15 Wah

Wacka-wacka! For guitarists seeking to express themselves during a solo, there is no more iconic pedal. Wahs create a bandpass filter, where the ‘centre frequency’ of the wah sound is changed using the rocker pedal. Bassier sounds are found at the heel-down setting, while treble-y tones are at the toe-down, and it’s this transition between the extremes that produces the vocal ‘wow’ that we know and love. Many players also enjoy a spot of ‘cocked’ wah, where the rocker is kept in one position, most commonly around the mid-frequency, to help solos cut through the mix.

The mechanics of wahs have remained largely unchanged over the years, although recent years have seen the bulky, weighty enclosure trimmed down to produce a number of mini designs, most notably Dunlop’s Cry Baby Mini. In these classic designs, the rocker itself is attached to a mechanical control pot, but these can wear out and require replacing over time, prompting many companies to employ an optical pot, which uses sensors for longer life. And while basic wahs such as ElectroHarmonix’s Wailer Wah don’t have any settings to adjust, more upmarket offerings often feature adjustable frequency ranges and boosts to help tailor the tone to your liking.

for guitarists seeking to express themselves this is the iconic pedal