Guitar World Verdict
This is a massively versatile gain pedal that packs two distinct flavours of dirt into one small, easy-to-use package. The ability to change the stacking order is a fun and useful feature, and the character switches help you to further define your tone. If I were being picky, I’d love a way to be able to toggle between the two sides with one click of a switch, but as it stands, that’s not a deal-breaker.
Pros
- +
Massive range of gain tones from classic rock to metal.
- +
Very easy to dial in.
- +
Being able to change the order in which the sides can be stacked is very useful.
Cons
- -
Being able to toggle between the two sides with one switch would be ideal.
- -
This is a small pedal, and some may find it cramped.
You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
What is it?
Do we really need another overdrive pedal voiced after a certain famous amplifier? Arguably not. But the Wampler Golden Jubilee is considerably more than yet another Marshall-in-a-box, not least because it also includes a Mesa-style distortion in there too. By combining two of rock’s most iconic amp voices into a single compact enclosure, Wampler has set out to create the ultimate hi-gain pedal for those who like their tone hot enough to melt faces.
A central Order switch determines the internal routing, whether the overdrive feeds into the distortion or vice versa
Each channel comes with its own dedicated controls: Level, Gain, and Tone knobs, plus a Character switch that further refines each voice. On the OD side, the Character switch reshapes the gain profile, pushing the circuit into higher-gain territory with noticeably more compression. On the DS side, it governs presence, with the bright setting opening up the top end for additional treble and cut, while the dark setting reins in the highs for a more focused, less aggressive response.
Both channels can be used independently or stacked together simultaneously, and a central Order switch determines the internal routing, whether the overdrive feeds into the distortion or vice versa, significantly changing how the two gain stages interact and compress against each other.
Aesthetically, the Golden Jubilee is wrapped in a premium evergreen emerald sparkle finish with gold-anodised knobs and hardware, is true bypass, and runs on a standard 9V DC centre-negative power supply, or 18V if you’re looking for extra headroom. As expected, it also features top-mounted jacks for clean pedalboard integration and is crafted in the USA.
Specs
- Launch price: $239/£209/€239
- Type: Overdrive/Distortion
- Controls: Level, Tone, Gain, Character, Order
- Features: Stackable dual channel distortion and overdrive, with separate channel switches for further tone shaping.
- Connectivity: 1/4 input and output
- Bypass: True Bypass
- Power: 9V DC or 18V DC, 30mA
- Dimensions: 2.5” x 4.8” x 2.3” (64mm x 125mm x 60mm)
- Weight: 0.85 lbs (0.39 kg)
- Contact: Wampler Pedals
Build quality
Build quality rating: ★★★★½
Some players with larger feet or those used to more spacious enclosures may find it a little cramped to navigate
Wampler is known for its quality, and thankfully, the Golden Jubilee is no different. The enclosure feels dense and solid, and before a note is played, I know it will withstand the stress of gigging. If you’re at all familiar with Wampler's dual drive pedals like the Pantheon Deluxe or Gearbox, you may be expecting a larger format unit, but for the Golden Jubilee, it's managed to cram both circuits into a stomp the size of the Triumph or Mofetta.
The result is a genuinely compact, pedalboard-friendly unit, and for those of us perpetually locked in a battle to reclaim real estate on an overcrowded pedalboard, that is no small thing.
That said, it is worth acknowledging that, as this is such a slight pedal, the footswitches are pretty close together. Some players with larger feet or those used to more spacious enclosures may find it a little cramped to navigate, particularly when changing channels on stage in the heat of the moment. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s worth being aware of before you buy.
Moving on to the finish itself, and I’d say it’s pretty standout. The classy, evergreen emerald sparkle coating catches the light in a way that makes it genuinely striking on a pedalboard, and the gold-anodised hardware further elevates its visual appeal. There is a whiff of MXR’s mighty Carbon Copy about its get-up, but I think it wears it well – in fact, it may be the best-looking pedal in Wampler's lineup.
The build quality here is exemplary. For me, this is a pedal built to last and built to tour.
Usability
Usability rating: ★★★★☆
I think the Character switches are deceptively powerful tools
One of the Golden Jubilee’s greatest strengths is how intuitive it is to use. Despite packing two full channels of gain into a compact enclosure, Wampler has resisted the temptation to overcomplicate things. Each channel has just three knobs and a Character switch. That’s it. We don’t even have a three-band EQ, meaning you can be up and running with a usable tone within minutes of unboxing it – and I was!
I think the Character switches are deceptively powerful tools. On the OD channel, engaging it pushes the gain structure into a noticeably different range, more compressed, more saturated, with a feel that calls to mind a modded Marshall without tipping over into excess. On the DS side, the Character switch can be used to tame the top end, which is particularly useful when running into bright-sounding rigs or when you need more cut for lead work.
The Order switch is where things get especially interesting. Being able to flip the signal routing from overdrive into distortion, or distortion into overdrive, produces two meaningfully different results when both channels are engaged simultaneously.
The interaction between the gain stages changes character depending on the routing, and both options are genuinely useful rather than one being clearly superior. My personal preference is classic overdrive into distortion, but the reverse routing has its own appeal for certain applications.
