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Hey dudes, I'm thinking of getting my first wah pedal. Starting to research the options out there, and I wanted to get your guys' thoughts and preferences. I know most of you I Love Fuzzers don't use wah and/or don't like the effect, but for those of you who do use Wah wah pedlols, what do you like, and why? I plan on putting it first in my chain (or at least before fuzz). I'd like a wah that works well with fuzz, and won't fuck up oscillating fuzzes, so true bypass is preferable, I guess. It seems like most of the Dunlop stuff is listed as "Hardwire bypass" "true hardwire bypass" "buffered bypass", etc. Can't remember what differentiates "true hardwire bypass" from "true bypass". The Dunlop Mini Wah is true bypass and seemed kind of appealing at first, but then I said, "fuck it, I want a full-size wah".

This thread will be interesting to reveal who amongst you uses/used wahs, as they seem rather unpopular in ilovefuzzland.

It seems that the consensus around here is that the Wilson Freaker Wah is the bad ass on the block. Pretty sure it has some heavier bottom end and can be set to low pass filter vibes. Would probably get pretty synthy/nasty in front of some thick fuzz circuits.

I love the Crybaby Bass Wah. It works really well with fuzz. It's the only wah I've ever dug that wasn't an autowah.

I tried out a Zakk Wylde Crybaby and - shocker - it was a mellow, throaty wah with plenty of low end and sounded really nice with clean tones. Can't speak for fuzzy tones though.

I had a RMC Wizard for a while that was pretty neat. Would probably go for one of Wilson's if I was buying one again, though. Dat Synth Wah.

The Wilson sounds ace in demos, as does the new Reuss, but wah is a special effect to me, and should be used a couple of times in a set. So it's not really practical to spend £150 on one, but all the decent ones are in the £130-200 range, as far as I can tell.

I use a Budda wah, but had to install this for compatibility with the fuzz face:

http://www.foxroxelectronics.com/FoxroxWahRetrofit.html

I have a Wizard as well, but I don't use it much. Not an avid wah-er, but when I need one it does the trick, and is fuzz-friendly to boot.

Joe Gagan faux Boomer wide mouth. Gots a nice, long sweep.

kbit wrote:It seems that the consensus around here is that the Wilson Freaker Wah is the bad ass on the block. Pretty sure it has some heavier bottom end and can be set to low pass filter vibes. Would probably get pretty synthy/nasty in front of some thick fuzz circuits.

There are so many types of Wilson wahs that even if the Freaker is not what you want, there is probably no analog wah in the world that he doesn't make a version of.

Edit: I mean tonally. Formwise, there are springy action wahs with auto-on like Morley and Ibanez, but as far as circuits and options in a Crybaby size treadle, it's all there.

big jilm wrote:I use a Budda wah, but had to install this for compatibility with the fuzz face:

http://www.foxroxelectronics.com/FoxroxWahRetrofit.html

There must be a few wahs that come with an output buffer for the effected signal, right? It's the goddamn marketing literature... it's just confusing. Everybody gets hung up on inductors and relatively pointless stuff.

I love the cheapest Vox ones, the V 845 I think. I've used it with great success on many occasions with fuzz, back when I had a fat band and stuff.

MechaGodzilla wrote: Everybody gets hung up on inductors and relatively pointless stuff.

Under some sonic circumstances, may be pointless. Under others, totally not pointless.

MechaGodzilla wrote:

big jilm wrote:I use a Budda wah, but had to install this for compatibility with the fuzz face:
http://www.foxroxelectronics.com/FoxroxWahRetrofit.html

There must be a few wahs that come with an output buffer for the effected signal, right? It's the goddamn marketing literature... it's just confusing. Everybody gets hung up on inductors and relatively pointless stuff.

Yeah, it's ridiculous that wahs carry this problem which should be solved since '67 when musicians started chaining their pedals.

On the other hand, wahs using different mechanisms from the classic inductor don't have this problem at all. Like the AMT mini wah. Still I prefer the sound (and regular size) of the budda.

The Fender FWP-1 wah has a switchable buffer that allows it play nice with fuzz pedals. I replaced my Crybaby Cantrell model with one a year ago...haven't looked back. It's essentially a GCB-95 crybaby (super-easy to mod), but has the high-impedance output buffer that fakes your fuzz box into thinking there's a guitar pickup plugged into it.

Bonus! - It has top jacks, smaller footprint and an LED to let you know when it's activated.

I've since modded mine to have a 6-way rotary range switch and a pot that extends the high-frequency range similar to what is on the Cantrell wah. Pics of mine modded below.