Wah as extra tone control

[Vox Populi]

My neighbor left a bunch of his guitar gear at my house today, so I decided that was reason enough to experiment around with it.

I normally don't play my bass through any effects. He had a crybaby wah in his bag, so I plugged it in. Remembering that Frank Zappa used a wah as a kind of "extra tone control" I decided to check out that possibility.

WOW! It worked great! There was one specific setting that just blew me away, it added so much punch and clarity to the tone of my Peavey Grind NTB. It achieved tones I can't get just by fiddling with the onboard tone control. I really liked what I heard. I'm going to have to get one of these now.

Anyone else do this?

 

[MuzikMan]

I have and it works well but you can achieve the same effect more easily with an active parametric mid control on your bass.

 

[Joe P]

That's why folks use this:

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Also - It's not really the same as your average parametric; it's a lowpass with resonance. I suppose you could simulate it with one parametric peaking channel, along with one lowpass - if you lined'em up right.

Joe

 

[chaosMK]

Ive tried to use my Wah in that manner, but it doesnt quite put out the right sound. Mind you, its a crybaby bass wah (not the best IMO).

 

[Vox Populi]

I have and it works well but you can achieve the same effect more easily with an active parametric mid control on your bass.

On any of the active basses I've played and owned, I've never gotten this tone with my mid controls. This is just a cooler tone to my ears.

Thanks Joe P for that link. That's a cool effect, I might have to pick one of those up.

 

[Jazz Ad]

The Jacques Trinity also has fix wah settings.