WHACKA-CHACKA-WAH! Get the most from your pedal
The wah-wah pedal is perhaps the most ubiquitous of all effects pedals, having been around since its invention in the mid 1960s. The original model emerged in 1966 under the Vox banner. Endorsed by jazz trumpeter Clyde McCoy (hence Fulltone’s ‘Clyde’ wah), it even included McCoy’s name and face on the baseplate, since it was originally developed to imitate the ‘crying’ tone produced by trumpeters’ mutes. It was never intended for guitar at all!
Due to The Beatles’ use of Vox amplifiers, Jennings Musical Instruments of Dartford in Kent was struggling to keep up with demand. The company therefore enlisted the Thomas
“This new tool allowed musicians to sweep through the treble, mid and bass frequencies by simply rocking their foot.”
Organ Company to manufacture Vox products in the USA, to both satisfy the US market and to tackle import costs. Thomas was allowed to independently design and manufacture Vox products and, while working on a new amp, made a revolutionary discovery: Midrange Resonance Boost. This was a switchable boost at three different mid frequencies. It became apparent, while dialling this control, that as it swept through these frequencies it produced a pronounced ‘wah-wah’ vocal effect.
The engineers replaced the three-position switch with a continuous pot, mounted it into a Vox organ volume pedal, and the wah-wah pedal as we know it was born. This new tool allowed musicians to sweep through the treble, mid and bass frequencies by simply rocking their foot. Vox coined the name ‘Cry Baby’ but failed to register it, hence the moniker later being adopted by Jim Dunlop.
The wah-wah has played a part in many classic recordings from a wide variety of
