My wah blows...help me pick one that doesn't

[GabeN]

Last night I bought a Morley Dual Bass wah on a lark. I didn't try it out and I know I should have but lo and behold I bust it out and it isn't all I hoped it would be. When it switches on it totally muffles my tone and kills the grind of any distortion. All the way through the sweep it is muffled and only at the very end of the sweep does it kick in any little bit of 'zing'. I always feel that there should be more at the end of the treadle sweep. I keep pushing it all the way toe down and being disappointed. It only adds the slightest swishy filter sound and mostly just ends up making feedback when everything but the screechy highs gets filtered.

Did I get a lemon? Do they all sound like this?

I have a few options, I could take it back and swap it for a different morley (the local shop is a dealer) or I can get a refund and buy something else. Another option is possibly adjusting the pedal but I have no idea how it works or if it's even able to be adjusted. I love the way the Wilson Effects pedals sound but I'm not sure I love the switching technique they have. I really like the morley switchless design except I don't like the delay when it goes off. I'm also looking at the Power Wah and I'll see if I can try it out on monday.

What pedals do you guys use and how do they sound?

[andvari7]

The switchless design is perhaps my least favorite function of any wah pedal. It's why (aside from the fact that I didn't especially like the sound) I got rid of my Morley Pro Series II Bass Wah (the blue one), and got a Fulltone Clyde Deluxe. Great pedal; I can't say enough good things about it. Problems with that pedal are: it costs a ridiculous amount of money (I'm sorry, but I'm not paying $280 for one pedal, unless it's a HOG - but, as I say that, I know it comes with an expression pedal, and there's an optional footswitch, bringing the number of pieces up to three), it so very much does not have the spring-loaded, switchless design of the Morley (it uses a standard switch-at-the-toe design, except that Fulltone makes their own 3PDT switches - the one they invented - this is only a problem for those who actually like the 'switchless,' and it's a plus for me), and it's difficult enough to find one in Madison, WI (which is a city of over 200,000 people), so I can only imagine it's nigh impossible to do so in Alaska (which is, evidently, your locale). You could always just order one from Tonefactor, but you'd run into the inevitable problem with buying anything online: you can't try it before buying.

Otherwise, the standard is either the Dunlop CryBaby 105Q (the white one), or something from Wilson Effects. I'm looking at the Freaker Wah, but that's because I already own a Clyde Deluxe (as well as a 105Q), and want different wah sounds. But, because I've never, ever been sensible in my advice to anyone (which explains why nobody invites me to their weddings anymore), I'm sticking with the Fulltone, despite my previous complaints.

[Zappstorius]

I own the Morley DBW. Try the distortion after the wah, I found it's much better for a "metal" wah. If you're looking for a traditional "funky" wah with a big sweep, then you're better off returning the pedal and getting the 105Q IMO...not that the morley can't be funky, but it's defintley not the "wah wah" action that you'd hear in a funk album.

BTW the 105Q is switchless as well.

[soulplane83]

This is just my opinion, but I feel that all morley wahs are garbage. Try an EBS Wah One.

[OptimusPrime]

Mine doesn't suck. And it lights up.

[GabeN]

I guess I just have a love/hate with the pedal. I tried it out again and instead of approaching it with a funk mindset and more of a weird sounds mindset it sounds better. It doesn't do the porny wah very well but it has a weirdly voiced and very unique filter sound. I guess I just need another wah entirely to do funk.

[jbybj]

Originally Posted by Zappstorius

BTW the 105Q is switchless as well.

But you can internally adjust the delay off down to zero if you like.

JBY

[fuNKmaster83]

ever consider ARTEC APW3,5,7???? i bet it beats any wah out there... considering the price its a winner... get them while they are still cheap... my experience with cheap stuff was like that... when they are in the beginning of the production the quality is top notch... but then when the word gets out they usually put the price a bit up and put the quality a bit down...

[Sub5ound]

I can recommend that you stay away from the Snarling Dogs Bootzilla wah. I couldnt get a good tone on that thing to save it's life. The fuzz feature on it is excellent though.

[isher1992]

I've found you can pay less for a 535Q guitar wah and get pretty close to a 105.

I'm sorry, but I get turned off by people that say you have to use a bass wah with a bass, and you can't EVER use a guitar wah. Because they pretty much technically have the same basic functions, and with EQ'ing and adjusting the settings on the pedal, you can get about the same sound.

[Coop Soup]

I actually use a Morley Bad Horsie that I found at my old practice space. It sounds awesome in tandem with my Big Muff.

[Ralphdaddy]

A somewhat outside the box but really nice wah I've used for the past year or so is the Ibanez Weeping Demon wah pedal. It's got a nice range on it, it has a switch to accentuate the low end and it's well built and very sturdy. Give it a shot, not tons of money, but it works very well for me.

[isher1992]

Originally Posted by Ralphdaddy

A somewhat outside the box but really nice wah I've used for the past year or so is the Ibanez Weeping Demon wah pedal. It's got a nice range on it, it has a switch to accentuate the low end and it's well built and very sturdy. Give it a shot, not tons of money, but it works very well for me.

I've thought about switching my Hellbabe for that. I'm not sure though.

I wish I had bought a wah pedal when I knew more.