Let's dial in those wah pedals.

[Gearjoneser]

With all the wah pedals coming out these days, and many of us evaluating the tone, I've been coming to a major conclusion about wah pedals...

There are many factors as to how a wah's vocal sound is. They're really like vocalists being mated to your guitar. Most of this has to do with the EQ and the inductor. But what we're left with is the range in which the pot travels.

This is a simple adjustment that takes about 10 minutes to get dialed in.

When you open the wah, you'll see the 3 main components related to the pot...
The gear, which is the pot's sprocket. Then, the rack, which is the plastic piece that's attached to the top (treadle) and slides along the gear. And then, the only part you adjust with a screwdriver, the clamp. It's the white bumper that pushes the rack into the gear.

When you loosen the clamp's screw, you can then pull back on the rack, and turn the pot toward the treble or bass. It may take a few times to get it right, but when the pot/gear is in the best range of travel for your guitar and amp, your wah pedal will sound it's best.

So, I guess this thread is about messing with the wah you use, and determining whether or not the factory setting was right for you. Pull it apart and mess with it for awhile, if you haven't already. If you do, come back and share your findings with us. Tell us the model name and if you shifted it's EQ brighter or darker for your particular taste. Also, the guitar and amp you're using, and style of music.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

I've done that and a lot more to a stock Crybaby to make it "my own".

Here's a short list of what I did:

- Replaced the stock inductor with a red Fasel
- Increased the Q resistor from 33k to 68k
- Replaced the input resistor with a 50k trim pot so I could fine tune it
- Swapped the midrange frequency resistor from 1.5k to 2.7k (shifts the midrange of the wah)
- Put in a true bypass switch
- Added a couple LED's
- Repainted the enclosure
- Fine-tuned the pot rotation to put the range slightly higher

It's the best wah I've ever played, because it's now set exactly how I want it.

More than any other pedal, a wah is a very personal thing.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

After our conversation last weekend I checked my Area51 modded Crybaby and found it was set to maximum treble and that was causing alot of unwanted noise through the sweep. After a few trys I settled on 2 notches back on the treble and now it sounds like I expect it to with singles which is what i wanted. I've yet to check my Wizard Wah and I have a feeling that too is set to maximum treble as that one has lot of noise, I'll do it this weekend. The JB Wah is great as it is with my Cornfords so I'll leave it, but with the Jubilee it's a little too dark so I'd adjust it if I were to use it exclusively with that amp.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

I have teh jerry cantrell wah

pretty awesome for my style of music!

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

I have teh jerry cantrell wah

pretty awesome for my style of music!

Same here!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

ive been anti wah for many years now but still have an old modded crybaby that sounds great. i like to roll the pot to set the range slightly lower.

ive found that type of amp has alot to do with how i like my wah. with a blackface style mid scooped amp i like a darker wah since there isnt the mids to back up the high end. a tweed or marshall i like a brighter wah since the highs so it dont seem so cutting

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

ive been anti wah for many years now but still have an old modded crybaby that sounds great. i like to roll the pot to set the range slightly lower.

ive found that type of amp has alot to do with how i like my wah. with a blackface style mid scooped amp i like a darker wah since there isnt the mids to back up the high end. a tweed or marshall i like a brighter wah since the highs so it dont seem so cutting

Is that the one I modded? Go ahead Jeremy....Say it! ;o) I mod my own wahs,know what works,and thats all I use..A modded 847 that I bought in 93...

 

[jeremy]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

yep, thats the one john. it sounds great, still dont use it lol

i replaced the switch and something else... cant remember what. had that thing a while now!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

yep, thats the one john. it sounds great, still dont use it lol

i replaced the switch and something else... cant remember what. had that thing a while now!

Cool...I don't mod stuff much these days,but I do enjoy a freindly,sought of ego plug! ;o) Thx pal.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

lol anytime my friend!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

lol anytime my friend!

I always have my modded Vox 847 inline cause it looks ultra cool,though I use it only once in awhile...

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

My wahs: 70s vox wah/swell (made by colorsound i think), a boss power wah, a gcb 95, a hendrix, a morely pro series II and an MXR/CAE.

The vox is okay but kinda cheaply made - this is one of the colorsound ones. I never use it.
The gcb was a tone sucker. I converted it to true bypass and replaced the PCB with a copy of the vox 847. Still not awesome tho - mebbe it was the inductor? Did the vocal mod, the gain mod etc.
So was the hendrix till i made it true bypass and added some gain to it. Its not awesome tho - both of these have black dunlop inductors.
Boss wah - well its old and scratchy, and looks stupid, but it is very versatile and ballsy.
Morley pro series II - great with high gain. Does not sound like a crybaby - moch more like sweeping the eq on a mixing desk, but it works flawlessly and has a wide sweep. High gain/metal players should check morleys out. I used it for years tho and im not a metal player - its a fantastic tone shaping device for lead work. NOt vintage sounding by any means, but the sweep gives you pinpoint accuracy over a wide range of tones. The tweakable level is great too. Nice buffer.
MXR/CAE - two wahs in one. Red is thick and throaty. Great with humbuckers. Love it dialed in so its not too strident, but can add growl and colour to both rhtym and lead without thinning the bottom end. Yellow mode is bright and cutting - kinda like how my vox and crybabys "should" sound like. Rich and colorful. Both modes have their own 'q' trimmer. Its also got an internal gain pot too. I think more than any wah ive tried, this one has the ability to fit pretty much anybodys rig regardless of axe and amp combination. Plus it has the booster if you want it. Killer. The rest are now redundant cos it can do all if what the otehrs can do, only better.
Like wahwah's mate burgerman says in his review video "the best wah ive ever tried".

