BATTLE OF THE WAH PEDALS

[MaxBoogie]

Great collection! I found myself listening not just to the tone, but also your ability to control the Wah. The tones were very similar, and none were too far out there that I would discount them. However, your control, and likewise the way I prefer my Wah to sound, seemed best with the classic Dunlop Cry Baby (Wah pedal #7). I preferred that even over the 535Q, which is slightly strange since my Wah of choice is the Keeley-modified 535. I think I liked the Buddah Wah least because of the narrow "sweet spot" during the Wah's tonal range....

[mdrs]

Some excellent observations, Max!!

 

BTW....WELCOME TO THE FORUM :wave:

 

I am now in possession of a Teese "Wheels Of Fire" wah....it's bright red metal housing is cool!!

 

Preliminary report is very good. I've only had a short time to play with it. It has a volume, "Q" adjustment, and "low" adjustment, which will allow control of how much bass you want in the output.

 

I'm going to try to get it properly adjusted to optimize it's tone, and then try to record the Fulltone Clyde Deluxe, the Teese RMC1, and this Teese Wheels Of Fire pedal this weekend, IF I CAN GET TO IT.

[mdrs]

Bump....I'm about to record three more Wah's...I'll post clips shortly.....I HOPE!!

 

 

[Michael Patrick]

Anticipation...

 

http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/artd/amg/music/bio/493437_carlysimon_200x200.jpg

[mdrs]

Anticipation...

 

http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/artd/amg/music/bio/493437_carlysimon_200x200.jpg

 

:love: :love:

[mdrs]

O.K......HERE IT IS!! FINALLY!!

 

I have three more Wah Pedals that I wanted to demo and add to the "Battle Of The Wah" list. One of them I actually demo'ed three samples from, using different settings on that pedal. So, I've added to the original list of 8 Wah Pedal recordings. The list now has a total of 14 demos. So, the recordings labeled Wah Pedal # 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are the new ones. The tracks labeled Wah pedal #'s 1 thru 8 were the originals I posted a while back.

 

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 using a SM-57, onto my Digi/protools setup.

 

I purposefully did NOT mention which pedal is used on the label for each clip on the soundclick site.

 

I'd suggest you go to the SoundClick link below FIRST, and listen to all of the demo's first WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE LIST BELOW!!

 

I've posted a list of all 14 Wah pedals at the bottom of this post. So, you'll listen to "Wah pedal #1" on SoundClick and you will not know which Wah pedal it is until you look at the list below, where I tell you which Wah pedal is "Wah Pedal #1". Got it??

 

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

 

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

 

#9 Fulltone Clyde Deluxe set to "Shaft" thru the bridge Duncan stacked humbucker on my Tele

http://www.fulltone.com/stpframe.html

 

 

#10 Fulltone Clyde Deluxe set to "Jimi" thru the bridge Duncan stacked humbucker on my Tele

 

 

#11 Fulltone Clyde Deluxe set to "Wacked" thru the bridge Duncan stacked humbucker on my Tele

 

 

#12 Teese "RMC 1" played thru a Duncan stacked humbucker in my Tele's bridge position. Note that the RMC 1 Wah is voiced for a single coil pick up. So, I'm perhaps not optimizing this pedal on this cut.

http://www.realmccoycustom.com/RMC1.htm

 

#13 Teese "RMC 1" played thru a Duncan single coil in my Tele's neck position. The tone is fatter, as you'd expect from a Tele's neck pu. But, it's a single coil, and according to Geoffrey Teese therefore more suited for this pedal

http://www.realmccoycustom.com/RMC1.htm

 

#14 Teese "RMC 6" aka "Wheels Of Fire" played on the bridge Duncan stacked humbucker

http://www.realmccoycustom.com/WHEELS%20OF%20FIRE.htm

 

 

 

I hope to have a Teese RMC 2, expected to ship in July. So, maybe I'll have one more for ya. The RMC 2 is voiced for humbuckers.

[A String]

Bumped for the Doc of rock!

[A String]

oops...looks like you already found it!

[Gifthorse]

I liked the one on #14.

I have a crybaby, its about 20 or more years old. It still works great and is extremely loose the way I like it.

 

It also has a pretty tight sweep. I like it cuz it is more sensitive then. One of those pedals I know I can't replace becuase of the way it feels and sounds.

