Black ‘65, Vintage Overdrive

There's a reason that pros and enthusiasts alike seek out the sounds of
yesteryear, and it isn't just nostalgia.

As time has progressed, designs have changed, parts have become

unavailable for even the most genuine attempted remake, and it's
inarguable that the products rolling off the amp line today from the most
well-established makers differ in important ways from their ancestors.

The reissues can sound good, but there's something a little bit magical
about the sound of the amps of the '60s that had black control panels,
black tolex, and a sound that could sing.

Made famous by featuring on more award-winning recordings than any

single musician, the tone of the Black Panel amps was undeniably great!

If you're a guitarist or steel guitarist who wants to capture that sound

now, we've got something that we feel is going to be perfect for you.

It just so happens that the sound doesn't stop there. Read on!

To get the most out of your new pedal, you'll want to become very familiar with the controls. The Black '65 OD isn't
named after any particular amp precisely because the range of sounds available would make calling it the "BF Dee
Lucks" or the "BF Bass Gentleman" or the "BF To-Win" too boxed in. Engineered from the ground up for diversity, the
three-band EQ and Gain Switch will allow you to dial in a sound very much like any of the classic amps of the era –
and even get into tweed-covered territory (you know what I mean!). And as if that functionality weren't enough, it
can act as a "tone shaper;" that is, a pedal that you place at or near the very end of your chain but before the amp,
with the gain set very low but the EQ adjusted to give everything the amp-like, great flavor you want from the pedal.

This pedal is no one trick pony. It works very well for giving your "Black Panel" amp (whatever it may be) a cranked-up
sound at a lower volume, just as it works very well for giving any amp a serious dose of that classic tone. Experiment
and enjoy!

Bypass Switch – A true-bypass footswitch ensures solid, mechanical removal of the circuit when it isn't wanted,
meaning you don't lose any tone when the pedal is off.

Volume – This control adjusts the output level of the Black '65. It has a huge range of adjustment, allowing for unity
gain or for a real kick-in when you turn it on. How you adjust it is up to you.
 Suggested Settings (volume to suit)
Treble – This control adjusts the amount of focus on the highs in the
pedal. In conjunction with the other EQ controls, you can have a sound
that's more reminsicent of this or that classic Black Panel amp, depending
on how much highs you dial in. If you're thinking "siamese" crank the
Treble; for a sound more like an old bass amp that guitarists got their
hands on and loved, keep it back a little bit but still above noon. If you're
after a fancy sound (maybe even a deluxe tone?), roll it back farther. The
ability to morph between these different types of sounds continues with
all the Black '65 OD's EQ controls.
Black '65 Overdrive – For a clear, overdriven tone
Mids – This control is pretty fundamental to shaping just what kind of Gain at 1-2 o'clock, Treble at 3 o'clock, Mids at 1-2 o'clock, Bass
classic amp tone you're after, too. Different amps emphasized the at 1-2 o'clock (add more or subtract if necessary to keep the
midrange in different ways, whether due to actual circuitry changes, tone clear, with plenty of presence), Gain Boost Switch OFF
speaker selection, or cabinet type; since the "body" of the guitar's sound is
in the midrange, being able to adjust it this substantially is absolutely
necessary to bringing out both the best qualities of your instrument and
amplifier, and to dialing the pedal in to bring out the classic sound you're
aiming to recreate. It's between the Treble and Mids that you'll get the
majority of the fine tuning done.

Bass – Still, you have to be able to dial in the lows, and this control will let
you put them exactly where you want them. For adjusting the desired
cabinet response, the intended speaker size, and generally getting the
pedal to "play nice" with a variety of amps, you need to be able to have
precise control over the low frequencies. This control gives you precision Warm and Chime
Gain at 10-11 o'clock, Treble at 4 o'clock, Mids at 11 o'clock,
in the low frequencies. A good place to start is noon, and if that's bassier
Bass at 3 o'clock, Gain Boost Switch OFF
than you like, reduce it; if it's too lean, increase it. It may be a good idea to
adjust this last, if you've got the basic voicing of the other two EQ knobs
dialed in.

Gain – While the simple function of this control is just to increase how
much crunch there is to the tone (or, if used in conjunction with the Gain
Boost Switch, bring it into Tweed territory with the right settings), you can
also use this set low to create a "preamp" effect, placing the pedal toward
(or at) the end of your signal chain so that only the dramatic shift in
voicing to the classic black-paneled amp of your choice takes place.
Several of our artists tested this out after it was mentioned in an early
issue of our Wampler Pedals E-Zine, and many users have enjoyed this
Is That "Tweed" I Hear?
"tone shaper" method too. But if you want some singing crunch, crank it Gain at 2-3 O'clock, Treble at 1-2 o'Clock, Mids at 3
up! o'clock, Bass at noon (add more for bigger sounding
tweed!), Gain Switch ON
Gain Boost Switch – This toggles between a lower gain and higher gain
mode internally. Mainly intended for versatility, since different guitars
have different signal levels and we don't want you to be stuck if you're
using a super low output guitar, its "hidden" feature is that if you turn the
Gain Boost on and start raising the gain, the pedal can start to edge a bit
into primitive amp, tweed territory.
Power Requirements
The pedal can be powered by a 9V battery. The battery terminal is located inside the pedal. If
using a power supply, power needed for the pedal is 9V DC, regulated, center pin negative, as
supplied by most standard Boss™/Ibanez™/Etc. supplies. The pedal can be safely powered with a
multi-supply, like the Visual Sound 1SPOT™. The pedal was designed explicitly around the usage
of a 9V DC power source, and is intended to sound its best at 9V. To avoid damage to the pedal, Tone Shaper Extraordinaire
do not exceed 18V DC, do not use center pin positive adapters, and do not use AC power. Using Gain no higher than 9 o'clock, Treble wherever you like,
an incorrect power adapter can lead to damage and will void the warranty on the pedal. This Mids wherever you like, Bass wherever you like, Gain Switch
pedal draws 3mA. OFF, placed right before the amp if possible to reshape
everything into this delightful sound!
Please note: If you are using a battery, it will drain when the input cord is plugged in.

Return and Warranty Policy

For direct sales, there is a 14-day “no questions asked” period where you may return the pedal for any reason, provided that it is in its original condition. Please retain
all packaging within this period in case you decide to return it! We only require that you pay shipping back. The 14 days start when you receive the pedal. This does
not apply to dealer or retailer sales – see their individual return policies for specific information.

All Wampler Pedals, Inc. pedals carry a 5-year, fully transferable warranty that covers defects due to parts and labor. The warranty begins at the point of purchase.
Please remember to register your pedal as soon as possible after purchase at the following web page to ensure quicker service if you should ever need to make a
warranty claim: www.wamplerpedals.com/warranty_registration
Any trademarks attributed that are not owned by Wampler Pedals, Inc. are for
For warranty repairs or questions, please feel free to contact us at www.wamplerpedals.com/contact_us.html demonstrative purposes only, and are property of their respective owners