Wampler Euphoria (the overdrive previously known as Ecstacy)

[Gravity Jim]

After a couple of years with my Hermida Zendrive, I started wanting a bit more versatility. The Zendrive sounds very good, but I was hoping for something that could do the Dumble-in-a-box smooth thing but some other things besides.

So I sold my Zendrive and after the usual research, I ordered a Wampler Euphoria. The Euphoria (I assume they changed the name because of a conflict with Bogner) has similar controls to the Zendrive with the addition of a three-position voicing switch.

Got it yesterday, got to spend half an hour with it today. Love it. With the switch in the "smooth" position it does a very Zendrive-like thing, but with less compression and midrange boost. The signal is thick and "round," and does that singing sustain thing but with more clarity, and it allows me to control compression with the Tone Press. Haven't had a chance to play it with the Strat, but it should work great. Definitely kills with the Duncan SH1 hummers.

With the switch at the "Open" setting, it's more a classic rock crunch... Very "amp-y," leaving the sound of the Egnater alone but just getting gritty. I've never played one but this is kind of what I would expect a Timmy to sound like... A sort of cranked tweed grit.

Finally, in the bottom "Crunch" setting, it does what they call a light fuzz, but sounds to me like a Mesa style high-gain grind, a sweet-sounding triple rectifier thing that I can see being useful.

I noticed that most of the artists listed as using the pedal on Wampler's page are "session guitarists," and I'm not surprised. The Zendrive sounds awesome, but the sound I'm getting with the Euphoria might be easier to mic and record. The reduced midrange gets a cleaner signal to the mic which is usually producing plenty of mids on its own), and the tonal control is really complete.

Big thumbs up, both for the Euphoria and for the service from PedalsPlus+ Effects Warehouse, who shipped same day, free USPS Priority Mail that got to me in two days.

[Don]

Looks like a cool pedal!

[chuckocaster]

Cool, I was looking at the Wampler OD pedals. I think I'm gonna go with the Barber Direct Drive Low Gain UK.

On a side note, I've been thinking of getting a Tone Press. Seems like you like it pretty well!?! Transparent? I ask cuz the only compression pedals that I like are the Keeley and the BBE Opto Stomp. They're the only ones I've tried that don't jack your EQ.

Sorry about the hijack dude.

[Gravity Jim]

Chucko, I almost went for a Barber OD just because I like my TonePress so much. The reason I dig it is the "studio processor" approach to the thing: it does what they call "parallel compression," which is kind of like the send and return thing an outboard compressor would do in a console. You can blend the original unaffected signal with the compressed signal (phase aligned, of course), which gives you infinitely variable control over the effect. More originals signal gives you more natural attack... crank it up to 100% effect and it "pops" just like an MXR. As for EQ, I don't hear any... sounds the same with the TonePress on or off, although I end up having it on a lot.

[Don]

A friend who fell in love with the touch sensitivity and tone of my tweed Deluxe clone is interested in the Wampler Tweed '57 pedal. I'm very intereseted in seeing if he gets the results thathe's looking for from it.

Regarding compressors, the bass player in the band I'm in has let me borrow his Joe Meeks FloorQ a couple of times. It seems like it's not doing anything until you get going and realize that playing is easier and averything kind of "pops" a little more. It like it a lot.

[Gravity Jim]

Got to spend some more time with the Euphoria this AM. Holy crap! REALLY got the "smooth/Larry/Robben" thing dialed in with humbuckers and just wailed for half an hour. Total TRex nirvana with the "Open" setting, and ending up doing a proto-metal version of "Come Together" with the pedal set to "Crunch." I am having fun!

[chuckocaster]

Very cool you're getting some cool tones out of your new pedal!

I use the bus compression trick in the studio J, that's why I'm digging on the Tone Press!

[Gravity Jim]

The Barber is for sure the best sounding compression pedal I've heard... Like Don says abut the Joe Meek, it's one of those you don't notice until you turn it off.

[chuckocaster]

The BBE is like that too, you can't really hear it's on until you turn it off.

[Rickenjangle]

The BBE is like that too, you can't really hear it's on until you turn it off.

Is that the Opto Stomp? If so I just ordered one on a good sale and took it out this weekend and had that same experience...wanted to leave it on all the time...

[chuckocaster]

Yep, the Opto Stomp. It's THE SHIT!!! I LOVE mine. Won't ever part with mine.

[Rickenjangle]

Interested to hear how you set it up, Chuck. I had both knobs dimed. Didn't notice a huge volume boost or squash, but then when I didn't have it on I noticed it more by its absence. You know that non-chorusy/non-reverby shimmer that Keef gets on "Waiting On a Friend" at the beginning? I think this pedal sounds like that.

[chuckocaster]

I use it on my bass, squash set to 10-11 o'clock, vol at unity. So just a hint as I get compressed thru the house. I use it in conjunction with a Tech 21 Bass Driver DI, so the church's house rig (or any other solid state amp I have to play thru) "feels" like the tube bass heads I'm used to playing thru.

Sorry about the hijack J!

[Gravity Jim]

No sweat, dude. I've hijacked dozens of threads. It's the nature of conversation.

But just o continue, I got the Z-caster back in fighting trim and will be checking out how the Euphoria reacts today.

[Rickenjangle]

The Zencaster's engraved neckplate looks fabulous, Jim! But how do you know it's not the symbol for "soup?"

[Gravity Jim]

We have some Japanese people in our family, and the use of that kanji is well documented by several Zen centers. I know, a lot of tattoo parlor stuff is WAY wrong! So I was careful. Wanted to make sure I wasn't adorning it with a symbol that meant "jughead round-eye" or something.

Omigawd. The Euphoria sounds amazing with the active single coils, and provides a huge range of sounds. I probably am scratching the surface at this point, but my fave neck-pickup/compresser/OD/Rebel pre/'verb & delay/6V6 power amp lead thing is off the hook tasty, and the guitar feels like it plays itself.

[chuckocaster]

Very cool J! Good OD pedals make ALL the difference!!!

And I think that's neat that you did your research on the symbol so it's correct. I have A TON of tattoos, but always do my homework, and everything means something. I don't have anything in other languages. When I see that on people I always wonder if it means what they think it does...

[Gravity Jim]

The Zendrive I just sold to Don was a great pedal, too. But I was attracted to the Voice switch on the Euphoria and I really like it. I can get a wider range of OD types, and being a skin-of-my-teeth professional, I love a piece of gear that does the work of three. :)

[Don]

The Zendrive is likely to be an entry level drug for me. I didn't know that an OD could be this good! On the other hand, it's clear that it's not a Swiss army knife pedal. On the other, other hand, I'm not too keen on spending $200+ on an OD pedal (that's why my name sits idly at the top of the KOT list!!!).

[Gravity Jim]

The Zendrive is likely to be an entry level drug for me. I didn't know that an OD could be this good! On the other hand, it's clear that it's not a Swiss army knife pedal. On the other, other hand, I'm not too keen on spending $200+ on an OD pedal (that's why my name sits idly at the top of the KOT list!!!).

Exactly. I hated every OD pedal I ever played before buying the Zendrive. The Euphoria was the same price as the Zendrive new... I think I'm done screwing around with OD's for now. :)

[Gravity Jim]

Hey, wanna hear a low-gain setting on the Euphoria at work?

Wampler Euphoria sample

Just one of what seems to be an endless array of overdrive tones the little beast will produce.