Wampler Black '65 - Gain switch

[rschultz13]

Hi,

Just got a Wampler Black '65, played for about an hour through my Billm Blues Jr running 6v6's.

The thing I'm having a hard time with is the gain switch... it's like it's 2 completely different pedals. I was either running in switch down with the gain maxed, or switch up with the gain all the way down. And it feels like there is a sizable gap between the two gain wise... which seems to be about where I want to be. Has anyone else noticed this?

Also, it seemed rather bassy. I had to roll off the bass a lot and turn up the treble to get it close to the bypass tone. And the mids didn't seem to do much.

I've read so many enthusiastic comments about it, I feel let down. Am I just not using it right?

 

[kwaping]

It may be that it just isn't right for that amp with those mods.

 

[dshobe]

I don't know how your amp is voiced, but it will give you great Fendery tones. Try this for a great Tweed Deluxe kinda cleanish tone; treble and bass noon, mids maxed, gain 11-12 o'clock. Just like a bf fender, dial the bass down as you increase gain. I run mine at 18v btw.

 

[rschultz13]

I can see how a pedal might not work with a particular amp tone wise, but I'm saying the gain is such that I either get too much or too little. I wish the switch was a 3 position switch with a middle position... That's probably where I'd be.

 

[Fendegibs]

I think the Wampler guys would tell you to run the pedal with the gain switch down (off) and that there was debate over whether or not to add the gain switch at all (I think I've read that on the board here somewhere...). Personally, I use the B65 with the gain switch down and with just enough gain to give it a little breakup, which for me is around 11 o clock. I stack other pedals into it, including fuzz and a Timmy, and it works great for me that way.

 

[rschultz13]

I can see using it with the gain switch down in purely an overdrive fashion, then adding dirt on top of that from another pedal. I'll mess around with it that way.

With the switch up, it's not overdrive anymore IMO... that's distortion. And very good distortion too.

 

[rschultz13]

Spent some more time with it tonight: it's growing on me. Switch down, it's purely an overdrive... couldn't really get much grit out of it. Had some nice full tones, the T&B EQ's worked well, mid was rather subtle. But with the switch up, and the gain fairly low, I was able to get some really good tones by using my volume knob to kind of dial in the grit.

 

[kwaping]

Nice! I played one in a store recently through a DRRI. Out of about ten various OD pedals that I tried that day, the Black 65 was my favorite. Glad you're liking yours more now!

 

[madspirit]

I think you're using it right. I love mine but I don't think it's a stand alone OD. It's more of a "last dirt pedal in line" tone shaper. Hi-gain switch is pretty useless. I get the best clean tone I can get from the amp (pedal off) and then turn it on (low gain) and eq to suit. I'm using a Maz 18 Jr. by the way. I use an additional overdrive and fuzz before the B65. The B65, as advertised, is more of an "amp in a box". Not really an attempt at a transparent overdrive. It definitely blackfaces your amps tone. Works for me.