As expected, the germanium has a softer, ragged but pleasing and organic quality to the breakup. The original is more strident and focused sounding. It sounds great but the soft detail of the germanium is like a fine wine.
@@Sagerydian Kinda sucks the parts are so limited. I didn't want there to be any difference at all, but it's only subtle so I'm good with my regular tumnus.
I have both, there is a big difference in feel. Wampler did a nice job on these pedals. Fact is these pedals even of different manufacturers sound very close. It’s a great time to play guitar. Really can’t go wrong if you like this style of pedal.
Germanium sounds smoother overall. The silicone is close, brighter sounding and has more pronounced mids. Just what I hear. I ordered the new Tumnus, sounds great!
I prefer the classic Tumnus. What I hear is that the Germanium is overall a bit brighter, but also a bit thinner sounding. It has more fizz and sandy, grainy texture on the top-end. The normal one sounds thicker, more compacted and fuller. Maybe the germanium could be a better choice for a solo lead tone, high up above a busy mix. And the normal for a fuller part, and rhythm sounds. Both same family character, and both sound really good though. Loved that Hendrixy 3pm gain, 1pm treble, 1pm volume on the normal Tumnus, sounded very nice in a clean but not clean Marhall JTM sort of way. I hear the Germanium Tumnus as sounding a bit more Plexi-ish, more nasal and forward.
I feel like I heard the opposite of your final thoughts… Seems the Germy has a more pleasing high end and upper mids… like the original is a bit more saturated in those frequencies, and a touch more honky. Typically a Germanium circuit cleans up and has a nice glassy tone when the guitar volume rolls back, as well. They both are ace-in-the-hole OD/boosts though, for sure.
Whichever versions people can get hold of, they're all just great great sounding gain and boost pedals. I didn't want to, but finally realized why it's such a popular circuit. My tumnus really makes my little muddy 2 watt valve head sing like no other pedal ever has and provides a great platform for extra lead distortion too if needed. As a classic blues pedal it's just delicious.
It does not make any sense to dial the knobs in the exact position on both pedals, as any two germanium (or two any regular) Tumnus pedals would be different from each other because analog components such as resistors (that includes potentiometers) have variability and tolerances. (Nevermind that the temperature of the room will also effect Germanium diodes.) A meaningful test would be to dial in a good sound on the Germanium pedal, and then try to exactly match that sound by ear (the knob positions will differ) with the regular Tumnus. If you can pull that off for a range of sounds, then the Germanium doesn't offer anything different than a regular Tumnus, it just produces the same end by slightly different means.
Funny, I found the germanium more ear pleasing and less grainy. 😀 I also believe, the differences are in the range, where they can be caused by the tolerances of the pots or caps as well. But I'm sure a good sound engineer in a fancy recording studio would have a clear preference, which one he'd use in the mix.
They sound different enough I think the new one is worth ordering it’s a little smoother and warmer the original is very close it’s a little brighter one could argue if you took out some treble they’d sound the same.
I hate to say this but, try stacking the Tumnus into the Germanium Tumnus, that's what's on my board currently and it sounds brilliant. The feel of the 2 pedals are very different. The Germanium Tumnus is just as much about the feel as the incredible tone.
Yes there's a difference. Pull a full band around the guitar player and whatever difference there is disappears and means nothing. Nice marketing for the nerds that (think they) need both versions, 👍🤣
Rather than a “fine wine” drinker, It feels to me like two siblings. Mr Germanium has had more ciggies and whiskey, than his athletic brother. Two winners from Brian.
I own a Wampler Tumnus Germanium, so of course this is the best Klon clone EVER made and it should quadruple in price, so I can sell it and buy some other gear, while playing my regular Tumnus, that in a mix sounds absolutely the same, thanks
If you record or play live any solo guitar parts without much backing you can hear the extra subtlety, but yeah just playing loud band mixes you won't notice. Same is true of the bass you like to play or the brand of drums you prefer though tbf. I guess it's mostly about the rarity of the components and therefore collector value, which is also a thing with everything else. Really old instruments or instruments with rare woods or something in them appreciate in value as people like to collect rare things.
It's difficult to hear, but there is an ever so slight difference in the mids and in the way it responds to picking dynamics. Where these differences become more important imo is not so much in the tone but in how it feels to the player.
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As expected, the germanium has a softer, ragged but pleasing and organic quality to the breakup. The original is more strident and focused sounding. It sounds great but the soft detail of the germanium is like a fine wine.
lol
I have both. The feel is different for the germanium. It’s incredible
Yes. And it should quadruple in price.
@@Sagerydian Kinda sucks the parts are so limited. I didn't want there to be any difference at all, but it's only subtle so I'm good with my regular tumnus.
lol
@@kierenmoore3236lol
I have both, there is a big difference in feel. Wampler did a nice job on these pedals. Fact is these pedals even of different manufacturers sound very close. It’s a great time to play guitar. Really can’t go wrong if you like this style of pedal.
Germanium sounds smoother overall. The silicone is close, brighter sounding and has more pronounced mids. Just what I hear. I ordered the new Tumnus, sounds great!
