I've seen several threads asking for info/advice on which wah pedal to purchase. There has been a lot of good info in those threads.

I thought I'd post sound clips of eight different Wah Pedals so that we could all do a sort of aural comparison of them.

I played two simple licks thru each pedal. I played my home made Tele thru each different pedal, then thru my Fuchs ODS 30 2x12 combo, and recorded it on my Digi/protools setup.

I purposefully did NOT mention which pedal is used on the clips on the soundclick site.

I'd suggest you go to the link, and listen to them all first WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE LIST BELOW!!

That way you can do a real "blind" evaluation and comparison, with out any preconcieved bias.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=593452

The adjustable pedals, such as the 535Q, and the Dimebag camo, are set to where I personally liked the sound best. This is very subjective, but I couldn't set it to every setting....Also, I used the factory pre set on the Bad Horsie 2 (i.e. I didn't record it using the contour settings).

Here's the list of what pedal is on what track;

#1 Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Wah
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dunlop-Jimi-Hendrix-WahWah-Effects-Pedal?sku=151213

#2 Morley Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2 Contour Wah
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Morley-Steve-Vai-Bad-Horsie-2-Contour-Wah-Pedal?sku=150751

#3 George Dennis GD-30 Wah
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/George-Dennis-GD30-WahWah-Pedal?sku=154249

#4 Budda BudWah Wah
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Budda-BudWah-Wah-Pedal?sku=152111

#5 Vox V847 Wah Wah (note; this one is 9 volt batt operated ONLY....i.e. not set up for an AC adaptor)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-V847-WahWah-Pedal?sku=702160

#6 Dunlop 535Q Multi-Wah
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dunlop-Crybaby-535Q-MultiWah-Pedal?sku=151016

#7 Dunlop Original Cry Baby Wah
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dunlop-Original-Crybaby-Wah-Pedal?sku=151000

#8 Dunlop DB-01 Dime Crybaby From Hell
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dunlop-DB01-Dime-Crybaby-From-Hell?sku=151011

For what it's worth, I've owned two Dunlop Crybaby Classic Fasel Inductor Wahs, but the potentiometer failed in each within weeks of buying them (loud scratchy sound), so I returned both.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/D...26&src=3SOSWXXK

I have also owned a Vox V848 Clyde McCoy Wah. I just didn't like it's tone and returned it...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Vox-V848-Clyde-McCoy-Wah-Wah-Pedal?sku=151688


After you listen to the clips, come back and let us know your favorites, etc..

My favorites were the Bad Horsie and the GD-30!

Thanks for posting this, cool idea!

I'll do a write in vote for the Fulltone Clyde.

#1 and #6, also thanks for doing the work on this Doc! a great resource to KEEP somewhere on the fourm for these kinds of questions, and as we add peddels we should add to it, nice touch on giving a visual of the peddle itself!

You are most welcomed! It really was a good excercise for me as well. I've got this idea in my mind of what I want my Wah to sound like. But, I don't think I've yet found it. And, I find that I'll play one, and really like it, and think it's "the one". Then I play another that I had put on the back shelf because I felt it was not good, and now I like the first one better!

I've been playing the Hendrix Wah (#1) for about the past year. I really like it. But, after playing them all this morning, I like the Dimebag Wah (#8) the best!! The 535Q is a close second (#6), for me anyway. I also really like the Bad Horsie, esp. since it's instant on. I also like the tone of the Budda!!

I wonder if anyone out there know anything about custom or boutique Wah pedals? Also, does anyone know about the Dunlop Crybaby Rack Wah?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dunlop-Crybaby-Rack-Wah?sku=151130

Are there any other professional level, rack Wah's out there?

Right on Doc, and it IS worth meantioning that it can make ALL the difference as too WHERE the wah is placed in the signal chain too!! So don't forget to move it around abit!

Rack.... hmmmmm.... I don't get the love of racking stuff up. Takes up several times as much space, weights more, harder to carry, needs a case, takes a lot more shock in travel, and always costs more....not for better sound, or better performance, just in a format that fits in a rack. As a guy who has owned TONS of rack gear, trust me, this is cute, it impresses the hell out of people, but it is really money for nothing.

I use the Fulltone Clyde, after a lot of mental research. The Teese is supposed to be the most authentic, and the Fulltone came in in a respectable position. All of the boutique guys say that there is no way that the stock modern wahs from the average company can compare th the boutique models from the top boutique guys.

