WAH Talk!! Recommendations and why that wah?!?!

[Ventura]

I own the BOSS V-Wah. I thought it'd be a good wah due to its multiple voicings, digital COSM based rendering, non-mechanical attenuator (light based), etc, etc, etc.

What I find with it is - it's not organic sounding, at least to me. I find there's not enough stroke in the pedal to really hammer on it with range of sensitivity. I can't stand the fact that unless the 'Drive' is at '0', it's never in true bypass mode. And a couple other bits that make me go On the bright side, it's got decent voicings for sure, when played in the right context, it does sound good. When played with the 'Drive' engaged and used with that purpose in mind, it does sound hot. And overall - it's built like a tank.

But I wanna simplify matters. I'd like ONE WAH. I've hear peeps rave about Morley's, EVH's, Dunlop's, etc. What's your fave wah out there and why?

Thanks,
V.

 

[sebby123]

+1 Never been a wah fan but would love to find a good one for my board.

 

[glpg80]

535Q

adjustable range, boost options, the works. basically the dimebag wah without the gay finish. its a work horse. love mine

 

[K Odell]

The 535 slays indeed. I opt for the wylde wah bc I love the wide Q it has, but if you want versatility the 535q is tha bomb!

 

[glpg80]

The 535 slays indeed. I opt for the wylde wah bc I love the wide Q it has, but if you want versatility the 535q is tha bomb!

i had a hard time choosing between the two, but i was affraid that after a while the EQ sweep the zakk wylde model has would get old to me so i opted for the 535

also wanted the 535 because ive played a regular crybaby, and it slays as well. so the 535 can do that plus some

 

[Ventura]

So far, seems the Dunlop's da bomb. No Morley fans? VOX? Clyde? DigiTech?

Peace,
V.

 

[Looiz]

I've tried some before I bought mine.
My results:
VOX - Awesome for clean tones... hard to beat that on cleans!
Morley - It's a Wah but it has it's own tone world. Very good for Hi Gain.
Clyde Deluxe - Very good sounds. both clean and drive. but it's overpriced!
Crybaby 535Q - Very good sounds, Very adjustable, boost, good price and built like a tank! Best deal in my opinion!
But I like the "gay finish" So I bought a Crybaby from Hell and I'm not going back! plus it has and extra adjustment knob!

 

[ShaneV]

The range fine tune control on the CFH is super useful. I bought one of the first ones that came out and stupidly sold it when I was on a no pedals kick. That's one of my favorites, but there are too many for me to narrow down to just one.

 

[Ventura]

And JUST to double/triple/quadruple check - when these Dunlop's ARE NOT engaged, they're fully bypassed - correct?? I'm just making sure as this was one of my MAJOR beefs with the V-Wah.

Peace, and Avagoodnight RT Crew...!!
V

 

[ShaneV]

And JUST to double/triple/quadruple check - when these Dunlop's ARE NOT engaged, they're fully bypassed - correct?? I'm just making sure as this was one of my MAJOR beefs with the V-Wah.

Peace, and Avagoodnight RT Crew...!!
V

Some yes and some no.

 

[dass101]

Ventura, if you really like wah's, get rid of the V-Wah as soon as you can. I had one for about a year, and while it is appealing because of the "versatility" it really doesn't hold a candle to any real analogue wahs.
I have an old GCB95 (Dunlop classic wah) that I modded for true bypass - yes, the wahs do suck your tone when they are "off", it's quite noticeable, but the mod is very easy to do, you just need a DPDT switch and some minimal skills.
I also had a 535Q, but let it go, because I found out that through all the settings in the end of the day I was only trying to replicate my GCB95 It's nice to have options, but, for me, most of the times less IS more.
The Morleys don't sound as good to my ears, a bit of a big departure from the "classic" wah sounds we all grew up on, the Tremonti Wah is pretty good though.
The Voxes - nice, but not "rock" enough for my taste, nice for more polite wah sounds.
Haven't tried any of the "boutique" wahs, somehow my 15 year old GCB 95 fits me just perfect, it's the oldest piece of equipement that I still own and use, so go figure

 

[nnajar]

I've got a teese picture wah and I love it. It sounds like what a wah is supposed to do- nothing more, nothing less. no boost, not grit, just a good sweeping filter.

N

 

[Motorpud]

I'll throw in a vote for the 535Q as well. I think it's the best value for a wah before you start getting into boutique wahs and overspending, if you pick one up used they're only around $40-$60. If money is no option then you might want to check out an Area51. For me, I can get what I'm looking for out of the 535Q.

