Wampler Velvet Fuzz Review

Since their humble beginnings over a decade ago, Wampler Pedals has been churning out great pedals, including the Wampler Velvet Fuzz. While there’s two versions of the Velvet Fuzz currently on the market, the V2 offers a few tweaks and modifications that many musicians appreciate. 

The Wampler Velvet Fuzz V2 can heavily distort and clip your sound, and it has a few advantages over the competition. But, how do you know if this is the right pedal for you? Before you buy anything, check out our detailed review of what this particular pedal has to offer you below. 

Things to Consider Before Buying a Fuzz Pedal

Before we get into the specifics of this pedal, there are a few factors to consider:

If you’re looking to experiment with your sound or distort your tone, a fuzz pedal may be what you need. But, if you only want a boost or increase in volume, a fuzz pedal may be too heavy.

We’ve given you a basic overview of what makes the Wampler Velvet Fuzz V2 a stand-out in its category. But, here’s a more detailed breakdown of the product: 

Velvet Fuzz V1 vs. V2

Are you a fan of the original Velvet Fuzz and wondering how the second version compares? Well, there’s not a lot of differences between the two. While they contain almost all the same features, the V2 uses top jacks instead of side jacks. Depending on the layout of your rig or pedalboard, top jacks might be a more convenient placement. 

The original Velvet Fuzz also uses a mechanical 3PDT switch, which has gone out of style in recent years. The relay switch you’d find on the V2 has a superior design, and should minimize any audible “popping” that you hear with true bypass. 

Besides those technical differences, the V2 has a sleeker, more retro design that’ll make you feel as if you’re back in the ‘80s. 

Controls

While most of the controls you’d find on the Wampler Velvet Fuzz are pretty standard, it does offer more variety. For instance, there are three different control pots, a footswitch, and a voicing switch. Those three control pots deal with your volume, fuzz, and brightness. 

Adjusting the volume knob should change your overall output, while the fuzz knob increases or decreases your clipping. Turning the brightness knob clockwise should add more depth to your sound, and counter-clockwise gives it more bass. You may find that, regardless of what sound you’re going for, you’ll always need some brightness. If it’s too low, the effect may just sound too muddy. 

These three features end up giving musicians a lot of control over how the fuzz effect sounds. It can be subtle and understated or turned all the way up. 

However, what may be this pedal’s most interesting feature is the Big/Tight voicing switch. If you switch it to the “Big” setting at the bottom, you’ll end up with a darker tone that’s reminiscent of vintage fuzz effects. Changing it to “Tight” should refine that tone, and even make it sound more like a distortion pedal.

Other Features

Besides all the controls you get with this pedal, there are a couple of other features worth mentioning. For instance, that relay switch is a noticeable improvement from the original Velvet Fuzz. In fact, it’s something you probably want with any fuzz pedal you get. 

The design of the pedal also includes a coated, durable finish. If you drop the pedal, you’re less likely to scratch or damage it. The entire construction of the Velvet Fuzz is high-quality. Along with that durable coating, it includes high-grade film capacitors, and resistors that can help you get a better sound. 

It does include a 9V power battery connection, but the power supply isn’t included with your purchase. If you decide to order this pedal, that’s something you’ll need to buy separately. 

However, there is a five-year-warranty with the V2. If there’s a defect in the product and you notice it within that time frame, you may be eligible for a replacement.

Sound

As far as a fuzz pedal goes, the V2 is extremely responsive, and it doesn’t take much to hear the effect in your tone. If you want to hear how the fuzz sounds by itself, try turning down the volume on your guitar and listening to how it sounds with your rhythm. 

Keep in mind that if you’re looking for a fuzz pedal that’s very subtle, this might not be the right one for you. But, if you’re looking for an effect that feels and sounds “big,” this pedal can deliver. 

As we’ve already mentioned, the control pot offers a lot of variation for your tone. With some fuzz pedals, the control pot may feel unnecessary, but you can take full advantage of it with this one. The brightness is almost essential with anything you play. It can add clarity to all those individual notes. 

First-time users may expect the pedal to sound great when it comes out of the box. But, it’ll probably require a little bit of adjusting before you end up with a sound that isn’t too muddy or too distorted. 

While we’ve got a lot of great things to say about the Wampler Velvet Fuzz pedal, you shouldn’t just hear it from us. People all across the web have used and reviewed this pedal, and they’ve got a lot to say too. 

For example, the user below echoes our views about how versatile this pedal is. Unlike a lot of other fuzz pedals, there’s not a single tone or setting that may feel right. Instead, there’s multiple settings that might help you achieve the sound you want.

In fact, as the customer below suggests, you may not even need a separate distortion pedal. Once you’ve got a good idea of how every knob affects your tone, you can add as much (or as little) dirt and grit as you want. Recreating classic sounds from Jimi Hendrix or Pink Floyd is as simple as finding the right setting.

However, the pedal may sound differently, depending on the amp you use. This isn’t uncommon for fuzz pedals or even effect pedals in general. If you frequently switch between amps, you should be prepared to do some adjusting before you jam out.

Besides the smooth tone, another user found that the top jacks were an improvement for this pedal. If you’ve got a crowded pedalboard, the placement of those jacks helps you situate the pedal in a better position. And, as other reviewers have mentioned, there’s plenty of gain with this pedal. While it may be more than you need, you shouldn’t feel as if the pedal is lacking in that area.