#1932818 - 04/26/08 01:59 PM
"Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
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SlackStack
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Registered: 04/26/08
Posts: 2
Loc: Ohio
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I bought a wah pedal (Dunlop 535Q) not long ago and notice a distinct difference in tone - my band mates call it "muffled" - and I wonder if this is common.
Most commonly I've been playing it through a Fender Blues Junior amp. I've also hooked in a couple of Boss pedals, which seem to make the problem even worse.
The wah is a great effect when I use it, but it seems like a high price to pay.
Thanks.
What questions should I be asking?
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#1932820 - 04/26/08 02:11 PM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: SlackStack]
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miroslav
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I have a 535Q...though I only use it when I need the "wah" effect...I don'tleave it in-line all the time, and then bypass.
But I didn't notice any major "muffle" tone suck....
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#1932822 - 04/26/08 02:12 PM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: SlackStack]
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soggybomb
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find out if it has true bypass. if not, this could be the root of your problem.
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#1932835 - 04/26/08 03:07 PM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: SlackStack]
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mdrs
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Slack....first, welcome to our forum 
Do you mean to say that as long as the Wah is in your line, your tone is muffled? Or, is your tone muffled only when you turn the Wah on??
Many, if not most, pedals will alter your tone just by putting then in the line between your guitar and your amp, even when they are off. "True bypass" is supposed to eliminate this.
I've played around with listening to the tone of my amp with various pedals in line but turned off. It can be rather amazing how much it will effect your tone, and NOT in a good way!!
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#1933008 - 04/27/08 05:16 AM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: mdrs]
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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I'm pretty sure that it is not true bypass. But first, before anything else, change out the battery. Might be that simple.
In my experience, any time you add a device in line, the tone suffers. The shorter your cable to the amp, the better the sound. In fact, I have a guitar with a switch to bypass the internal electronics, and there is a great amount of tone suckage just from the on-board passive electronics in a regular guitar.
But if you are seeing enough to 'muffle' your tone so much that the other guys hear it too, I'd say that there is a problem. I'd start with the battery, then if that was not the issue, I'd take the pedal to an electrical tech.
Bill
Edited by Bill@Welcome Home Studios (04/27/08 05:17 AM)
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#1933034 - 04/27/08 06:55 AM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: Bill@Welcome Home Studios]
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Dr. Ellwood
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I use the 535Q on my board all the time and have never noticed any problems with it altering my tone when in the off position. Bill could have a good point about the batteries, mine is powered from the board so that is not a issue with mine.
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#1933035 - 04/27/08 06:58 AM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: SlackStack]
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Hardtail
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I bought a wah pedal (Dunlop 535Q) not long ago and notice a distinct difference in tone - my band mates call it "muffled" - and I wonder if this is common.
Most commonly I've been playing it through a Fender Blues Junior amp. I've also hooked in a couple of Boss pedals, which seem to make the problem even worse.
The wah is a great effect when I use it, but it seems like a high price to pay.
Thanks.
What questions should I be asking?
May be a stupid question but have you changed the battery? the 535Q really sucks the juice.
I've had no problems with mine.. on or off stage.
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#1941228 - 05/12/08 03:33 PM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: Hardtail]
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SlackStack
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Thanks folks, for the advice. No it wasn't the battery...it was an ID10T error; that is, this new wah pedal consumer didn't know that that by stepping down firmly on the pedal that one turned the unit on and off. Basically, my tone suck was because the wah pedal was always on.
In my feeble defense, I note that the instructions did not show an illustration for the on and off, but there was a note buried in the third bullet point of the instructions that I should have read closer.
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#1941243 - 05/12/08 04:02 PM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: SlackStack]
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Rhino Madness
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We all have to learn, one way or another (human beings are typically not born with a wah pedal so it's an acquired skill). Just be glad that now you know  .
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#1941246 - 05/12/08 04:05 PM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: SlackStack]
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rickygclef
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Doh!! LOL 
It's happened to me too. 
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#1941257 - 05/12/08 04:29 PM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: rickygclef]
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soggybomb
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sometimes i have accidentally turned off the wah while i was using it because i rocked it too hard back and forth. when it is switched off it functions as a volume pedal so i was accidentally making rapid volume swells.
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#1941261 - 05/12/08 04:37 PM
Re: "Tone Suck" - Wah Pedal
[Re: SlackStack]
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mdrs
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Thanks folks, for the advice. No it wasn't the battery...it was an ID10T error; that is, this new wah pedal consumer didn't know that that by stepping down firmly on the pedal that one turned the unit on and off. Basically, my tone suck was because the wah pedal was always on.
In my feeble defense, I note that the instructions did not show an illustration for the on and off, but there was a note buried in the third bullet point of the instructions that I should have read closer.
Well, I'm glad you found out what the problem was.
While we're on the topic, try leaving the wah on with the pedal higher up in it's transit....it'll give you a pretty cool tone boost, which can be used effectively for leads, and at other times for effect.
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