 

[edgarallanpoe]

I use a Teese Wizard Wah. Perfect sweep and it plays well with high gain amps. My Elmwood absolutely loves it.

 

[Tawlks]

MXR/Custom Audio Electronics CAE Wah... I'm deadly serious.

 

[muudrock]

MXR/Custom Audio Electronics CAE Wah... I'm deadly serious.

+1 Excellent wah pedal.
I also like the Morley Bad Horsie 2. Nice voicing and switchless on/off is big plus.

 

[Ventura]

Thanks Gents!! So far some rockin' good feedback.... You're damn straight I'll be ridding myself of the V-Wah - too much of too much, and that Drive ON/OFF thing kills me. I read something about some on/some off, can't have any tone suck here cats. So I'm interested in the mod, or perhaps an Area51 or a Teese.

I'll do some more research on this

Thanks
V.

 

[Ventura]

Alright... So far, the soundclips that appeal most to me are:

Area 51 loaded with all the options
RMC/Teese Picture Wah - simply and sounds delicious, just not sure how it'd take to high gain
Dunlop CAE
Dunlop 535Q

Wish I could try before I buy, but no dice... I've spent the better part of work today sourcing out soundclips for these babies, and granted, the Picture sounds incredible, but I'd only heard it in jazzy/bluesy contexts. The Area51 seems to have a lot of pull out there with musically minded people. The CAE, interesting breed - seems as though perhaps it's getting into V-WAH range with all its bells and whistles maybe??? And the 535Q is the lowest priced unit out there, but just not sure it sounds as sweet as the 51 or the Teese.

Peace - and thanks for the input!!
V.

 

[Dig]

Alright... So far, the soundclips that appeal most to me are:

Area 51 loaded with all the options
RMC/Teese Picture Wah - simply and sounds delicious, just not sure how it'd take to high gain
Dunlop CAE
Dunlop 535Q

Wish I could try before I buy, but no dice... I've spent the better part of work today sourcing out soundclips for these babies, and granted, the Picture sounds incredible, but I'd only heard it in jazzy/bluesy contexts. The Area51 seems to have a lot of pull out there with musically minded people. The CAE, interesting breed - seems as though perhaps it's getting into V-WAH range with all its bells and whistles maybe??? And the 535Q is the lowest priced unit out there, but just not sure it sounds as sweet as the 51 or the Teese.

Peace - and thanks for the input!!
V.

I'm sure they all sound fine, and I feel your pain about not being able to try before you buy. I've been in that predicament too many times. The problem here is that there is more to a wah pedal than its sound. Believe it or not there is a "feel" factor as well. It's got to react the way you expect it to when you rock it, or you're not going to be happy with it. A few years ago I narrowed my options down to 2 or 3 of the RMC models. That was based on sound clips, user reviews, and (yes I'll admit it) how cool I thought it would look on my pedalboard. I did some searching and found a store about an hour and a half drive from my house that carried boutique pedals including the RMC wahs. I made a day of it one weekend, and took the drive out there. The guy actually got all the wahs I was considering and layed them out for me in front of an amp similar to mine, handed me a guitar of my choosing, a couple of instrument cables, then he left me alone. I tried each one, plugging in, testing, and unplugging one by one until I was scratching my head wondering why I didn't really like any of them. Then I thought about another one that I had originally dismissed because of price, the Fulltone Clyde. The guy had some in stock so I tested it, then I tested the Clyde Deluxe. Then I went back to test the RMC's again. Just to be certain. I ended up spending the extra cash for the Clyde Deluxe. The only real difference was the "feel" of it. The versatility of the Deluxe put it over the Clyde standard, but the "feel" of the Fulltone wahs put them over the RMC for MY OWN LIKING.
I'm not saying you should just order a Clyde Deluxe hands down. It might not be the wah for you. The point I'm trying to make here is that you should really make an effort to find a way to compare a few different models before throwing down any money on one. You'll be much happier with the way you spent your cash in the long run.

 

[Ventura]

Aw Dude - I SO agree... Totally. I just don't have the time to do it, or the places to make it happen. But you're completely and totally correct - feel is a HUGE thing in a wah, as it's a dynamic, motion based, extension of one's expression - I like a longer stroke in a pedal - not just a short up and down. I have big feet so being able to find that magic 'qwonking' spot for some passages and being able to bend that 'qwonk' up or down is elemental to my wants and wishes in a wah. The V-Wah has SUCH a short stroke - done.

I'll look into the Clyde as well - price isn't really an issue, it's just finding 'the one' that affords me a lifetime of use and have it become my go-to wah without worrying about other sonic possibilities here or there.

Peace - and thanks for taking the time to reply - that was awesome.

V.