Best wah pedals: The premier expression effect

Wah pedals are one of the most iconic and expressive effects in a guitarist’s arsenal. Their sound is instantly recognizable and has shaped the sound of countless genres. 

Whether you’re chasing the soulful wails of Jimi Hendrix or the rhythmic sweeps of the funk legends, a good wah pedal adds a real-time element to guitar playing like few other guitar pedals. 

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just curious about them, this guide will help you find your perfect wah.

Best wah pedal overall: MXR MC404 CAE Dual Inductor Wah

The MC404 CAE is an interesting hybrid wah. The circuit includes the MXR MC-401 Boost/Line Driver, but that’s not the best part about its design. Almost every wah on the market is built around a single inductor, the most critical part of the circuit. 

But this wah pedal sports two, and Fasel inductors no less. Each has a distinct voicing that lets players switch from emphasizing the high end to putting more prominence in the low midrange. 

They’re selectable via a kick switch on the side of the enclosure, which isn’t exactly easy to do while playing, but still possible.

Internal pots allow for bandwidth adjustment on both inductors as well as the overall gain. And the additional boost provides a nice lift so the effect doesn’t get lost in a crowded mix.

There are a lot of hot-rodded wah pedals out there, and this marriage of Dunlop and rig god Bob Bradshaw of Custom Audio Electronics is at the top of the heap. 

Best classic wah pedal: Vox V847A

As one of the very first manufacturers to mass produce wah pedals, it’s inevitable to find Vox on any “best of” list in the category. It’s a simple audio circuit, even by 1960s standards. But regardless of complexity it stands as one of the most enduring types of guitar effects. 

It builds on the design of the V847 and increases the dynamics thanks to a few simple design alterations. First up is the most critical element – the inductor. It’s closer to the specs of the original, and adds a buffer on the input so there’s no tone suck or signal alteration when the pedal is bypassed. 

Other than those few changes, Vox kept everything else classic. The signature sound, the style of the enclosure – which more than a few other companies co-opted over the years.

Best auto-wah pedal: Electro-Harmonix Cock Fight 

Not every guitar player wants to manipulate an effect in real time. It makes sense. Some don’t want to be married to a particular part of the stage at a certain time, but still want to be able to implement the effect into their signal chain.

This is where fixed wah pedals come in. Simply put, they’re the wah effect without the foot treadle. Instead of dictating the frequency sweep with a potentiometer in real time, settings are dialed in like any other guitar pedal with a range of knobs and switches.

But the Cock Fight can pull off more than just standard wah sounds. With the right settings you can get fuzz, a sputtering dying battery sound, even into synth territory! Standard controls set the gain, EQ, output volume, and a bias control sets the amount of fuzz.

What this pedal offers that most wahs don’t are all in the toggle switches. Talk adds a vocal-like quality, and Fuzz lets you engage this section of the circuit before or after the wah or defeat it altogether. 

Maybe you’re feeling frisky and want to add some real-time control? Just connect an expression pedal and let your foot do the talking.

Most customizable wah pedal: Vox V863-CA Auto Wah

There are pretty much two types of wah players – those who just want to plug in and wail, and those who need to be able to twist some things to find their version of the sweet spot. While this Vox model is perfect for both, it’s intently designed for the latter camp.

It’s a hybrid circuit that combines manual and auto wah effects into a single enclosure. Through three different, selectable modes it satisfies any player’s appetite for wah whether it’s the traditional pedal-to-the-metal, a dynamic set-it-and-forget-it autowah, or anything in between. 

The true value of the V863-A is in how it lets you fine tune the sound through the controls on the side of the enclosure. Sensitivity is one of the most important elements of a traditional wah design, and this model offers three modes in Traditional, Envelope Generator, and Envelope Follower. 

Traditional is self explanatory, but it’s the Envelope modes where the magic is. Once the pedal is active, players can remove their foot and the auto wah kicks in. Direction of the sweep, dynamics of the attack, and transition time are adjustable via the side knobs.

This might be too much wah for players that aren’t looking to customize. But for tone tweakers and knob twisters that just need settings to play with there are few creative guitar pedals that do it better.

Best bass wah pedal: Dunlop 105Q Cry Baby Bass Wah

Wah is definitely not one of the first sounds that comes to mind when you think of bass effects pedals. And for the longest time, there weren’t any official bass wah pedals on the market to handle the extended low end, so a lot of bassists gave up on the idea. 

That’s changed, and if you’re a bass player looking to add one to your signal chain, the Dunlop 105Q is a terrific choice. The circuit works to affect the midrange and top end of the signal while keeping the low end intact so you don’t lose emphasis there. A “Q” control shapes the bandwidth and allows users to focus the effect. 

Equally great for funk, rock, blues, or anything in between it’s a classic design with all of the tone you expect from a Dunlop Cry Baby.

FAQ

What does a wah pedal do?

A wah pedal acts as a frequency filter that emphasizes different areas of the frequency spectrum based on the position of the potentiometer. The position of the potentiometer is controlled via a foot pedal, also known as a treadle.

Are all wah pedals the same?

No. While the basic effect is similar, different pedals vary in sweep range, tone, build, and features. Some wahs are more vocal-like, others are gritty and aggressive. 

What’s the difference between a standard wah and an auto-wah?

A standard wah requires foot control – or treadle – to sweep through frequencies. An auto-wah is a static effect that reacts automatically to playing dynamics without requiring any real-time manipulation.