Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

Since we're on the topic of the wah pedal, here's the cool wah pedal documentary.




 
Last edited:
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

Cool. They definitely went with a higher quality PCB and components for this one ... and is that a Halo inductor? It's definitely not the stock Crybaby inductor or a Fasel.

It is a Halo...

The JB wah is based on a modded Crybaby that Tripps did for Joe a few years back.

I love that it has the ability to go true bypass and non true bypass and I also live that is has a buffer in it for use with fuzz pedals, both very nice touches!

Cool wah Joe.
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

Can the Bonamassa Wah take a power supply ?
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

Yep, I wish the Fuzz Face's did too, but they're sticking with tradition and the general consensus that batteries sound best in them. I've never directly compared a Fuzz with DC power compared to 9 volt batteries. If anyone has, I'd like to hear their opinion.

I may leave the bottom cover off my FF and run a power cable to the 9 volt plug.
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

Gearjoneser, I live in Ventura about 40 minutes from Chatsworth... may have to sneak into your place and test it out... and the rest of your jizz worthy gear
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

How about the Vox HW 846 wah? Does it compare?

this is what I want to know.. I love the look of the bonamassa one. And from what I read, I think ID love the tone of the Cantrell.. I cant find the right wah.. I have a Bad horsey and I dont care for it.. I have a VOx 847 (I think) and its ok, but seems more shrill than I prefer.. Im sure its mostly my technique or lack there of..
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

I tend to prefer wahs with the halo inductors, and you guys do realize even if it doesn't have a jack you can still use a power supply to power the wah right? they make adapters for psu's that are like 9V battery clips.
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

Someone was selling the CAE dual-inductor wah on HC, but he wants $135 or something for it USED. That one also looks like a really nicely made and sounding wah. I sent him a compelling argument and he said to make an offer on this pedal he's been selling for months, along with some other top notch guitars and amps, but he wouldn't do it for $100. I would rather spend the money on a new JB sig wah or even a new CAE with a warranty and receipt......
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

Someone was selling the CAE dual-inductor wah on HC, but he wants $135 or something for it USED. That one also looks like a really nicely made and sounding wah. I sent him a compelling argument and he said to make an offer on this pedal he's been selling for months, along with some other top notch guitars and amps, but he wouldn't do it for $100. I would rather spend the money on a new JB sig wah or even a new CAE with a warranty and receipt......

ok? ppl do this stuff all the time (it's called ripping people off), if you want a CAE wah go on ebay, chances are you can find a new one with warranty cheaper than most of the major retailers charge. I've used the CAE and it's nice but a good halo wah is seriously where it's at. But it all depends on the wah tone you like.

Halo is quite different than the typical Dunlop/Fasel thing and very different from the Morley thing.
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

Yep, I wish the Fuzz Face's did too, but they're sticking with tradition and the general consensus that batteries sound best in them. I've never directly compared a Fuzz with DC power compared to 9 volt batteries. If anyone has, I'd like to hear their opinion.

I may leave the bottom cover off my FF and run a power cable to the 9 volt plug.

Dunno about wah pedals never tried that but to me my Fuzz Faces tend to pickup more noise with power supplies (even good ones) and that's enough reason for me to use batteries...add to that, a cheepo battery will last hundreds of hours in a Fuzz Face and I see no need to bother with power supplies.

BTW, leaving the bottom off will make it even more prone to noise...
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

V846 HW vs Bonnamassa wah

Before anybody asks, no I have not tried them both however I can tell you this...

The V846 HW is a part for part replica of the old V846 which for those that do not know is the wah that Vox built right after the Clyde McCoy wahs in the mid 60's.

They have a very weak/clean type of wah sound with just enough growl if you use a bit of grit to make notes sing a bit. Based on clips the new HW version nails the tone of most of the originals.

The Bonamassa wah is based on a Jeorge Tripps modded Hendrix wah and while the Hendrix wah is supposed to be based on a vintage wah circuit it sounds little like a vintage wah...it has a MUCH wider sweep, it has a HUGE low end and a very different midrange.

Don't expect the Bonamassa and the HW846 to sound very much like each other at all.
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

for a simple setup of only a couple pedals batteries really aren't a big deal, I was simply trying to provide another option for people considering that pedal that may be incorporating it into a larger pedalboard that already has a power supply for everything.

To be honest the PP2+ is really not much different than using batteries, and the fact that I never have to unscrew a million pedals anymore is really nice (I can just leave my pedals velcro'd to the board). On the PP2+ you can actually adjust the "SAG" to emulate dying batteries so you can get some very good tones out of older (and older "styled") dirt boxes. For me the power supply is a time saver and it saves me a lot of money. I can't even begin to tell you how much I used to spend on batteries. And now at gigs (or for recordings) I don't have to worry about checking all the batteries ahead of time, etc. I can go with confidence.

I guess I go to pretty far levels to ensure I don't get noisy power and all that with a good power conditioner feeding power to my amp(s), effects, computer, recording interface, etc. I also run everything through that and an APC backup to ensure none of my gear gets fried in a power outage/surge or at a venue with "questionable" wiring.
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

Don't expect the Bonamassa and the HW846 to sound very much like each other at all.

I've played a lot of wah pedals, and owned a few vintage Cry Babys. After playing a vintage 846 and the Bonamassa, I can say the Bonamassa sounds more to my liking. And it's way better than most of the new Dunlop signature wah's.

The other signature wah's I like are the Cantrell, Buddy Guy, and surprisingly, the Kirk Hammet which has a very cool midrange trumpety thing going on when you use it clean, which most buyers of the KH wah aren't using it for. The Hammet wah is actually pretty cool, except for that lame skeleton top. Otherwise, I like the sound of it and the paint scheme.

I haven't tried the Zakk, Slash, or Dime wah's. I didn't like the EVH much....too subtle. I'd also really like to try the RMC Joe Walsh wah.

If I were to buy any at this point, it'd be the Buddy Guy and Cantrell.
 
Last edited:
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

To be honest the PP2+ is really not much different than using batteries, and the fact that I never have to unscrew a million pedals anymore is really nice (I can just leave my pedals velcro'd to the board). On the PP2+ you can actually adjust the "SAG" to emulate dying batteries so you can get some very good tones out of older (and older "styled") dirt boxes. For me the power supply is a time saver and it saves me a lot of money. I can't even begin to tell you how much I used to spend on batteries. And now at gigs (or for recordings) I don't have to worry about checking all the batteries ahead of time, etc. I can go with confidence.

That's what I'm thinking too. If I used one of the PPII's outputs that has the sag feature, I may be able to really dial in a Fuzz Face. I haven't done it yet, but I'm revamping my board a bit. I'll try that.
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

I have had one of the JB wah's for a while. I have a 535q and they are different. I really like the JB myself. I have not played the Canrell.
 
Re: Just bought the Bonamassa Wah

I had the Clyde Deluxe and just thought it sucked, plus too many options. Wahs should be simple.
My 95Q replaced my Fulltone, Teece Wizard, and Budda.
The Bonamassa is nice but to me sounds like any other Crybabay in a band setting. The Cantrell is better but in the end, the Crybaby 95Q is so easy to use, I may stick to it.
 
Back
Top