 

[A String]

Yeah, that "Wheels Of Fire" Wah sounds incredible.

[mdrs]

The WOF has a volume, "Q" adjust, and Tone adjust knob. It took me a while to get it right. I messed around with the Q and the Tone forever. At first it sounded tinney and trebley. When I was just about at the level of complete frustration, my son simply turns the volume knob up a tad, and THERE WAS THE MAGIC!!

 

I really like the RMC1....no adjustments, simple, and toneful. But, at this point, I've just put the RMC 6 "Wheels Of Fire" wah on my pedal board. It's one heck of a Wah.

 

BTW....I took my Fuchs ODS 30 2x12 out of the corner to record these clips. I wanted to have the same setup as I used for the first recordings. And, I FELL IN LOVE ALL OVER AGAIN WITH THE FUCHS AMP. Top quality tone there. It's just luscious!! :love:

 

[Michael Patrick]

The WOF is the shizzit. At some point I'll snag another one...

[MILLO]

Wow.... I didn't I like the RMC1 all that much, at least not as much as the Clyde on normal "Jimi" mode. I DEFINITELY liked the WOF, possibly my favorite of the later ones.

 

I downright hated #8. I mean, for that type of wah sound I could set the Clyde Deluxe on Whacked and get even better tone. I didn't listen to the earlier ones again, I'll do it later today... Crap, it's like you have to listen to these over and over again, hahahaha.

 

RMC3 is supposed to get all the RMC sounds, but it doesn't even have a volume knob on the outside, which could be EXTREMELY handy onstage. All the controls are inside.

 

Don: One thing I don't like about the Clyde Deluxe is the fact the inside pot that controls the range of the frequencies also seems to control gain. I'm not sure if it's just the way it is, physics-wise.... more frequencies, more gain, or if really the pot DOES control both. I find that the higher the setting the lower I have to set the volume control so that the boost isn't to overwhelming. It seems to clip a bit. On factory settings I love how smooth sounding it is, but I think I'd like a more obvious wah sound w/ a smoother sweep. W/ factory settings it seems like the sweep goes from "woo" to "aah" too quickly. Have you noticed the same things w/ the Clyde Deluxe? Or is it just the fact I downright suck at manipulating the wah effect? That could very well be, hahahaha.

 

I really want a Fuchs Tripledrive.

[MILLO]

oh, Don.... thanks for doing this! I'm keeping the Fulltone for the moment, but might sell it later to get a WOF or RMC3.

[Rhino Madness]

Doc, thanks for chanelling Jimi (and Satch on #13) for us to hear all those different wahs! It sounds like you had fun doing it, too!

 

RMC3 is supposed to get all the RMC sounds, but it doesn't even have a volume knob on the outside, which could be EXTREMELY handy onstage. All the controls are inside.

I have the RMC3 and you can definitely tweak it to your heart's desires from subtle to drastic changes. The fact that all the controls are inside (and consist of tiny pots and dip switches) prevents it from being suitable for on-the-fly adjustments but you can take your time and really get the best tone and feel that suit you when you do open it for a tweak session.

[mdrs]

Rhino and Millo

 

I was happy to do this. It was fun, and I really need to use my ProTools more, to get used to it, and learn how to use it better.

 

I had a bit of a time dialing in the WOF, and I think it has to do with what you were saying, Millo. On the WOF there is a separate volume. And, no matter what I did with the Tone and Q adjustments, it was too trebley and kind of flat out bad UNTIL I dialed up a bit of volume. Then, I heard the magic!! The literature that came with the WOF mentioned that changing the Q would necessitate readjusting the tone. I think that they may not be totally independant...meaning changing one alters the other.

 

I like the RMC 1 quite a bit. Playing it thru my blackface champ, and actually thru the Fuchs I think I prefered it to the Clyde Deluxe. But, that's not knocking the Clyde Deluxe which is a great Wah. And, I haven't opened up the C.Deluxe to customize at all.

 

I really really like the Teese and the Fulltone pedals. Of the standard retail ones, I ended up prefering the Hendrix one....inexpensive, and really a great all around wah.

 

I'm gonna keep monkeying around with these. Also, when I get the RMC 3, which is supposed to be in during July, I'll record and post about that too.

