Chrome Morley PWO vs Current Reissue PWO

[Metropolis_488]

OK, so I have a chrome Morley PWO and like the way it sounds, but I really hate having that giant ac cord on my pedalboard.

Has anyone here done a direct comparison between the two?

If so, how do they sound similar and how do they sound different?

I have done MANY searches and have not found a discussion comparing the two directly - so the DO A SEARCH POLICE can go scratch.

BTW, I tried the PBA-2 and thought it was awful, so I'm not interested in learning anything about more about it.

Thanks

[JanusZarate]

Really? You didn't like the PBA-2? I own one and love it. It replaced my PWO and Chrome PWO.

Anyhow... I have done a comparison of the current PWO and old chrome PWO. I'm surprised it didn't come up in your search, but then again, it's been a very long time since I talked about it.

The current PWO is actually more like the chrome Power Wah Boost (PWB). It features a boost circuit and can produce a nice lightly overdriven sound when cranked. In terms of audible sweep range, you'll find that the PWO has a nice wide range - not quite as wide as the old PWO and PWB (they go somewhat higher), but it's far less noisy. It is a bit differently voiced than the original, but still distinctly Morley, and it's pretty reminiscent of its ancestors, IMHO. Also, unlike the Dual Bass Wah, the current Power Wah is switched. The physical sweep range is small in comparison to the old chrome Morley wahs, but it is still far greater than what you'd find on those limited-movement Dunlop Crybaby pedals.

IMO, the current PWO is awesome on bass. Shrieking highs, great range, adequate bass retention (not any better than the old Power Wah pedals, to my ears). Run it with fuzz, and it rocks!

I have an old clip of the PWO here: www.soundclick.com/mysticboo

Regarding that clip: Towards the end, I kick an EHX Little Big Muff on, running before the PWO. I had the LBM on a pretty low fuzz setting, which is why it's not too intense. I didn't have a chance to record a more dramatic Cliff-Burton-esque tone before I sold the two pedals.

Anyhow... I'd highly suggest buying a PWO used, as they're one of the most affordable wah pedals out there ($70.00 new, and much cheaper used). That way, you could do your own personal comparison, and decide if the extra highs, physical sweep, and slight headroom advantage of the original PWO are worth it.

[Metropolis_488]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

Really? You didn't like the PBA-2? I own one and love it. It replaced my PWO and Chrome PWO.

Yeah, i have read that you love your PBA-2. The normal wah setting is completely useless IMO and the funk setting is only a little less useless, again IMO, when you are playing with a band. The wah effect is just not that pronounced with that pedal.

I think part of the reason why I think so is because the low-pass filter's volume is too high.

When using the PBA-2 it sounds like I am playing my bass and there is this barely audible wah effect being applied to the upper frequencies of each note. Again, my opinion - I'm not trying to bash your preferences at all and I appreciate your comments on the two PWOs.

The Dunlop 105Q would be perfect for me if it wasn't so funky sounding. I really like the way the low-pass filter works on that wah - as well as the switch-less functionality of it's operation.

I have been on a personal wah quest lately - pedals I have gone through in the last few weeks include the 105Q, PBA-2, an old Crybaby bass wah (CBG-100 I think), old chrome PWO, Snarling Dogs Bawl Buster, Vox Clyde re-issue and a Weeping Demon.

None of them have fully been what I am looking for, while many of them have had things that I really like about them. After I find the one that is right for me, I plan on doing a wah comparison and reporting my results. There was another wah shootout done a while back, but I didn't find the reviews particularly helpful (for me, not saying they were bad reviews). I think that guy liked his Fulltone the best - I have been trying to land a used one, but they keep going for about $220 on ebay...and I don't know if I really want to pay that much for a used wah.

I have been tempted to pull the trigger on an MSD EQ-2, but a nearly $400, even if I love it, that is ALOT of money for a wah pedal.

I almost grabbed a foxx fuzz wah on ebay recently...but decided I would try a few other pedals before I dove in.

Any other opinions on the two PWO's would be greatly appreciated.

[ErnieD]

just bought EBS Volume/Wah pedal. Bought it more for the volume control than wah effect. But what is the function of the low-pass h-pass filters on any of these pedals that I have and that I read about here. So if you can answer that here I'd appreciate it. BTW, its such a nice wah effect I am finding more tunes in my bands to use it in. Thanks, e.

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by ErnieD

just bought EBS Volume/Wah pedal. Bought it more for the volume control than wah effect. But what is the function of the low-pass h-pass filters on any of these pedals that I have and that I read about here. So if you can answer that here I'd appreciate it. BTW, its such a nice wah effect I am finding more tunes in my bands to use it in. Thanks, e.

In a nutshell... they let certain frequency ranges of your bass signal pass through the pedal unaffected, while "cutting" off others (more of a reduction, actually).

So a high-pass filter is good for letting higher frequencies pass through, and anything below the set cutoff frequency is significantly reduced. A low-pass filter works in reverse.

The exact cutoff frequencies and the general behaviors of the filter vary depending on the design.

[ErnieD]

Got it thanks.