What I found was that after I moved to a low end boutique amp (THD UniValve) I cfould hear my cheap pedals and the viel that they threw over the sound. So I moved to boutique pedals and the sound opened back up. I was already using vintage or good quality Fenders and Gibsons.

Bill

Bill....Thanks for the excellent info. I did some searching, and can't find a Teese Wah in stock anywhere!! Do they still make the RMC wahs? Which is the one to get? The RMC3??

Also, tell me more about your Fulltone Clyde. Apparently Robin Trower plays one as well. Do you have the Clyde standard, or deluxe?

Thanks again!!

Only issue I have with this test is that we're assuming you were hitting every single wah point at the same time on every sample.

That said, the only glaring deficiencies I heard were between #6 and #8 and the rest - #8 was thin and really didn't "wah" very much compared to the rest, and #7 had a lot more (what I would perceive to be) unwanted hf overtones...

(edit: seems I got fooled - I own an original cry-baby - #7, not a 535Q - #6...)

Hey Griff

no question, this is not scientific. But, hopefully it'll help at some level.

I was amazed that the Dimebag Camo Wah was ....I THINK, my favorite....since I'm a classic rock/blues/improv kinda guy!!

Well, it's a matter of how "wah" you want your "wah" pedal. The DD unit sounded much less obtrusive, which some may like. I use wah very sparingly, so when I want it, I want it all the way!

Thanks for doing this Doc. Its very useful!!

i got myself some behringer one....... preeetttyyy bad i must say. i played around with a cry baby though and that was real nice.

Based on the sound samples I heard at Musician's Friend...the 535Q was my choice...
...and the fact that it allows you to dial in all kinds of variations.

Only mod I did to it was to lower the On/Off switch so that you can step all the way down on the pedal and you won't engage the switch.
I turn it on by reaching under and pressing with my finger.

Of course...I only use it in the studio...where I don't have a need for constant On/Off during tracking.

You are most welcomed, TOL.

Bill has got me on the whole boutique Wah pedal kick.....now I GOTTA get one..........

PAS????? pedal acquisition syndrome....

Well, I got a Fulltone Clyde Deluxe. It is they best wah pedal I currently have. I'd say, it's head and shoulders above the rest. It has three settings....a "Jimi" for classic wah, a "Wacked" for a more exagerated wah, and a "Shaft" for an '80's like wacka wacka tone. There is also a volume knob, and a little red LED so you know when the pedal is on.

I did investigate the Reay McCoy, by Teese. I was somewhat confused by the number of wah's he offers. I'm really not sure how one would know which to choose, especially since it looks like they sell as soon as he makes them, and they hit the dealer shops.

Does anyone know anything about the Teese Real McCoy Wahs?

Thanks Bill for the heads up about these wah pedals.

If I have a chance, I'll try to post a clip like those above using the Fulltone Clyde Deluxe.

Excellent doc, nice one.
I think 1 had the best sound but will also check out the Fulltone.
Nice one as I am in the market
Cheers
G

I may not be able to record and post the sound of the Fulltone Clyde today....I'm taking my son, who is 14 y.o. today, to see Asia with Steve Howe and Carl Palmer, at a small local venue tonight. Hopefully, I'll post it over the weekend.

Bump'in the Wah battle for Rampdog!!

*bump*

Is #1 meaning track 8?

Each track number, coincides with the pedal number.

x.x
Still confused sorry..

So the first wah I listen to will be the hendrix? Or is it Wah Pedal #8...

Because it has the wahs in reverse order

I've gotten more use out of my 535Q in the last 2 months than I did the entire year I've owned.

It's a great pedal. You can really dial in a lot of stuff with it.

Yeah...I have the 535Q also...and it's a damn versatile pedal!

It sure is!!

Teese wahs are the shizzit. The one I liked the best was his Wheels of Fire wah. It was "Rainy Day, Dream Away" right outta the box...

Hey, Don--

please, once you get that RMC2, would you please post a review and compare it to the Clyde Deluxe?? Thanks!

The song "Wah pedal #8" is the number 8 that Don posted which says "#8 Dunlop DB-01 Dime Crybaby From Hell".

Song clip #7 is "#7 Dunlop Original Cry Baby Wah".

The numbers match up.

Oh.. So Ignore the track order soundclick put it in..