Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

Agileguy_101

Agileguy_101

Master of his Domain
I've had more than my share of wah pedals over the years (MXR/CAE, 535Q, Vox, etc.) and for some reason I just never got along. Or perhaps, they never got along with some part of my rig. However, my band will be learning some covers for a few gigs we're doing soon and a few of them require a wah pedal. I'm taking this is as my opportunity to finally find a wah that works for my rig - to, as they say, go big or go home.

So I went to Guitar Center with the intention of trying out whatever the best wahs they had. Important note; because of the pedals I run in my rig (vintage type fuzzes) any wah I work with needs to be compatible with old fuzz pedals, ie have a fuzz friendly buffer or be true bypass. Anyway, I have my eye on the Dunlop Jerry Cantrell model, as I really like the throaty tone and overall darkness to his wah tone. However, they didn't have one of those in stock. What they did have was pretty nice - I picked out the Joe Bonamassa sig wah and the newest version of the Fulltone Clyde with the built in buffer.

I brought my guitar, amp and pedalboard and was happy to see that there were no issues with the sweep of the wah like I had been getting last time I used the wah into my fuzz once I turned the buffers on for each pedal. However, they were "teaching a class" inside the soundproof room, so I had to go before spending too much time with either. Quick impressions - I liked the whacked mode on the Clyde a lot, pretty throaty and growly like I enjoy. I found the Bonamassa to sound like that, but with a smoother high end and not as crunchy. However, the Clyde had a lot more versatility over the JB wah.

I guess what I'm asking is twofold:

Gearjonser, or anyone who has played both wahs, what do you think about the two as far as tonal distinctions?

Are there any other fuzzes that could fit my bill before I commit to either of these two?
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

I've got 3 wah's. The Fulltone Clyde Deluxe white remains my favorite overall. The fact that it's got 3 different frequency sweeps, a volume, and LED make it the best for a versatile board.

I also like the Bonamassa a lot, and keep that on my 2nd board. It's just got a nice organic sound and sweep.

3rd is the Jimi Hendrix sig wah with chrome top and black Italian crinkle housing. This one also has a Foxrox buffer mod. I like this wah a lot but it has a real midrangey hump in the middle of the sweep, giving it the Hendrixy signature sound. Least versatile, but does one thing really good.

If I had to choose, I'd keep the fulltone. It's Jimi and Whacked settings are great. I consider the lower frequency Whacked setting to be closest to the Jerry Cantrell sound. I use that setting a lot, because it's awesome on the lower 3 strings.

You'll pay more for the Fulltone Clyde Deluxe in white or black, but it's worth it. It's a great wah pedal that does it all right out of the box. The Clyde standard isn't bad, but the 3 mode Deluxe model is what you want.
 
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Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

Have you ever tried a HBE Medicine Bawl wah at all?

Also, if you're handy with a soldering iron the Hendrix, Zakk Wylde and Bonamassa wahs are only a few components different from a standard Crybaby.
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

CDW-WHITE-300dpi-5x7.jpg


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


Out of all the wahs I use I like my vintage Crybabies. But for "new out of the box" wahs look at these. They are pricey but you get what you play for.

I have two Thomas Organ Company wahs that I love a lot, I also have a Vox Clyde McCoy that I use on one board and it works well. Both of my TOC wahs have been modded by John Spina. He did some tweaks that really made it more vocal and organic sounding. I really love those wahs. I also have a Vox 847 that was also modded by John and it also works well. The thing about wah pedals that I see is they tend to sound best when you are playing clean or slightly overdrive. When the gain gets really high the bass gets really think and all the natural color of a wah tends to get lost, so Iprefer to use my wah when playing pretty clean. Thats when the vocal aspect of the wah tends to come alive. I like to hear that "Voodoo Child, Tales of Brave Ulysses" type of tone in my playing.
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

I just 'rediscovered' RMC wahs. My first good wah was an old Picture wah and I always regret selling it. I had a Wheels of Fire and a Wizard as well and the Wizard was awesome as well, and WOF was cool, but not what I like a wah to sound like lol. I've been through a heap of them over the past few years and recently snagged an older hammertone gray RMC 3 wah.

