Wampler Tumnus Deluxe Settings Guide
The Wampler Tumnus Deluxe is a Klon Centaur-circuit overdrive with expanded EQ controls added by Brian Wampler — Bass and Treble knobs allow tone shaping that the original two-knob Klon can't do. It's widely regarded as one of the most accurate Klon-circuit implementations at a fraction of the original's cost, adding genuine usefulness through the EQ expansion. Klone circuits are characterized by their parallel clean-blend architecture: the dry signal blends with a clipped signal for a transparent, musical overdrive.
Used by: John Mayer
The best Wampler Tumnus Deluxe settings start with: Volume at 6/10, Gain at 4/10, Bass at 5/10, Treble at 5/10. Adjust from there based on your amp, guitar, and room volume. For Blues: Volume 7/10, Gain 3/10, Bass 5/10, Treble 5/10.
⚡ Start Here — Recommended Settings
| Control | Starting Position | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 6/10 | Off → Loud |
| Gain | 4/10 | None → Full |
| Bass | 5/10 | Thin → Thick |
| Treble | 5/10 | Dark → Bright |
These are universal starting points. Adjust based on your amp, guitar, and room. Scroll down for genre-specific settings and artist-documented positions.
What Each Control Does
Recommended Starting Settings
Safe starting positions for any style. Adjust from here based on your amp and room.
All values on a 0–10 scale. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear.
Settings by Genre
Low Gain for pick-sensitive blues overdrive — the Klone circuit's parallel architecture means the dry signal is always present, making the pedal feel more open and less compressed than a TS at equivalent Gain. The guitar retains its natural dynamics more clearly. EQ at neutral; adjust Treble up for brighter amps, Bass up for darker amps.
Minimum Gain, high Volume — the purest expression of the Klone philosophy. The parallel architecture at zero gain passes almost entirely dry signal with a slight level boost. Many players use a Klone exclusively as a clean boost, pushing an amp into more distortion while adding minimal pedal coloration.
Very low Gain with elevated Treble and reduced Bass — the Tumnus Deluxe's EQ controls shine here compared to the standard Tumnus or original Klon. Treble at 6 adds sparkle to clean Telecaster tones; Bass at 4 keeps the low end tight. A small Gain bump pushes the amp without overt clipping.
Higher Gain — the Klone circuit at Gain 6–7 enters more conventional overdrive territory while retaining its characteristic transparency. The parallel clean blend means even at higher Gain settings the note definition and pick attack remain more present than a comparably-set TS. Works for classic rock rhythm where clarity in distorted chords matters.
Artist Settings
Documented settings used by professional guitarists on this unit.
Mayer has used Klon-circuit pedals extensively — the Klone's transparent quality suits his approach of building tone from the amp up, using the pedal to add warmth and push rather than to fundamentally change the amp's character. At low Gain the Tumnus Deluxe adds the harmonic richness he achieves with his original Klon Centaur.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- The Klone circuit's parallel architecture is why it sounds transparent at low Gain — the dry signal is always present and blends with the clipped signal. As Gain increases, the ratio shifts toward more clipped signal. At zero Gain, the pedal is almost purely a buffer and boost.
- The Tumnus Deluxe's Bass and Treble controls make it significantly more versatile than the standard two-knob Tumnus or original Klon. Players who found Klones slightly too bright or too bassy for their amp can correct this with the Deluxe's EQ.
- Running a Klone after a Tube Screamer (TS before Klon) is a classic combination — the TS handles midrange boost and initial clipping; the Klone adds clarity and maintains the open feel. Many professional blues and country players use this exact stacking order.
FAQ
Wampler Tumnus Deluxe — Common Questions
Best starting settings for Wampler Tumnus Deluxe: Volume at 6/10, Gain at 4/10, Bass at 5/10, Treble at 5/10. Adjust from there based on your guitar, room, and playing style.
For Blues: Volume 7/10, Gain 3/10, Bass 5/10, Treble 5/10. Low Gain for pick-sensitive blues overdrive — the Klone circuit's parallel architecture means the dry signal is always present, making the pedal feel more open and less compressed than a TS at equivalent Gain. The guitar retains its natural dynamics more clearly. EQ at neutral; adjust Treble up for brighter amps, Bass up for darker amps.
For Clean Boost: Volume 9/10, Gain 0/10, Bass 5/10, Treble 5/10. Minimum Gain, high Volume — the purest expression of the Klone philosophy. The parallel architecture at zero gain passes almost entirely dry signal with a slight level boost. Many players use a Klone exclusively as a clean boost, pushing an amp into more distortion while adding minimal pedal coloration.
Volume: Output volume (Off to Loud). Gain: Amount of preamp gain / distortion (None to Full). Bass: Low-frequency EQ (Thin to Thick). Treble: High-frequency EQ (Dark to Bright)
The Klone circuit's parallel architecture is why it sounds transparent at low Gain — the dry signal is always present and blends with the clipped signal. As Gain increases, the ratio shifts toward more clipped signal. At zero Gain, the pedal is almost purely a buffer and boost. The Tumnus Deluxe's Bass and Treble controls make it significantly more versatile than the standard two-knob Tumnus or original Klon. Players who found Klones slightly too bright or too bassy for their amp can correct this with the Deluxe's EQ. Running a Klone after a Tube Screamer (TS before Klon) is a classic combination — the TS handles midrange boost and initial clipping; the Klone adds clarity and maintains the open feel. Many professional blues and country players use this exact stacking order.
John Mayer settings: Volume 7/10, Gain 3/10, Bass 5/10, Treble 5/10. Mayer has used Klon-circuit pedals extensively — the Klone's transparent quality suits his approach of building tone from the amp up, using the pedal to add warmth and push rather than to fundamentally change the amp's character. At low Gain the Tumnus Deluxe adds the harmonic richness he achieves with his original Klon Centaur.
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