I prefer the classic Tumnus. What I hear is that the Germanium is overall a bit brighter, but also a bit thinner sounding. It has more fizz and sandy, grainy texture on the top-end. The normal one sounds thicker, more compacted and fuller. Maybe the germanium could be a better choice for a solo lead tone, high up above a busy mix. And the normal for a fuller part, and rhythm sounds. Both same family character, and both sound really good though. Loved that Hendrixy 3pm gain, 1pm treble, 1pm volume on the normal Tumnus, sounded very nice in a clean but not clean Marhall JTM sort of way. I hear the Germanium Tumnus as sounding a bit more Plexi-ish, more nasal and forward.
I feel like I heard the opposite of your final thoughts… Seems the Germy has a more pleasing high end and upper mids… like the original is a bit more saturated in those frequencies, and a touch more honky.
Typically a Germanium circuit cleans up and has a nice glassy tone when the guitar volume rolls back, as well.
They both are ace-in-the-hole OD/boosts though, for sure.
he said " Similar", there i would also agree, but that he's actually closer to nailing it. ( since your first comparison is subjective )
@scotdvorak8861 I agree with you.
Whichever versions people can get hold of, they're all just great great sounding gain and boost pedals. I didn't want to, but finally realized why it's such a popular circuit. My tumnus really makes my little muddy 2 watt valve head sing like no other pedal ever has and provides a great platform for extra lead distortion too if needed. As a classic blues pedal it's just delicious.
I can hear the difference already, the germanium has a pleasing bell like tone not harsh sweet midrange tone.
It does not make any sense to dial the knobs in the exact position on both pedals, as any two germanium (or two any regular) Tumnus pedals would be different from each other because analog components such as resistors (that includes potentiometers) have variability and tolerances. (Nevermind that the temperature of the room will also effect Germanium diodes.) A meaningful test would be to dial in a good sound on the Germanium pedal, and then try to exactly match that sound by ear (the knob positions will differ) with the regular Tumnus. If you can pull that off for a range of sounds, then the Germanium doesn't offer anything different than a regular Tumnus, it just produces the same end by slightly different means.
Wampler knows this. He also knows people THINK there is a difference, and he can sell 2 pedals to someone instead of 1.
Huge difference! Less compression and less ugly fizz in upper mids at higher gain. More clear n open. Mine is on its way ;-)
Funny, I found the germanium more ear pleasing and less grainy. 😀
I also believe, the differences are in the range, where they can be caused by the tolerances of the pots or caps as well.
But I'm sure a good sound engineer in a fancy recording studio would have a clear preference, which one he'd use in the mix.
They sound different enough I think the new one is worth ordering it’s a little smoother and warmer the original is very close it’s a little brighter one could argue if you took out some treble they’d sound the same.
not enough to be heard in a mix. both sound great.
The original is a bit less forward sounding, smoother and a little muddier, I just bought the new germanium based on this demo.
I can hear the difference but I don't think anyone would hear it in a band setting.
I hate to say this but, try stacking the Tumnus into the Germanium Tumnus, that's what's on my board currently and it sounds brilliant. The feel of the 2 pedals are very different. The Germanium Tumnus is just as much about the feel as the incredible tone.
In low gain setting, germanium is warmer, maybe because it’s no more available in the market, I want the germanium 😅🎉🎊🎁
Yes there's a difference. Pull a full band around the guitar player and whatever difference there is disappears and means nothing. Nice marketing for the nerds that (think they) need both versions, 👍🤣
I have good headphones, and yes, the original sounds more organic. It's not a big difference, but it's there.
Rather than a “fine wine” drinker, It feels to me like two siblings. Mr Germanium has had more ciggies and whiskey, than his athletic brother. Two winners from Brian.
God damn. I just bought a Tumnus.
I own a Wampler Tumnus Germanium, so of course this is the best Klon clone EVER made and it should quadruple in price, so I can sell it and buy some other gear, while playing my regular Tumnus, that in a mix sounds absolutely the same, thanks
If you record or play live any solo guitar parts without much backing you can hear the extra subtlety, but yeah just playing loud band mixes you won't notice. Same is true of the bass you like to play or the brand of drums you prefer though tbf. I guess it's mostly about the rarity of the components and therefore collector value, which is also a thing with everything else. Really old instruments or instruments with rare woods or something in them appreciate in value as people like to collect rare things.
I just found out of the existence of the germanium tumnus, 3 months later of course it’s sold out everywhere 😢
It's difficult to hear, but there is an ever so slight difference in the mids and in the way it responds to picking dynamics.
Where these differences become more important imo is not so much in the tone but in how it feels to the player.
The brown has way more honk mids
Which can be good in a mix.
@@InTheSh8 yes which is why software amp modelling fails..sounds ok on its own but add in the band and it just dissapears
In the mix in the first example, no. But then: The Germanium had more depth, the classic was more mid honky.
I have both side by side on my board. 🎉🎉🎉
Regular Tumnus is just fine, can’t blame Wampler for 600,000 or more in added revenue
Germanium for bedroom players. Standard for in a band mix.
This new version will be my 3rd Tumnus. Can't have too many
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