Best Wah Pedals: 13 Models Available On The Market – 2023!

Best Wah Pedals

Introduction

Wah pedals have been around since the 60s, basically right at the beginning of the effects of pedal growth that has formed music ever since. It’s an unmistakable effect that turns into a focus for many legendary guitarists such as Jimmy Hendrix.

Traditional manufacturers of the wah embrace Vox and Jim Dunlop, whose variations of the effect you will see closely concerned on our list right now. Since the early days, wah pedals have been foot controllable, permitting you to vary the sweeping sound in real time.

The wah effect is a sort of filter, generally often called a band filter, that mixes low-pass filters and hi-pass filters. As you sweep the pedal, the audio from a set frequency band is allowed to pass and frequencies that might be both increased or decreased are filtered out.

On the traditional wah pedal, which is a foot-controlled sweep mechanism, a resonant peak is discovered at the higher cut-off frequency. This subsequently provides the effect of a ‘wah’ wound when the pedal is closed to an ‘aah’ sound when the pedal is open. This is not just a simple wah volume pedal, it has its own treats and pedal features.

Maybe essentially the most distinctive side of the wah compared to different effect pedals is that it’s primarily an extension of the instrument, which means the guitar player has the flexibility to add expression to their playing. While not all guitarists use a wah pedal on their pedalboard, it’s an incredible device to get that stand-out tone for big guitar solos or funky rhythm.

We just want to let you know that we’ll list these best wah pedal reviews in no particular order. They’ll be randomized as we don’t wish to sort them from best to worst.

Listed below are our Top 13 Best Wah Pedals for 2023:

1. Dunlop GCB95 Cry Baby Wah Pedal

Dunlop was founded by Jim Dunlop Snr. in 1965 and went from a small home-based operation to one of many largest producers of musical equipment and effects.

We begin off with one of the best, their standard Cry Baby Wah constructed from a heavy die-cast development, weighing in at 3.7 pounds. This treadle is powered by Dunlop’s very own ECB-03 AC adapter. Though the adapter will not be included, it may be bought individually. The AC adapter may also be powered via the more portable means, of a 9 Volt battery to offer the person the very best of choices.

The Dunlop Crybaby is unique and is commonly referred to in Rock circles, resulting from its use by some Rock legends. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, David Gilmour, and different great names related to Rock music, put their belief in the dependable and durable Dunlop Cry Baby Wah pedal and produced a few of their hottest melodies. The Hotz Potz Potentiometer permits fast, abrupt Wah sound with its 100K Ohm unit.

The flexibility provided with this treadle could be felt from placing your toe down and producing extra treble, to heel right down to emit extra bass. Relying on your style of play; the quantity and pace of the effect will differ. The treadle may also be held in a single place to supply a certain frequency and can be utilized to create the desired overtone.

2. Vox V845 Classic Wah Wah Pedal

The Vox V845 is one other classic excellent wah pedal that’s nonetheless a large player on the market today. Some think about the original to be the most effective wah pedal of all time, so it’s becoming that the brand new model is basically the identical pedal when it comes to sound and build. Not only that however this new wah-wah from Vox boasts an extra sturdy chassis and a really affordable worth.

The construct high quality of this pedal is admittedly good and the pedal itself appears virtually indestructible. That is one thing that should never be missed when you plan on stomping regularly on your pedals. An AC energy connector can also be fitted to avoid wasting on having to use batteries to power the wah pedal.

Believe it or not, the VOX V845 was initially designed in the 60s to emulate the sound of a muted trumpet, which was thought of as a necessary sound at the time. Regardless of this, what occurred afterward with the wah-wah has merely revolutionized the classic guitar sound. It has splendid traits throughout the tone and is considered a must-have effects pedal.

When you’re looking for a regular wah pedal that delivers so well when it comes to classic wah tone, the V845 could be the pedal for you. We have recommended this pedal as our greatest value for cash pick because it’s tremendously affordable and an amazing alternative to your first wah pedal. The construct quality is also really good so it’ll be an amazing alternative for live musicians.

3. Electro-Harmonix Wailer

The Wailer Wah Pedal is a bit totally different from your typical pedals. Its distinctions aren’t revolutionary, but it has a singular circuitry system that’s cost-effective, lightweight, and dynamic.

The design relies on the traditional Cry Baby Wah pedal. It has an easy-access battery compartment, however, its added adapter is a good selling level for its worth. Normally the standard foot mechanism permits you to simply rock the pedal for some sweet wah sounds. Or, half do it for the thick midranges to shine through.

It has a true bypass footswitch which delivers easy motion for some nice control. Nonetheless, there’s a small shortcoming in its building. Its enclosure is made out of plastic which may doubtlessly break over time. That stated, its worth makes up for its flaw.

