Wahwah using?

Iron Horse

New member
So, gimme some samples of wahing (song/artist)

To me, the obvious is Hendrix, then, Brian Robertson from Thin Lizzy, and Mick Box / Uriah Heep on Magician's Birthday (you must hear that solo, that is my first proper introduction to the wah).

Some people, like Jimi, Mick, and Robbo can do it excellently, but I, personally can't stand Kirk Hammett's wahing, at least for the most of the time.
E: and then there are those who didn't rock the wah, like Jimmy Page, for example.
I should get me one sometime ASAP, but I really don't have too much time nor the money.
 
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Re: Wahwah using?

Clapton (Tales of Brave Ulysses, white room), Funkadelic (Maggot Brain), I'm sure that I've heard some Rage Against the Machine tunes with wah in there. Curtis Mayfield (Move on Up, Ghetto Child, If there's a hell below, Superfly), Bob Marley (Rebel Music, many others). Pretty much any Reggae or Funk band will have wah stuff in at least one of their songs . . .
 
Re: Wahwah using?

Lots of late 60s stuff used the wah. Cream and Hendrix were the big ones, but Jeff Beck, some Yardbirds, "I Ain't Superstitious" by Jeff Beck is a good wah riff.
 
Re: Wahwah using?

John Frusciante of RHCP uses the wah in a very tasteful way. IMO, he's one of the best out there right now. Check out some of his stuff...

Zakk Wylde uses a lot of wah too, but sometimes it can get annoying...

Slayer uses the wah in places where it actually sounds good too. If thats your brand of music, check them out too.
 
Re: Wahwah using?

Terry Kath on the early Chicago albums, in particular 'Sing a Mean Tune Kid', "South California Purples', and 'It Better End Soon' , all from Carnegie Hall.

Richie Kotzen all over his latest CD, Go Faster.
 
Re: Wahwah using?

I like Jeff Becks use of wah in the early days (Truth, Beck-Ola) as well as Claptons work in Cream, Jimi is a given...I also really like the way Tinsley Ellis uses a wah and belive it or not if you listen closley Billy Gibbons uses a wah a LOT but in a very subtle way.
 
Re: Wahwah using?

Steve Vai has a really unique and vocal wah sound.

Joe Satriani gets a wah sound like no other... the title track from Is There Love In Space? has some craaaaazy wah tones on the solo.

SRV got some great ones too... very Jimi inspired.
 
Re: Wahwah using?

A second vote for Terry Kath of Chicago, especially on their cover of the Spencer Davis hit "I'm A Man".

Check out Stephen Stills self-titled solo album for some great wah, and guest spots from both Clapton and Hendrix.

Bill
 
Re: Wahwah using?

Theme from 'Shaft'

ah, a classic!

-playing in a funk/soul/afrobeat band as I do, I avoid wah whenever possible, at least for classic chicka-chicka stuff. That's one area that has been well enough explored already.

When I do use it, I tend to use it as a sweep filter, with slower movements across the range. More like how someone might sweep the eq on a synth.

There was a great article by Joe Gore in Guitar Player sometime in the 90s about wah technique. He had real good advice for breaking out of the standard wah moves. The gist of it was: don't be afraid to break away from the constant rhythmic pumping that a lot of players do.
 
Re: Wahwah using?

Yeah I use the sweep filter technique too. I find small movements are great for bringing out different harmonic overtones when sustaining notes with feedback too.
 
Re: Wahwah using?

Phsycotron from Megadeth has a cool wah part. Slash has always done the wah proud I thought. I agree with Kirks wah being anoying... especially the tone of his. I bet it is a custom type like a coloursound... I can get my wheels of fire wah to sound like that if I hit it just right.
 
Re: Wahwah using?

Wah is the one effect that I allways have available. I use the George Dennis optical stuff exclusively. BTW i have a GD-40 switcher available for sale if anybody is interested. List is $200 I'll take $95 shipped. I have 3 of the Dennis units 2 standard and this one with the high low switch.
Here is an example of how I use Wah.
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=2478707
 
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