For players who want to toggle between using one channel and then the other, you can’t do this with a single press of a footswitch
One area where the usability picture is slightly less rosy is the switching behaviour when you don’t want to combine the sides, but rather switch between them. For players who want to toggle between using one channel and then the other, you can’t do this with a single press of a footswitch; the current setup requires a bit of choreography by pressing two switches. Is it difficult? No, of course not, but playing live, I’m looking for things to be as seamless and fast as possible.
A dip switch inside the enclosure that could change the pedal to toggle mode, so that when you press on a footswitch, the other side is disengaged, would be a welcome addition. Perhaps the second footswitch could then be used to combine the sides so you don't lose the ability to stack?
It’s a minor point in an otherwise highly usable pedal, but one worth flagging for gigging players – perhaps we could see this feature on a V2?
Sounds
Sounds rating: ★★★★★
The tonal range on offer is genuinely vast
I play in a punk band that blends grunge and metal elements, and from the first notes through this pedal, it felt like it was made for exactly that context. The tonal range on offer is genuinely vast. Everything from classic rock crunch to grunge to full-on metal, and crucially, every stop along that spectrum is available in this pint-sized stomp.
To start my testing, I plugged my Gibson Firebird into a Fender Blues Junior. The clean sound was bright with a bell-like chime, but that all changed when I stepped on the pedal. The OD channel, based on classic Marshall voicing, is a joy. It delivers smooth, rich, and unmistakably Marshall-flavoured tones, everything you love about a cranked British stack, without the fizz or excessive brightness that can make high-gain pedals tiring to play through.
The low end is tight, the mids are muscular and present, and the top end has enough air to breathe without ever becoming harsh. I found that this side is particularly great for Angus-style tones. Engaging the Character switch on the OD channel shifts things into a different territory entirely. There’s more compression, an even tighter feel, and a gain structure that edges convincingly into Green Day’s Dookie-era. It certainly brings to mind a modded Marshall in character.
When both channels are stacked, the result is massive, a full-frequency wall of gain that feels enormous without becoming a muddy mess
The DS channel is equally impressive. There is more than enough gain on tap for even the most demanding modern contexts, and the high-end is singing and rich, making it phenomenal for solos and lead work. Note clarity is exceptional, even at high gain settings, individual notes retain their definition and articulation, which is a genuine achievement.
The Character switch comes in handy here; both the Firebird and the Fender amp are bright by nature, so some taming is necessary. I found myself preferring the switch in the dark mode. The change is subtle, but it becomes more noticeable when you start to increase the gain.
When both channels are stacked, the result is massive, a full-frequency wall of gain that feels enormous without becoming a muddy mess. They stack in a very musical way, complementing each other rather than simply piling gain on top of gain. It’s one of the most satisfying stacking combinations I’ve encountered in a dual-channel pedal for a very long time.
Of course, you can change the order in which you feed the pedals. Personally, I preferred keeping it classic, with the overdrive feeding the distortion side, and using the distortion with a slight increase in volume and gain as a boost.
Verdict
What Wampler has pulled off here is a pedal that feels both deeply familiar and genuinely fresh at the same time
I’ll be straight with you, I went into this review half-expecting the Golden Jubilee to be another well-built but ultimately predictable gain pedal. Two amp voices in a box is hardly a new concept, and the boutique pedal market is not exactly short of Marshall-inspired stomps. But the Golden Jubilee genuinely surprised me, and not just a little.
What Wampler has pulled off here is a pedal that feels both deeply familiar and genuinely fresh at the same time. The two channels are distinctly different in flavor that work perfectly well separately as they do combined.
The build is everything you’d hope for from the US company, and that finish is genuinely gorgeous. This one is hard to ignore on a 'board.
My only real frustration is the lack of a toggle mode for switching between channels independently on stage. It’s the one thing that stops this from being a completely frictionless live tool. That said, it’s a niggle rather than a dealbreaker, and it doesn’t diminish how good this pedal sounds. Most players will be looking to stack the sides anyway.
If you play rock, punk, grunge, or metal and you’re looking for one pedal to cover serious ground, this could be your golden ticket to upgraded tone.
Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
Build quality | The Golden Jubilee is a tour-ready pedal that impresses with its premium build, though its compact size means the footswitches sit close together, which may feel cramped for some players. | ★★★★½ |
Usability | Wampler has kept things refreshingly simple with this pedal, making it easy to dial in great tones quickly, though the lack of a single-switch toggle between channels is a minor frustration for those that don't want to stack. | ★★★★☆ |
Sounds | The Golden Jubilee delivers an enormous range of gain tones with both channels stacking together in a musical, complementary way even at high gain settings. | ★★★★★ |
Overall | A genuinely impressive dual-channel gain pedal that punches well above its size, offering two iconic amp voices in a compact, beautifully built package. | ★★★★½ |
Also try
Hands-on videos
Wampler Pedals
Peter “Danish Pete” Honoré
- Best distortion pedals: the top high-gain stompboxes for guitarists
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
