What is a Wah Pedal?
If you have followed rock music and are a guitar lover, you would probably know what a wah pedal is. The wah pedal has become incredibly popular since the 1960s, with the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Metallica using it in their legendary songs. Basically, the wah pedal is an effects pedal that you install with your electric guitar, and it modulates the frequencies in the signal produced by the guitar.
Every time you strum an electric guitar and a sound comes out, it is made up of different frequencies that work together and produce the sound that you hear. The wah pedal acts as a bridge between your guitar and the amplifier, and when you press on the pedal, the sound from the guitar gets changed and comes out of the speaker in a distinct way. It closely resembles a human saying ‘wah wah’, hence the name.
History of the Wah Pedal
The creation of the first-ever wah pedal is attributed to Bradley J. Plunkett at Warwick Electronics Inc. in November 1966. It was made using a breadboard circuit with a potentiometer on it, as well as a series of transistors that provided a boost to the mid-range frequencies of the sound created by the guitar. The entire system was housed inside the casing of an organ volume pedal by Vox Continental.
The discovery of the wah pedal was actually accidental. Brad Plunkett was tasked with taking apart the Vox AC-100 guitar amplifier and finding out how it can be produced at a lower cost. Upon dismantling the amplifier, he noticed the mid-range boost switch, which amplified the frequencies between 300 Hz and 5,000 Hz instantly.
Plunkett found a way to replace the costly switch with a much cheaper potentiometer, and while this completed the task he was given, he started playing around with different parts and came up with a circuit that would alter the guitar’s signal upon the turning of a knob. Although the circuit worked and produced a great effect, he needed to find a way for guitarists to be able to use it, since they can’t twist the knob themselves.
Hence, the Vox Continental organ volume pedal came into play, and by February 1967, the first wah pedal was released into the market by Thomas Organ Company. Brad Plunkett immediately filed for a patent for the wah pedal, which was approved in 1970.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Wah Pedal
The wah pedal is an interesting addition to your guitar equipment, and it goes a long way to produce a different and vibrant sound that you can use in your recordings, as well as when you are playing live. But choosing the right wah pedal is a challenging task, and these factors must be taken into account before you lock in a certain model for buying.
Inductor
The inductor is one of the most essential components of a wah pedal, and it assists in altering the sound by storing the charge and releasing it as soon as the current is cut off. There are numerous types of inductors found in different wah pedals, and each one of them helps in producing a different kind of sound.
Some of the common types of inductors used in wah pedals are halo, fasel, stack of dimes, TDK, and many others. You can find out the type of inductor by having a look at the product description, and also checking out the customer reviews to find out what kind of a sound is produced due to the presence of a particular inductor.
Central frequency
The central frequency is another key factor that you must think about while choosing the right wah pedal. Usually represented as Q, the central frequency is altered when you press on the wah pedal. Each wah pedal has a certain level for Q, which you can find if you explore the product descriptions of each wah pedal you come across.
Generally, the higher the level of Q, the more focused the sound will be on the wah pedal. Moreover, the lower the value, the wider the range of central frequency that you can alter.
Boost
Another very important factor that you need to look out for is the boost, which is the level of gain applied to the resonant frequency of the guitar sound produced by you. As you slowly press on the wah pedal, the boost allows the mid-range frequencies to go up slightly, and when you press it all the way, the boost will allow the frequencies to go up to the maximum level.
Therefore, you can choose a wah pedal that provides a high level of boost, as it will allow you to alter your sound to a great degree.
Q Curve
The Q curve is another key factor that comes into play when you have to choose between different models of wah pedals. The Q curve refers to the range of frequencies on which the boost feature is applied, as discussed in the previous section. If the Q curve is lower, then the wah pedal will boost a narrow range of frequencies when you press on it.
Moreover, if the Q curve has a higher value, the wah pedal will work on a higher range of frequencies, which will produce a more refined sound.
Best Wah Pedal FAQs
Q. Where should the wah pedal be placed on the effect signal chain?
A. Usually, the best guitarists place the wah pedal at the beginning of the effect signal chain, along with the compressor and volume pedals. The wah pedal is usually followed by the distortion or overdrive pedal.
Q. What is a true bypass wah pedal?
A. A true bypass wah pedal comes with a bypass system and a pre-installed buffer, which is activated when you turn the power on.
Q. How can I make the wah pedal sound better?
A. One way to enhance the sound of your wah pedal is to slide the pedal back and forth instead of holding it in one position and doing so much faster than you normally would.