Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

[audiocheck]

I need suggestions to help cure an issue.

my playing back gound: I've always been a plug straight into an amp guy. always tube amps and fairly high preamp gain. The only pedal i will occasionally use is a CryBaby. The last few years I have been using and enjoying the 535Q. The Dunlop has a True Bypass circuit. I am very sensitive to the touch sensitivity and interaction of my guitar and amp. I don't like high output pickups because i rely on picking dynamics when i play and high output pickups just feel over compressed.

The Morley Buffer is in the circuit all the time and I don't like the feel. It feels tight and compressed and when off sounds dull too. I really like the tonal offerings the Morley (Lynch Dragon 2) offers, but the feel is just not working for me. Is there something I can do? Would adding a longer cable after the Morley help?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

I need suggestions to help cure an issue.

my playing back gound: I've always been a plug straight into an amp guy. always tube amps and fairly high preamp gain. The only pedal i will occasionally use is a CryBaby. The last few years I have been using and enjoying the 535Q. The Dunlop has a True Bypass circuit. I am very sensitive to the touch sensitivity and interaction of my guitar and amp. I don't like high output pickups because i rely on picking dynamics when i play and high output pickups just feel over compressed.

The Morley Buffer is in the circuit all the time and I don't like the feel. It feels tight and compressed and when off sounds dull too. I really like the tonal offerings the Morley (Lynch Dragon 2) offers, but the feel is just not working for me. Is there something I can do? Would adding a longer cable after the Morley help?

Thanks in advance.

If that is a switchless wah, you’re sol.
If it’s got a switch it can be wired true bypass.
Otherwise I’d recommended a Crybaby Classic which is hardwired bypass.
I had a similar issue. I had a morley bad horsie 2 with all the issues you describe. Then I got a crybaby switchless (95q?)...all the same issues. Then the CB Classic...problems solved.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

The Crybaby 535Q with the true bypass and the red Fasel inductor is a great pedal. I have a Morley Bad Horsie 2, and I still want the 535Q so I’ll have both.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

If that is a switchless wah, you’re sol.
If it’s got a switch it can be wired true bypass.
Otherwise I’d recommended a Crybaby Classic which is hardwired bypass.
I had a similar issue. I had a morley bad horsie 2 with all the issues you describe. Then I got a crybaby switchless (95q?)...all the same issues. Then the CB Classic...problems solved.

Yes, switchless. I may have to get this:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...MIx_-u3IKW3gIVwYuzCh2NuAMqEAQYBCABEgIBp_D_BwE

I do still have the 535Q and no issue there

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

Yeah, if you love the wah, get a Bypass looper for it. It defeats the no click thing of the Morley, but you can keep it out of the circuit for the songs that don’t need it.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

Yes, switchless. I may have to get this:

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...MIx_-u3IKW3gIVwYuzCh2NuAMqEAQYBCABEgIBp_D_BwE

I do still have the 535Q and no issue there

I think this is what you need....

http://www.glab.com.pl/index.php/en/products/accessories/true-bypass-wah-pad-tbw

I’m not familiar with the product you posted...it may work as well.


Edit: I just looked closer to the switcher you posted. That will work too plus you get an additional loop in case you want to set up another pedal(s).
And it’s a hell of a lot cheaper.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

I did some more research. I haven't yet put a meter on the output of the Morley, but I am thinking it's buffer is a really low Impedance. My old Carvin X100b has 2 inputs.

1@ 2.2 M ohms
1@ 20 K ohms

Last night I tried switching to the low impedance input and the Treble came back. I only did it quick, so not sure if all the dynamics came back. Problem is this is my home amp. My portable Carvin V3M has only 1 input at 220K ohms.

At this point I am assuming the output of the Morley is around <500 ohm. I will meter tonight, If I have time. So I am thinking about putting an old Tube Screamer after it (in bypass mode, since I haven't used a gain pedal in 30+ years), just to see if raising the output impedance to something the Carvin will be happier seeing.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

Certainly worth a shot!

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

So I'm thinking part of the problem is me.

Since the only pedal I have ever used in the past 30+ years has been a CryBaby, I have learned to keep my cable runs short.

I researched the Morley's Impedances:

in: 100K ohms
out: 200 ohms

So messing around last night, I tried various things. I stumbled on replacing my 10' cable from pedal to amp with a 20', and bam! The Morley came to life in a way it hasn't since i purchased it 2 months ago. i had a 20' cable on both sides of the pedal, an '85 Gold top, loaded with late 80's era 59's, through my 1984 Carvin X100b. All three were singing and screaming in harmony. The morley was able to coax infinite sustain (on the edge of feedback) at a very reasonable volume at 9pm. I am still convinced the Buffer was choking the signal. I may even get better tone, if i add more length to cable run. no noticeable drop in highs with the longer cable. I guess it is rare for a guitarist to only use one pedal? I gave up on pedals in my 20's due mostly to TONE SUCK (which for me was more about loss of dynamics). This setup will still need to be evaluated on dynamics, but it does appear they have come back.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

It may not necessarily be the length of the cable but the cable itself. I have some Mogami's and Spectraflex cables that I use all the time. When I use one of my cheaper cables, long run or not, I can hear a difference. My 18' Spectraflex cables are better than my 10' Fender cables.

Another great wah with true bypass is the Jerry Cantrell. It's the only pedal I have between the guitar and amp these days.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

It may not necessarily be the length of the cable but the cable itself. I have some Mogami's and Spectraflex cables that I use all the time. When I use one of my cheaper cables, long run or not, I can hear a difference. My 18' Spectraflex cables are better than my 10' Fender cables.

Another great wah with true bypass is the Jerry Cantrell. It's the only pedal I have between the guitar and amp these days.

I believe it!!

also the Dunlop stuff is designed really well and have successfully fixed any early issues the Thomas Organ Co had with their design. I love my CryBaby's. The Morley I bought is a Dragon 2 (George Lynch Model). I wanted something different and I got it. The 535Q covers a lot of ground, but not on the fly. I am also wanting the Dunlop CAE404 Wah.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

I believe it!!

also the Dunlop stuff is designed really well and have successfully fixed any early issues the Thomas Organ Co had with their design. I love my CryBaby's. The Morley I bought is a Dragon 2 (George Lynch Model). I wanted something different and I got it. The 535Q covers a lot of ground, but not on the fly. I am also wanting the Dunlop CAE404 Wah.

I almost got the Dragon 2 but I had been wanting the Cantrell since it came out. Glad I got it. It's probably the last one I'll buy. It's that good.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Morley Wah with True Tone Buffer

Seems I have cured the problem. I guess buffers need to see a minimum amount of resistance to pass proper signal and be beneficial? So having the Morley connected to my tube amp through 20’ of cable solves the issue. I guess if I had a full blown pedal board, I wouldn’t need the extra length. I just wish their pedal came with documentation to spell this out. It would have saved time and energy.