The EHX Wailer Wah pedal is the smaller successor to the corporate’s successful Crying Tone Wah from the 1960s. This newer wah pedal sounds simply as nice, only with a greater, extra trendy construct quality and lower price tag.

In the event you’re searching for an outstanding price range wah pedal without the bells and whistles, try plugging and playing via one of EHX’s Wailer Wahs, and you will not be disappointed!

4. Xotic Effects Wah Effect Pedal

When the price is not an influencing issue in terms of choice, then our premium selection is where you need to be looking.

With its Bias and Wah Q-control, this white-dipped effects wah pedal is among the greatest, offering you three varied effects all contained in a neat sturdy casing. Its distinctive controls give you limitless sounds and its sole limitation is your creativity.

With its bias control, you’ll be able to change how pronounced the wah sounds. Its added Wah Q management adjusts the width of the filter peak to attain a virtually vocal-like effect. Moreover, you’ll additionally be capable of managing your treble and bass to optimize every component based on your playing style. Jam-packed with options, the Xotic Wah Pedal doesn’t disappoint.

If you’re searching for high quality and a plethora of controls and options, then that is a great wah pedal for you. The Treble and Bass controls and adjustable pedal torsion could have you enamored in no time.

Simply if you thought it couldn’t get any better, the LED indicator lights the way and offers you a visible signal. Flexibility and adjustability meld into one, with this wonderful instrument, that simply can’t be ignored.

5. Fulltone Clyde Standard Wah

That is an attempt to recreate what grew to become known as the Clyde McCoy wah. You may hardly blame them, The Vox pedal was very highly considered at the time, and the sounds are nonetheless appreciated at present.

It’s well-built with a tough workhorse exterior and is able to take a number of knocks. Its all-metal construct and thick rubber footplate give it the impression of being extraordinarily sturdy. It’s about the usual dimension for a foot pedal measuring 10.70 by 5.30 by 3.40 inches and weighs in at 3.6 pounds.

Controls are straightforward to use, and it has a foot pedal action that’s clean and really responsive. When positioned at varied midpoints between its extremes, the foot pedal permits the creation of some fascinating tones.

Compared to its unique inspiration, Fulltone has made some enhancements. You may manage the bass sound and the amount of gain via Resonance management. It hasn’t modified the sound of the pedal, simply added a bit of extra variety. It nonetheless has an outstanding wah sound that has an actual retro feel about it.

Fulltone has gone out of its method to recreate a traditional, they usually have done a decent job. If you’re on the lookout for that classic sound, then this is a listen. If only for that genuine wah pedal sound, it must be thought about as one of many better wah pedals in terms of precise sound and high quality. It has a true bypass, so it is not going to intrude with your primary guitar sound when not in use.

6. BOSS 6 String Ambidextrous (PW-3)

The Boss pedal PW-3 is an all-analog, dynamic wah pedal with a strong building and a compact dimension. It’s thoughtfully created conserving thoughts the trendy guitarist needs. Whereas being small in width, the pedal doesn’t lack high quality or features.

It’s constructed from die-cast chassis to deal with tensions while delivering easy efficiency. The patterned grip ensures your motion is calculated and exact. This quality pedal is extremely delicate to movement permitting customers to extract the precise tones they need.

It additionally stands out together with a pair of side-mounted LEDs that activate when the pedal is switched on. This easy touch means that you can see clearly the way it will respond with your foot on the pedal. It additionally switches between a Vintage sound mode or the Boss’ Signature Rich mode. The wealthy mode permits the consumer to hit extra warmer tones for added versatility.

There are some things that are normally in the design, the die-cast aluminum pedal chassis, for instance. Boss pedals are at all times robust and able to go to work. While you rest your foot on the pedal, it feels substantial regardless of its smaller measurement. The pedal motion is responsive and easy.

Overall, it has a wealthy, shiny, and classic wah sound with some added options to offer higher customization. The unit is fantastically crafted and in a format that many guitarists would respect. With its price and worth, the Boss PW-3 is a particularly low-risk purchase.

7. Morley PFW Cliff Burton Tribute Power Fuzz Wah

It has been more than 30 years since “For Whom the Bell Tolls” debuted, and that is nonetheless Morley’s most ceaselessly requested question. Bassist Cliff Burton left an indelible mark on Metallica‘s early records and the music group at large.

And as we speak, thanks to assistance from the fellows in Metallica and Cliff’s father Ray, the Morley Tribute Cliff Burton Power Fuzz Wah delivers Cliff’s sonic signature to electric guitar players in every single place: a mix of wah/fuzz that’s good for aggressive bass guitar, but versatile enough for stoner-rock guitars to funky pianos.

