4 of a Kind - Compact Wah Pedals
I can’t say exactly why - but compact Wah pedals have been on my mind recently. I’ve long favoured the Mini CryBaby editions - where I have most of that variety - the original CBM95 Mini Wah, then the CBM535Q, and the CBM535AR Auto-Return featured here, in fact the only one I’m missing from that set is the Jimi Hendrix Mini - the JHM9 - which I will undoubtedly snag somewhat opportunistically at some stage.
So from this listing I currently only have 1 - obviously the CryBaby one, where all the others are wishlist targets for me. Three of these are roughly the same size - or around 133mm long, while the AMT is slightly shorter at 110mm. They each have slightly different features - but are all somewhat extended range in one way or another.
These are my key 4 :
- AMT Electronics WH-1 ’Japanese Girl’ JFET Wah - $139
- Dunlop CryBaby Q Mini CBM535AR Auto-Return Wah - $179
- Plutoneium Chi-Wah-Wah V2 Auto-Return Wah - $189
- Wilson Effects Mini Q-Wah - $225
Only the CryBabies are in regular circulation / easily available - each of the others can be a little more tricky to get your hands on - where I will have all eventually, but my very next and most likely imminent target is the Plutoneium Chi-Wah-Wah - I’ve been after that one for a while! So hopefully that will enter the collection relatively soon!
I really like the nature of the Auto-Return Wahs - in that you don’t need to click a footswitch to engage them - but any movement of the treadle induces the WAH. While you cannot do your Mick Ronson style cocked Wah thing with those pedals - for which I normally use one of my Auto-Wah’s in any case - Like say the Flower Pedals Hosta Wah-Filter!
Further details on each follow below!
AMT Electronics WH-1 'Japanese Girl' JFET Wah - $139
Controls - Filter Range : 0.2-1kHz / 0.3-1.5kHz / 0.4-2kHz.
This is the simplest and least granular oft the tree - but still sounds great, and is also the most compact one to boot. There is a smaller Mooer one - with fold-out stirrups, where I felt though that the 4 featured were my most likely candidates.
Dunlop CryBaby Q Mini CBM535AR Auto-Return Wah - $179
Controls - Boost Switch, Range Selector : 1. 270Hz-1300Hz / 2. 320Hz-1650Hz / 360Hz-1840Hz / 420Hz-2100Hz, Volume > +156dB, Q / Wah Intensity.
The only one I have to-date, and a solid workhorse for me - I love all the features on this pedal - and mostly play with the Boost engaged! This is the one I currently turn to the most - although I use a lot of Auto-wahs too. I still need to get the Hendrix JHM9 Mini variant - to complete that set!
Plutoneium Chi-Wah-Wah V2 Auto-Return Wah - $189
Controls - Level, Contour, Gain.
My next target for sure! This is a really neat spring-loaded auto-return style wah - with the 3 controls right on the facia. I've wanted one of these for a while - it's definitely the next one I'm going for here!
Wilson Effects Mini Q-Wah - $225
Controls - Growl : Bass & Gain, Mids. Internal Volume, and Sweep Range Trim-pots, also internal 6 x Dip-switch options.
This is another target for me - with no distribution in the UK as far as I'm aware - so not the easiest one to get a hold of. I featured the Mini Q-Wah one here, but I could also have featured the Mini Freaker Wah instead - still not 100% decided on which one of those I would go for - but it made more sense to feature the Q-Wah one within this selection!