I really really like it so far and when I get 'bored' of the sound, I have a lot of options tweaking wise under the hood. The newer versions have the varitune circuit in the front, for easier access and I think even musicians friend and guitar center get them now. RMC has gone back to case mounted jacks and all as well due to customer request.

I also like my Wilson Freaker wah, but that's not really a wah in the traditional sense at all. It's more a filter, synth, wah, volume pedal in one. Takes a bit to understand how to use it, but when you get it... it's cool! I use both for different songs and sounds. My RMC 3 is dialed in in the vein of an RMC1 with some other dip switches pushed in that I thought gave it a good sound. I also like the Rio Bravo and Picture this setting.
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

Oh, and I had a bonamassa. Really great sounding. My only complaint was the travel of the threadle and the sweep seemed too narrow for my liking. I like to do that 'rapid toe shutter' type thing that Tim Sult from Clutch does a lot. Kinda mimicks a phaser or something, but all done with quick movements of the wah... The bonamassa didn't work for me there, that and it was so light weight I'd knock it over easily... There's one for you... I like my pedals HEAVY! Lol.
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

That's one thing I like about the Fulltone. It's got a lot of travel and a wide sweep. Once you get used to it's feel, the Dunlop/Vox style feels like it's got a lot less travel.
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

I did notice that during my brief test drive yesterday. Once I figured out why the sweep was so abrupt when I was using my big muff (I had the buffer off, evidently the big muff likes the buffer) the sweep was wide and pronounced. I liked the whacked mode a lot, and since my band is learning "Man in the Box" I figured that mode would sound beautiful for that wah tone. No disappointments here. Now I just need to wait two weeks so I have a few more paychecks and once I find a good deal on the newer model with the buffer, I'm going for the Fulltone.
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

Fuzz friendly buffers matter little with Big Muffs as they are not the same impedance as something like a Fuzz Face or Tone Bender.

Also, the bypass has no effect on the wah/fuzz relationship...

The first thing you need to decide is vintage sounding wah or modern sounding wah.
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

That's what I've heard before, but I'm telling you - when I was using the wah with the buffer off into the big muff, the whole sweep of the wah was limited to 20% of the pedal's sweep. Buffer on, I get wah response from the whole sweep of the pedal.

Plus, as you know, a fuzz friendly buffer is important to me because I run a fuzz face and I will be picking up a Tonebender soon anyway.

I prefer not to get caught up in what tone I want when I have specific needs from a pedal that must be met. Example - I need a wah that works well with fuzzes. That limits my options quite a bit, so why limit the recommendation even more?
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

Fuzz friendly is easy...there are several FF wahs on the market plus other options are out there as well.

I just hate the idea of buying a car simply because it's the colour you want...ya know??

Anyway, I love Wilson wahs and Kevin has always treated me well plus all his wahs can be ordered with a fuzz buffer.

BMF just dropped a KILLER wah, I tried it and it will be my next wah, it's not fuzz friendlyt in stock form but that cna be handled...
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

Don't think of it as buying a car for the color - think of it as buying the car because it's a manual instead of auto.

Plus, I've never been one to pick between modern and vintage... why can't I have them both? That seems like the Fulltone's forte, and if you've seen my pedalboards recently (or ever, hah) you'd know how important versatility is to me.

That said, I'll take a look at Wilson and BMF.
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

IIRC, all Morley wahs have an output buffer that converts the signal to high impedance, which makes it incompatible with old style fuzz pedals. Thanks, but I just can't use Morleys with my rig.
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

I was going to say the MC404 wah, but you said you already tried it. W/ all the options and tweaks on that thing, I can't imagine it not working for someone. From what you listed though, my vote would go to the Clyde Deluxe. Of course there's nothing wrong with having 5 wah pedals lol.
 
Re: Looking for a wah - Clyde Deluxe, Bonamassa, or other?

In response to the Fulltone wah information here:

I love my Clyde Deluxe (white version, I believe a 2008 model), but if I were to do it all again, I would get the Clyde Standard. There is something super charming about the "stock" sound of that one (volume knob at 12 o'clock, selector switch on Jimi setting) that I have a very hard time using the other settings.

There are so many great wah pedal options out there depending on what exact wah style you are looking for. Personally, I stopped looking after I found the Clyde Deluxe (stock mode) and the Clyde Standard.
 
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