This pedal relies on the unique Tel-Ray/Morley Power Wah Fuzz Cliff loved but makes some necessary trendy updates: like the choice to power with a battery or wall adapter and unbiased controls for every effect.

Like the unique Morley Power Fuzz Wah pedal from Tel-Ray/Morley, the Cliff Burton Tribute blends two important rock effects, wah and fuzz in a single unit. Run them independently for delicate shades of rock nirvana. Or use the pedal like Cliff did, operating both effects in tandem for aggressive picked tones and a vocal-like growl. A Vintage/Modern toggle offers additional tonal choices for adventurous new types of music.

In addition, its smooth-action, heavy-duty treadle with a comfortable cloth top and rugged switches is a pleasure to use underfoot. All elements are lined by Morley’s two-year producer warranty.

8. Behringer Hellbabe HB01 Wah Pedal

For a guitar hero on a budget, we deliver you the Hellbabe wah pedal from Behringer. In our view, this is likely one of the gadgets of today’s guitar market that epitomizes the idea of budget cuts made at all the right places. It was sort of built cheaply, but it does not feel low-cost in any respect.

This is a plastic pedal, but it’s very robust and durable. This was accomplished by including a steel basis and a rubber grip, none of which really feel low-cost and even give the gadget an aesthetic vibe. The all-metal building wouldn’t damage, in fact, but for this worth, it is fairly superior as it is.

In terms of performance, it must be noted right from the get-go that the HB01 makes use of the so-called “step on, step off” kind of control, which means that there’s now an on/off button as the pedal switches on as quickly as you even barely step on it.

On the inside, the pedal is filled with low-noise circuitry that runs through a 9V battery or via a normal power adapter. Two LED standing indicators are additionally included within the mix, one for Effect Status, and the opposite for Boost Status.

The pedal comes with 4 control knobs – three small ones on the left and the massive one on the right. The large one is a range, which lets you alter the pedal’s frequency range anywhere between 440 and 250 Hz. This can be used to fine-tune, particularly for this budget, permitting you to make use of this Behringer one bass guitar as well.

9. MXR MC404 CAE Dual Inductor Wah Wah

If MXR MC404 CAE Wah was a one-trick pony, it could nonetheless be among the many top guitars pedals out there. However, Dunlop determined to steep it with options and supply us with a jack of all trades. In this manner, you’ve got a multi-faceted unit that blends together different flavors of wah to be able to create a magical potion.

The shell of this bad boy is just like its siblings, however, has some distinctive traits as well. It has a CAE emblem on the side and treadle, which makes its design vibrant and distinguished. Although it’s a bit bulky, when you manage to place it on your pedalboard, you’ll never wish to substitute it with anything else.

The standard of the construction is implausible, with top-grade parts and a low noise potentiometer. In terms of the tonal features, we now have twin Fasel inductors, each of them carrying completely different voices. Switching between them is a piece of cake and takes no time, providing you with entry to the flexibility of the pedal.

MXR MC404 CAE Wah additionally has a Boost/LineDriver which lets you intensify your signal and create an extra powerful sound. It’s geared up with inner pots that form your tone even further and expose even the detailed parameters. It may be supplied both with a battery or an adapter.

Altering the drained battery is as simple as it may get – you can merely lift the bottom, insert a brand new one and that’s it. It goes without saying that MXR MC404 CAE Wah is a dependable and successful pedal that may make your wah game much more spectacular.

10. Electro-Harmonix Cock Fight

You should utilize the Cock Fight as a daily wah by plugging in an expression pedal (not supplied), however, that is probably not the point. As a substitute, twisting the frequency knob a good old twist – it mimics the sweep on a basic wah pedal – discover a tone you want and then park it. And there you have a cocked wah-wah sound.

There’s a wide range of cocked sounds right here, and loads of further tonal tweaking accessible, making this one of the most versatile wah pedals than your bog-standard wah.

And it has yet one more huge trick to drag you in. Beneath the large knobs, you will discover a bank of controls and switches for the onboard fuzz circuitry. Classic tone freaks will likely be blown away right here as EHX has managed to get fairly damn near the sound of a 60s Tone Bender fuzz box, the pedal stomped on by Jimmy Page on the primary Led Zeppelin album, and Mick Ronson during his time with Bowie.

You are getting some nice wah sounds, and an unbelievable fuzz, for lower than a hundred sheets here. It is a disgrace you can’t run the fuzz circuit unbiased of the wah side of the Cock Fight however you can’t win all of them.

