Wampler Pedals Super Ecstasy

The Wampler Super Ecstasy Pedal, is incredibly easy to use: one knob each for volume, treble, gain, and bass. One 3-way mini-toggle that switches from an "up" Dumble setting to midway offline, to a tighter overdrive setting in the down position. One on-off footswitch to turn the pedal on and off. The key to finding the sweet spots with this pedal is not difficult, just begin by downloading the Wampler Ecstasy one-page manual from the Wampler website and reading the instructions. You don't begin with the knobs at the 12 o'clock position as one might think. Do yourself a huge favor and read the manual for about two minutes.

I was somewhat skeptical about this pedal when some online buddies of mine suggested I listen to the clips on the Wampler website. The pedal pictured on the Wampler website is the older model on YouTube. The newer model I own is smaller with one footswitch, about the size of a king-size pack of cigarettes.

The pedal is incredibly quiet through my Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue and Fuchs Overdrive Supreme. When the pedal was first played in my music room, I wasn't convinced that the Ecstasy would earn a permanent place on my pedalboard. The real test was yet to come.

When the Wampler Ecstasy was played at our local Open-Mic Jam, the Ecstasy stood far above and beyond anybody else's gear. The Ecstasy had no problems working with any other effects on my pedalboard. Each pedal, including my problematic Tesse Picture Wah sounded great. The hum that I usually had with my Teese wasn't noticeable with the Wampler.

The pedals that I use are a Teese Picture Wah, an Ernie Ball Mono Volume Pedal, a Peterson Strobo-Stomp tuner, the Wampler Ecstasy, and a Boss DD-20 Delay.

The Ecstasy provides a sweet lower gain overdrive that has a more versatile working range within the scope of the volume and gain knobs. Many overdrive or distortion pedals I have owned in the past have a limited working range, because they are either too loud above a certain range to be useful, or sacrifice their gain structure for increased volume. Many pedals I have owned are just too loud above a particular range. Not so with the Wampler. The gain structure is consistent and much more versatile from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock, and the volume works correspondingly to this effect. You can turn up the gain and turn down the volume and vice-versa, turn up the volume and turn down the gain and you still get a great sound and tone.

If you have heard a Zendrive pedal, the Ecstasy can do this, and the Wampler still sounds warmer, I believe, with more tone than the Zendrive. Brian Wampler did his homework when creating this pedal.

Think Robben Ford, Larry Carlton or Eric Johnson with their Dumble and modded Marshall amps, respectively.

For the time that I have owned this pedal, I have not been concerned with construction or reliability. I would not want anybody stealing this pedal, it's that good. The Ecstasy, compared to higher priced boutique pedals does what I want and more. Let me tell you why.

I had been feeling poorly about our local Jam, depressed even, to the point that I didn't feel like attending our Jam for the past two weeks. I wasn't sure that the Wampler would earn a place on my pedalboard, so in order lift myself out of feeling bad, out of my blue funk, I put the Wampler on my board, packed up and went to the Jam. The result? Every single guitarist who had an opportunity to play through my rig that night raved about the Wampler. "What in the world is that pedal?," they asked. "That pedal is awesome!" That night, I played tunes I had no idea I could play before, and the Wampler and my rig were the stars of the night. The host of the Jam, I think, felt a bit jealous about my tone. I smiled broadly and said he could play through anytime he wanted to. "Where did you ever find that pedal?" he asked. "Google Wampler Pedals, it's there online," I replied.

From the time that you order the Ecstasy, the lead wait time from time of order to delivery is just over 3 weeks. Forget about the 4 or 5 month or longer wait time for a Zendrive, Timmy, or more higher-priced pedals.

Cathy at Wampler pedals is pleasant via email. At this time there is not a phone contact number for Wampler with which one can discuss the virtues of the Wampler. Sending them an email with my warmest thanks was enough for me.

Customer service is just a few written words away via email.

I am primarily a blues/rock and jazz guitarist. For many years my tonequest has been one from modded TS-9s, to Barber pedals, to Zendrives, to ToneCandy pedals, now the Wampler. The Ecstasy is the best match I have found for the type of music I play. If the music you play requires a lower gain that has both a Dumble-like sweet overdrive, or requires a tighter overdrive, listen to he clips on the Wampler website.

I am a hobbyist who has played for 35 years, more seriously playing live at our Open-Mic Jam with the house band for the past 5 years.

I would replace this pedal in a heartbeat if it were ever stolen with another Ecstasy. This one's a keeper.

The Wampler Ecstasy is so versatile, I would say that the Wampler provides the guitarist with warm, sweet, and creamy overdrive, all in one pedal. The Ecstasy is the star of anybody's rig, and helped make my rig sound the best it has in the time that I have owned it. The Wampler is staying on my pedalboard, and no amount of money that anyone could pay would get the pedal off my pedalboard. I love my Wampler Ecstasy pedal.

Super easy pedal to use. I have the latest version with two toggle switches and three knobs. The bass toggle is fairly useless as it plunges you into blown speaker territory, but set to the middle position..OH BOY. You will have no difficulty getting a good sound out of it.

My quest for a fat, delicious overdrive has ended. Playing through my LP Custom with SH-55's this pedal gives me the tone I dreamed of. It just sits right in the mix - not too bright, not too dark. Just right.

Very quiet pedal. Interacts beautifully with my Teese RMC3 and Whetstone Phaser. Set your phase for a vibe-type sound and throw it at this guy and you will be playing Hendrix for hours. It doesn't receive other dirt all that well, but you won't need it. This is THE light-to-medium gain overdrive you have been searching for. FAT, ROUND, THICK, WARM, SMOOTH...there is no harshness whatsoever.

