they're well voiced and musical," and that the pedal pairs well with any rig2. Gearnews highlighted the EQ section as "more effective," divided into bass, mid and treble, compared with simpler circuits5. The mids control drew particular praise from Josh Scott, who said "that mids control alone is insane"4. He also demonstrated that it shifts the pedal's character substantially: backing the mids off moves it into Bluesbreaker-like territory, while turning it up puts it into Tube Screamer-like tones4.
Rooted in the Bad Monkey and the Boss SD-1
Wampler is open about the Triumph's lineage: it is based around the DigiTech Bad Monkey and the Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive, two of Brian Wampler's favorite overdrives1. MusicRadar likewise reported that "Wampler himself drew influence from the Bad Monkey and Boss SD-1 for the Triumph"6. The SD-1 itself, as Boss describes it, was "built on the tonal foundation of the legendary OD-1" with "the same warm push and smooth asymmetric clipping"7.
It is not a straight copy, though. On the JHS video, Brian Wampler explained that he does not like to do straight-up clones, and that the Triumph includes modifications to the source circuits to tailor it more to what he likes4. Those modifications include more gain range than the originals4. Scott also noted that the Bad Monkey topology forms the basis of one section of the circuit4. Guitar World framed the pedal's appeal partly in market terms: with the original Bad Monkey available only used, the Triumph offers "a new, in-production alternative on offer from Wampler for less money"3.
What reviewers said
The Triumph's strongest press came from Josh Scott of JHS Pedals, a longtime Bad Monkey champion. In his video review with Brian Wampler, Scott called it possibly Wampler's best drive for versatility32:
"For anyone looking for a really extremely versatile thing, if you enjoy Wampler's work, this may be his best drive2."
Josh Scott, JHS Pedals4
Guitar World reported that Scott went further, dubbing the $99 Triumph "better than the Bad Monkey"3. He also remarked that "$99 for a pedal in his line with this many controls is amazing"4. Don Carr's Sweetwater demo, played on a Fender Strat through a Fender Deluxe into a UA OX, found it versatile and easy to use with well-voiced controls2. Delicious Audio noted the Triumph as one of two releases in Wampler's new $99 line8.
Where it is made and how it fits the range
Wampler states that each product bearing its "Wampler - Built in USA" logo is "custom designed and assembled in the USA using premium globally sourced components"1, and Scott confirmed on the JHS video that "these are manufactured in America"4. The Triumph belongs to Wampler's Collective Series, the company's affordable line26, which sits alongside its higher-priced drives such as the Wampler Pantheon and Wampler Euphoria.
The Triumph runs on 9 to 18V DC at 21mA with top-mounted jacks1. Wampler does not list a battery option, so plan on a pedalboard power supply.
Videos
Sweetwater
Thomann's Guitars & Basses
EytschPi42
Questions
Is the Wampler Triumph a Bad Monkey clone?
Not a straight clone. Brian Wampler based the Triumph around the Bad Monkey topology in one section and drew influence from both the Bad Monkey and the Boss SD-1, but he modified the source circuits with more gain range to tailor the pedal to his own taste. Smooth mode leans toward the Bad Monkey and Punch mode toward the SD-1's gain structure.
Is the Wampler Triumph true bypass?
Yes. Wampler lists the Triumph with 3PDT true bypass switching, so the signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off. It runs on 9 to 18V DC at 21mA, with top-mounted input, output and power jacks.
Where is the Wampler Triumph made?
Wampler says each product bearing its Built in USA logo is custom designed and assembled in the USA using premium globally sourced components, and the Triumph carries that logo. Josh Scott of JHS also noted the pedals are manufactured in America.
Can the Triumph get Tube Screamer tones?
Josh Scott found it can get close. On his JHS video review he demonstrated that backing off the mids control puts the pedal into Bluesbreaker-like territory, while turning it up moves it into Tube Screamer-like tones. The mids control is the key to those shifts.
Sources (8)
- Triumph Overdrive, Wampler Pedals, 2026-08-18
- Wampler Triumph Overdrive Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2022-12-01
- Josh Scott: Wampler Triumph is “better than the Bad Monkey”, Guitar World, 2023-07-06
- Wampler $99 Pedals! Triumph And Phenom Overdrive and Distortion Pedal (A Better Bad Monkey!), JHS Pedals (YouTube), 2023-07-05
- Wampler Triumph and Phenom: $99 Overdrive/Distortion Pedals, www.gearnews.com, 2022-12-06
- "This may be his best drive", MusicRadar, 2023-07-07
- The PX-1 Plugout FX: Timeless BOSS Pedals Reborn, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2025-06-06
- Wampler Triumph Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2024-02-06