11. BOSS Dynamic Wah Guitar Pedal (AW-3)

When speaking about the dynamic wah pedals, it is just natural to underline their variety. They open up the chances that aren’t accessible through typical models of such ilk. Identical to its siblings, AW-3 operates with the assistance of the envelope filter.

This way it’s not restricted to your movement. However rather, it might probably produce various forms of effects and reply to the dynamics of your playing methods. This pedal is constructed to last and can stick with you for years to come. It’s going to still be in good condition in the event you drop it or run it over with an automobile. AW-3 has completely different inputs for your guitar and bass, which suggests it may be utilized with both of them.

It does even have an input for an external expression pedal in an effort to get that additional help if wanted. This pedal is steeped with sonic options. It comes with 5 modes: Up, Down, Sharp, Humanizer, and Tempo. It may well function in Manual mode as well. Humanizer has extra controls in an effort to nail human-like vowels with ease. Identical to nearly all Boss pedals, AW-3 operates with a battery and a power supply.

It has a Check LED that signifies, whether or not the unit is activated or not and likewise displays the condition of the battery. Speaking of which, it’s situated within the small pocket on the lower part of the pedal and can be uncovered by loosening the thumbscrew.

On the whole, AW-3 has many helpful options however takes a while to essentially tailor it to your personal sound. You simply must keep searching and you’ll get there.

12. Fender FWP-1 Wah Pedal

It is a switchless design, which implies ease of use for a guitarist utilizing a multi-effects board. Its use is seamless and requires a step-on/step-off motion to initiate and interact. The clear tone buffer wah circuit ensures a pure guitar tone is emitted and it maintains signal degree in each bypass and wah mode.

This fundamental silver and black Fender wah pedal rock a snug non-slip treadle and a sturdy cast-metal chassis. Though bought individually, the Fender FWP Wah provides an AC Adapter and Battery possibility and offers versatile choices relying on your gig necessities.

Its snug non-slip rocker pedal permits for additional smoothing of the user-controlled filter sweeps. Its rugged cast-metal chassis and hard tension-adjustable pedal mechanism make this pedal sturdy on stage and within the studio.

The Fender’s FWP-1 Wah effects pedal delivers wealthy, traditional sounds with a clean constant feel and crystalline response. An inside switch allows both “classic” and “buffered” output, allowing higher flexibility in relation to the board placement of the unit itself and its relation to different effect pedals.

An on/off LED indicator tells us if the pedal is on or off. When it’s engaged, we should count on a top-notch wah effect for our guitar or every other instrument we run by it. With its sturdy casing, guitarists alike will be assured of its longevity, however, have the extra peace of mind realizing that this wah effects pedal comes with a 1-year guarantee.

This Wah pedal could have fundamental looks, however in relation to sound output and consistency, it outdoes itself. This, coupled with the guarantee and inside output switch permitting for higher flexibility, make it a really interesting tool indeed.

13. Morley VAI-1 Steve Vai Bad Horsie Wah

The Morley Steve Vai Bad Horsie Wah delivers Wah tone, Travel, and Q settings set to Steve Vai’s exact specs. Vai is a killer guitarist who’s performed with everybody from Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, and Ozzy, and now with the Morley Steve Vai Bad Horsie Wah, you’ll be able to take home his signature wah sound to your guitar or bass setup.

The Morley wah pedal is set to Steve Vai’s exact specs, which makes it straightforward to use with little or no adjustment obligatory. A highly visible LED indicator makes this Bad Horsie, one excellent purchase, with a simply accessible battery compartment and a prolonged guarantee for peace of mind.

The straightforward black and red design of this switchless treadle makes for straightforward operation, particularly when utilizing a number of effects pedals on a pedalboard. Ease of use and simplicity could be the apparent advantages, however precision-set wah-tones that emanate consequently, are bliss for any guitarist.

There is also one more model similar to this one to look into. The Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2 Contour wah pedal with contour wah mode, but we will cover that one some other time.

Conclusion

We predict what makes the wah such a lovely effect is musicians and listeners alike is that it turns the guitar right into an extra human-like instrument. We like to think about it from a singer’s standpoint, in that you have your voice that’s then formed by your mouth. Your mouth can alter the best way your voice sounds when it comes to EQ, shape, and punctuation.

The wah does all of this to your guitar and makes your guitar sound extra like a person singing. That is simply the tip of the iceberg too. The wah is able to make your guitar sound nothing like a person as well when it’s mixed with different effects.

For those who pick out the best way in terms of its sweep, voice, and different options like a volume knob, switchable boost, and even overdrive, then you’ll have a particularly personal and versatile effect at your feet.

If you are after some other pedals like compressors, reverbs, and delays, you can check them out on our website. Also if you have any questions in terms of this topic, let us know in the comment section below.