THANK YOU BRIAN!

Seems reliable enough. Solid, quality components. I take care of my stuff, so unless some fatty jumps on it she's going to be well taken care of anyway.

I had some questions for Brian about the Pinnacle and he was extremely responsive and helpful. My friends have had nothing but good experiences with him. He knows how to take care of his customers.

Another 10 on the board for this one! It deserves it in spades. Plug it in, turn up your tube amp to get a nice fat tubey sound and then step on it. Lift off into tonal bliss.

I have not found a bad sound on this pedal. EXACTLY what I've been searching for.

I have many guitars, from a 1966 Ventures Mosrite to a 2005 Gibson Chet Atkins Countrygentleman, but my all time workhorse is an Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty (3pu) to which I have added a Bigsby. My main amp is a Peavey Classic 30 with a Celestion Gold speaker, a Marshall DSL 401 with a Weber Blue Dog speaker, and a custom built Candy by TheAirTIghtGarage. The SuperEcstasy sits behind a Barber Tone Press Compressor which stays on and is followed by an MI Tube Zone and a Demeter Fussulator (all outstanding pedals). If forced to choose only 1 pedal it would be the Wampler. Their is plenty of variation in overdrive from slightly edgy to full blown feedback. The tone is always smooth, creamy, and thick. NEVER noisy, or harsh sounding. Probably not for metal players, but perfect for everything else from jazz, to country, to classic rock. Worth every penny.

Have had it several months now with no problems. Hand wired and built like a rock, so I expect no problems.

I regularly receive emails from Brian about his merchandise and I find his info helpful and accurate. When you live in a smaller city and don't have access to a big range of pedals to compare, I rely on Harmony Central Customer reviews and whatever work of mouth advice I have found I could trust. I have no reason to find fault with Brian's product descriptions, and can honestly recommend this pedal.

The Wampler, MI, and Fuzzulator all give me variations of "THE TONE" I have been searching for. All are quiet, but have subtle differences that my ear finds desirabe and unique. If you don't have access to trying these boutique pedals, please don't be afraid to give them a try. I've been quite pleased with my selections.

Ultra easy. I don't miss the manual at all (not that they sent one!) Just dial any know any direction and the tone is great. This is the second generation of the original Ecstasy pedal. He made it smaller and changed a couple of other things; but all I care about is it sounds great and has true-bypass.

I am using a custom guitar (Nedd Guitars from Texas) with dual-humbuckers with split settings into either a '73 Fender Champ, Mesa Nomad 45 or Bose Tower. It is very clean and quiet and gets those low to mid gain Bogner tones and gets really close to that Dumble sound. It has two levels of bass boost (they totally change the attitude!), a toggle for smooth or crisp gain settings, and volume, tone and gain knobs. Every setting does something nice.

All Wampler pedals are built into tough aluminum cases and seem quite sturdy. Not worried about having a backup just yet.

Never need them. Keeping my fingers crossed! Heard great things, though.

I play rock, country, blues, and funk. I have been playing guitar for almost 29 years. My signal chain is as follows: Wampler Ego Compressor, Boss Stage Tuner, Keeley True-Bypass switch, Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q wah, Visual Sound Angry Fuzz (Octavia-type effect), Wampler Ecstasy Overdrive, Wampler Super Plextortion, Behringer GE700 e.q. pedal (used for clean boost), Boss TR-2 Tremolo and Eventide Time Factor.
I would definitely buy another one immediately upon the loss of this one. It is my main OD pedal now and I use it more than the Super Plextortion I raved about.
I looked at a ton of other, more expensive boutique pedals and listened to them all over and over - Lovepedal Eternity, Crowther Hotcake, Fulltone Fulldrive, and most other lesser-known, more expensive makers. The Wampler pedals sounded as good or better and usually cost less. I first bought the Super Plex, then I needed to replace my Visual Sound Route 66, which is a Tube Screamer clone with a bass boost. I am so glad I bought the Ecstasy! As with the other Wampler pedals, I wish it had painted lettering instead of a sticker, but no biggie.
I am a Wampler fan!

Very easy to use. 3 knobs & 2 switches. No manual, but none needed. All ranges of very usable overdrive. Killer tone.

I use a variety of tele's and a great Gibson Deluxe with Lollar mini humbuckers into either a 70's 4-input 50 watt Marshall combo or a Line 6 Spider Valve combo. This pedal sounds great in front of either. This is not a metal pedal. It sounds like you amp on steroids. The OD is very musical. It cleans up very nice when you lower your gtr volume. The Boger side of this pedal really rocks & the Dumble side is equally rockin', just in a less aggressive way.

Looks like it's built like a tank. I would probably have to run over it with my truck to kill it. I use a few dirt boxes on my board but this is my new fave. I don't think I would buy another as a backup, but I WILL buy more of Brian's pedals. He knows tone.

I have spoken with Brian thru email many times & he is awesome. Top notch customer service.

I play with a few different bands. Depending on the gig, I may go from country to classic rock to alt rock to blues or 80's Hair metal. I can easily get any dirty tone needed for any of those gigs with this pedal. I have been playing for 30 years. Most of that as a full time pro. I currently have a Fulltone FullDrive 2, BK Butler Tube Driver and a AnalogMan modded TS-9 on my board. They all have great sounds, but this one just seems to fit me best. If I lost this I would get another one. It just has a GREAT tone. Everything from AC/DC to Page to Beck and even a little George Lynch. I would say Robben Ford, but I can't even get close to playing like him. It is my #1 dirt tone now. I'm starting to think about getting another one so I can set up two different sounds.....Hmmmm Yea, I think I just may do that. Maybe Brian could make a dual channel Ecstasy?