Oh there's most definitely a tone difference plugged straight in versus the tuner and either wah. I'm not that deaf ...yet! In the studio I plug straight into my amp and use the pedal board for solos only.
I have both, have A/B'd them and the tone difference/degradation is so minute, seriously. But my pedal board only consist on a Boss TU-2 tuner and a Wah.
Is the red button on the right side the boost button? Can you have the boost always engaged? I'm really thinking about getting one...But I like the old 90's cheapo Crybaby, no red fasel, no true bypass, which I think is a bit of bullshit anyway. Jimi Hendrix and Eric Claptons Wah's didn't have...
I'm still using the same Boogie .50 Cal+ head since 1991. It's the amp I'll never sell. That said, I've bought and sold probably 25 amps since 1995. I like high gain amps a lot, and I always go back to my .50 Cal+. As far as my tone changing, I now use less bass and more midrange...go figure right?
I've got 4 pickups from Mick at Manlius, and would highly suggest his pickups to anyone. He'll make you anything you want, and he's extremely affordable, like $100.00
I've owned 2 blackmores, and really dug them. I turned Killertone on to them. I'll be talking in depth to him about the Fireball 100. Can you use the Z4 instead of the Z5 with it? That was one thing I hated about the Blackmore. I used two buttons on that Z5 board.