 

[blueman335]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

After our conversation last weekend I checked my Area51 modded Crybaby and found it was set to maximum treble and that was causing alot of unwanted noise through the sweep...my Wizard Wah and I have a feeling that too is set to maximum treble as that one has lot of noise.

+1. I'll have to check mine as it seems to be set for maximum treble; the top of the sweep is shrill and noisy.

Thanks for the tip Gearjoneser!

 

[oldskooltone]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

I did the vocal mod on my crybaby changed some resistor to 100k,changed the sweep,and now we have conversations at times.HAHAHAHAHA errr more likeWAH WAH WAHWAHWAHWAH

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

For me, it comes down to finding the max treble point I like to hear. And I may like it more trebley than some, just because I want to hear a certain screaminess at the high point. And then, the bass side sorta falls wherever it does.

Most of it has to do with your original guitar tone. That's why I brought this subject up.
A lot of us change amps and guitars, then pay no attention to how their wah pedal reacts to the new gear. If you're using a wah with a new rig, it's a good idea to sit down and open up the wah, then get it dialed in perfectly. Once it is, you'll be happier with it's performance.

 

[xntrick]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

MXR/CAE - two wahs in one. Red is thick and throaty. Great with humbuckers. Love it dialed in so its not too strident, but can add growl and colour to both rhtym and lead without thinning the bottom end. Yellow mode is bright and cutting - kinda like how my vox and crybabys "should" sound like. Rich and colorful. Both modes have their own 'q' trimmer. Its also got an internal gain pot too. I think more than any wah ive tried, this one has the ability to fit pretty much anybodys rig regardless of axe and amp combination. Plus it has the booster if you want it. Killer. The rest are now redundant cos it can do all if what the otehrs can do, only better.
Like wahwah's mate burgerman says in his review video "the best wah ive ever tried".

+1 for the CAE wah but the goop on the trim pots is very thick and i don't want to risk breaking the damn thing just to tweak it a bit. I also like the vocal mod on rev. D crybaby which i plan on rebuilding with a halo replica inductor.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

GearJoneser, how about more of this kind of thread, for other effects pedals. As much as I've modded guiitars, I'm new at pedals.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

I have two Thoma Organ Company Wahs, a Vox Clyde McCoy & a Vox 847. I use the 847 on my gigging board & I have my second Thomas Organ Company Wah on my home board. The Clyde is on a backup board that I used when I played out with my Marshall. I don't really use it too much any more.

I have made a lot of the adjustments you mention & I have never been able to do it in 10 minutes. haha First my two main Wahs were both heavily modded by John Spina & he did a great job. My original Wah was so worn out I was considering replacing it with something new. John offered to look at it & was able to fix it. The rocker just kept falling & no matter what I did it would just drop. About a month after I got it back from him I saw he was selling his TOC wah so I bought that too. Personally these old Wahs have the sound I desire. I love the Hendrixy/Claponesque type of tone and I get it without too much tinkering with these. The Clamp on my original wah was so worn I just couldn't keep it adjusted. The screw would loosen & then the gear would pop out so it was a struggle to keep it working.BUT I LOVED THE WAY IT SOUNDED WHEN IT DID WORK! Now that John has repaired it for me its working, but I have retired it. I have his newer Thomas Organ Company wah on my board. It has a gain adjustment that I like. I have it set to give me a bit of boost when I turn it on, but it still maintains the character of these great old wahs..

To be honest once John has modded my Wahs for me I never adjusted anything. They sound just the way I want them to.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

I have two Thoma Organ Company Wahs, a Vox Clyde McCoy & a Vox 847. I use the 847 on my gigging board & I have my second Thomas Organ Company Wah on my home board. The Clyde is on a backup board that I used when I played out with my Marshall. I don't really use it too much any more.

I have made a lot of the adjustments you mention & I have never been able to do it in 10 minutes. haha First my two main Wahs were both heavily modded by John Spina & he did a great job. My original Wah was so worn out I was considering replacing it with something new. John offered to look at it & was able to fix it. The rocker just kept falling & no matter what I did it would just drop. About a month after I got it back from him I saw he was selling his TOC wah so I bought that too. Personally these old Wahs have the sound I desire. I love the Hendrixy/Claponesque type of tone and I get it without too much tinkering with these. The Clamp on my original wah was so worn I just couldn't keep it adjusted. The screw would loosen & then the gear would pop out so it was a struggle to keep it working.BUT I LOVED THE WAY IT SOUNDED WHEN IT DID WORK! Now that John has repaired it for me its working, but I have retired it. I have his newer Thomas Organ Company wah on my board. It has a gain adjustment that I like. I have it set to give me a bit of boost when I turn it on, but it still maintains the character of these great old wahs..

To be honest once John has modded my Wahs for me I never adjusted anything. They sound just the way I want them to.

Thanks again Dave....It's nice reading this sought of thing!

 

[Stratman]

Re: Let's dial in those wah pedals.

I use a Teese RCM3, do none of those modifications are necessary…

If you are interested in a source for mod’s...

http://www.mojotone.com/amp-parts/Pedal-Kits/Mojotone-Wah-Pedal-Kit