 

Rhino....LOL, channeling Jimi and Satch....I WISH!!! I was rushing too much. I was trying to think of stuff that would show off the wah better...maybe I should have played "Them Changes".....love that one!! I was not really going for quality in playing....I just wanted to get it recorded and posted. I'd been promising this for A LONG TIME!! Next time I'll show you my virtuoso stuff....LMAO!! :grin:

[MILLO]

I like the RMC 1 quite a bit. Playing it thru my blackface champ, and actually thru the Fuchs I think I prefered it to the Clyde Deluxe. But, that's not knocking the Clyde Deluxe which is a great Wah. And, I haven't opened up the C.Deluxe to customize at all.

If you have time, please experiment w/ the pot inside the CD. Not to post anything but so that I have someone to talk about it, LOL! There ARE differences. A warning: it can be kind of a discomfort in the rectum, since you have to take off the bottom plate. Plugging in w/o it, you might hear some radio stations w/ the effect on.

[Rhino Madness]

A warning: it can be kind of a discomfort in the rectum, since you have to take off the bottom plate. Plugging in w/o it, you might hear some radio stations w/ the effect on.

Yeah, I had the same problem with the RMC3: it was noisy as hell without the bottom plate and I was getting all kinds of interference. I had to at least set it on the aluminum back plate (without the screws) but it was sliding quite a bit when rocking the pedal .

 

Don: can't wait for that virtusoso stuff of yours :grin: .

[LPCustom]

For things that slip and slide remember that velcro is your friend...

 

[mdrs]

A warning: it can be kind of a discomfort in the rectum, since you have to take off the bottom plate. Plugging in w/o it, you might hear some radio stations w/ the effect on.

Yeah, I had the same problem with the RMC3: it was noisy as hell without the bottom plate and I was getting all kinds of interference. I had to at least set it on the aluminum back plate (without the screws) but it was sliding quite a bit when rocking the pedal .

 

Don: can't wait for that virtusoso stuff of yours :grin: .

 

NEITHER CAN I!!! LOL I always play GREAT when I'm not recording!!! You should hear me in my living room at about quarter till late......I'm AWESOME!! :grin:

[Rhino Madness]

(I know the feeling, too )

[mdrs]

It's really funny. I've spoken at medical meetings in front of big groups, had to do aural exams in front of famous folks, been in plenty of life and death situations.....I handle stress.

 

Then, my son presses the button and says "Go", and my brain gets on a tangent, instead of into what I'm playing!!! That doesn't happen when I've played live ever. Just, with the old ProTools up and running.

 

I guess we all have our foibles!!! LOL

[MILLO]

Don, it's called the "red light syndrome". Even Allan Holdsworth has it.

[mdrs]

Interesting. I'm glad I'm not alone!! I'm very new to recording. So, perhaps it'll pass as time goes. Part of it is that I'm just not comfortable with the operation of ProTools. So, I'm thinking of THAT instead of just playing.

[mdrs]

Bump for HT.....

 

Found It!! And, without the use of the search!!

[Hardtail]

Bookmarked!

[mdrs]

So, I'm still waiting on the RMC3. HOWEVER, I may opt to get a Picture Wah from Teese instead.

 

Anyone ever play the RMC4 "Picture Wah" from Teese??

[Fumblyfingers]

I used to have the red wah in the middle. Best sounding wah I have ever used or heard. It had an amazing sweep and felt very natural under the foot, the "balance" of the pedal in relation to the pivot made very fast stuff real easy as long as you had a limber ankle. The treble tone was plenty without being shrill and the bass end was round....think Up From The Skies and Still Raining, Still Dreaming.

 

I know you guys are experts on this stuff, I read with interest but I have never played a pedal to date that gave me what this pedal did in terms of vibe. It must have something to do with the transistors they used, the wiring or something. The fuzz sound in it was challenged but the wah was awesome.

 

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d42/Gypsyfingers/sola.jpg

[mdrs]

Thanks for the pic of the sola Colorsounds pedals, Fumbles. I had the Yellow one, and it too was the absolute best I ever had. I'd love to find an old one......

 

In the mean time, the search continues......

[Michael Patrick]

Jimi used a Colorsound wah on "Come On" on Electric Ladyland, or so I've heard.