Wampler TCD Compulsion Drive Pedal

Retailing in the region of £199.99

On the menu for January 2026 are the Wampler Guitar Pedals, freshly added and carefully selected. These New units are available to order online with fast, secure delivery from trusted UK retailers. Read on for full details, specifications, demos, videos, reviews, and the best places to buy the Wampler Guitar Pedals today.


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Description

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On the menu for January 2026 are the Wampler Guitar Pedals, freshly added and carefully selected. These New units are available to order online with fast, secure delivery from trusted UK retailers. Read on for full details, specifications, demos, videos, reviews, and the best places to buy the Wampler Guitar Pedals today.

The Compulsion Drive (TCD) is Brian Wampler’s obsessive re-imagining of one of the most legendary distortion circuits in modern guitar pedal history – the Fulltone OCDtm. Designed to deliver the unmistakable roar, sparkle, and dynamic touch sensitivity that players crave, TCD combines raw power with refined tonal sculpting. Whether you’re chasing articulate crunch, harmonically rich saturation, or soaring lead tones, TCD puts it all at your feet with intuitive control and Wampler’s signature attention to detail.

The Spirit of Distortion

At the heart of TCD lies a circuit that has long been celebrated for its harmonic complexity and amp-like response. Brian Wampler has carefully refined and modernised this classic design, ensuring that the pedal captures the essence of that coveted sound while providing greater versatility and tonal control. The Compulsion Drive comes alive under your fingers – cleaning up to shimmering grit when you back off, and exploding into searing distortion when you dig in. It’s the kind of pedal that responds like an amp, and it’s already a staple on the Wampler team’s boards.

Timeless Circuits, Total Control

The Gain control takes you anywhere from edge-of-breakup crunch to roaring full-on distortion. Shape your tone with the powerful three-band EQ – Bass, Mids, and Treble – giving you everything from tight, focused drive to wide-open tones brimming with magical clarity and presence. Finally, the Level control delivers all the output you need, whether you want to push your amp harder or sit perfectly balanced in the mix.

The Mode switch lets you choose between two distinct flavours of clipping – when down, it’s a traditional gain structure, when up it changes to a harder-hitting and more tube-like sound with cascaded MOSFET gain stages. Inside The Compulsion Drive, you’ll find even more tone-shaping power waiting for you. A key feature of TCD is its ability to tap into classic flavours of the original circuit it was based on. Two internal DIP switches let you shape the pedal to your taste. The Fat switch adds deep low-end warmth for a thicker foundation, while the Diode switch shifts the gain profile with an extra clipping diode for tighter, more saturated distortion. These hidden options give the TCD boutique-level customisation and serious versatility under the hood.

Responsive Grit and Power

What sets The Compulsion Drive apart is its ability to feel like part of your amp rather than just a pedal in front of it. It enhances the harmonic content of your signal, allowing chords to shimmer with clarity and single notes to sing with sustain and definition. The pedal’s touch sensitivity and dynamic range make it responsive to both your guitar’s volume knob and your hands – clean up by rolling back, or dig in for searing drive without touching a control. Pair it with other pedals and it unlocks entirely new shades of tone and harmonic richness.

Crafted with Precision

As with every Wampler pedal, TCD is built in the U.S.A. using only the highest-quality components. Every detail has been designed to ensure superior sound, reliability, and performance. Whether you’re in the studio or on the stage, the Compulsion Drive is ready to deliver night after night.

Key Features

  • Brian Wampler’s obsessive re-imagining of one of the most legendary distortion circuits in modern guitar pedal history
  • High-grade components selected for superior sound and response
  • Premium sparkle platinum finish with rugged enclosure
  • Independent three-band EQ (Bass, Mids, Treble), Level and Gain controls
  • Mode switch to dial in Tube-like clipping
  • Internal DIP switches allow 4 classic circuit variations

Specifications

  • Built in the U.S.A.
  • High-grade components selected for superior sound and response
  • Premium sparkle platinum finish with rugged enclosure
  • Power Draw 20mA at 9V DC and 25mA at 18V DC, do not exceed 18V DC
  • Dimensions: 2.5” x 4.8” x 2.3” (64mm x 125mm x 60mm)

Additional information

Weight 0.8 kg

Brand

Wampler

Wampler are renowned for crafting boutique-grade guitar pedals that blend studio precision with road-ready reliability. Designed by tone visionary Brian Wampler, every circuit reflects years of obsessive tweaking to capture the feel and dynamics of real amplifiers. Whether it’s the Tumnus for that mythical Klon-style transparent drive, the Euphoria for rich Dumble-inspired overdrive, or the Terraform bringing studio-quality modulation to your board, Wampler pedals consistently deliver clarity, musicality, and depth. Each model is built in the USA using premium components and true-bypass switching for pristine signal integrity. If you’re after pro-level tone shaping — from subtle boost to soaring gain — Wampler are one of the brands to watch, trusted by players who demand boutique sound without compromise.

Category

Guitar Pedals

Tags

Distortion

Distortion pedals take your clean guitar signal and transform it into something bigger, bolder, and full of attitude. By clipping the waveform, they add sustain, bite, and aggression, creating that thick, compressed tone that’s powered rock music for decades. From the growling crunch of classic hard rock to the tight, saturated roar of modern metal, distortion is all about energy and presence. It gives every note weight and authority, pushing your amp to its limits and beyond.

There are countless flavours of distortion, each with its own texture and edge. Some sound smooth and creamy, others raw and gnarly like tearing fabric. It’s the sonic equivalent of turning up the heat until the sound cooks — rich, sizzling, and perfectly seasoned to taste. Whether used for rhythm muscle or soaring leads, a good distortion pedal doesn’t just add volume; it adds personality, grit, and that unmistakable sense of power under your fingers.

EQ

While Ed Sheeran primarily relies on the natural sound of his acoustic guitar and vocals, he occasionally uses EQ (Equalization) to shape and enhance his tone during live performances or in the studio. EQ pedals or onboard preamps can allow him to adjust the frequency response of his guitar signal to suit the acoustics of different venues or to achieve specific tonal characteristics. Here’s how EQ might be utilized in Ed Sheeran’s setup:

1. **Tonal Shaping**: EQ can be used to adjust the balance of frequencies in the guitar signal, allowing Ed Sheeran to shape his tone to his liking. For example, he might boost the midrange frequencies to bring out the warmth and presence of his acoustic guitar, or cut certain frequencies to reduce any harshness or mud in the sound.

2. **Feedback Control**: In a live setting, EQ can help control feedback by notching out problematic frequencies that might cause the guitar signal to feed back through the amplification system. This can be particularly useful when performing in venues with challenging acoustics or high volume levels.

3. **Room Correction**: In situations where the venue’s acoustics are less than ideal, EQ can be used to compensate for any deficiencies in the sound. By adjusting the EQ settings, Ed Sheeran can tailor the guitar tone to sound more balanced and natural, regardless of the room’s acoustic properties.

4. **Matching Gear**: EQ can also be used to match the tone of Ed Sheeran’s guitar to the sound of other instruments or equipment in his setup. For example, he might adjust the EQ to complement the tonal characteristics of his vocal microphone or to blend seamlessly with backing tracks or other instruments.

Overall, while EQ may not be a central component of Ed Sheeran’s guitar effects setup, it can still play a valuable role in shaping his tone and ensuring that he achieves the desired sound in different performance environments. Whether used subtly for tonal shaping or more aggressively for feedback control, EQ allows Ed Sheeran to tailor his guitar tone to suit his musical vision and performance needs.

New

This is brand new, fresh in, and a UK warranty is included. New Gear always comes from trusted UK music retailers.

Volume

Volume pedals control the output level of a guitar signal using a foot-operated treadle. They allow smooth volume swells, dynamic control during playing, and easy muting between songs. Volume pedals can be placed at different points in the signal chain to either control overall loudness or adjust gain and drive behaviour when positioned before distortion or overdrive pedals.