Whether your intro to the wah pedal was “ Voodoo Child” by Jimi Hendrix or “Bulls on Parade” by Rage Against The Machine, odds are it made quite an impression on you as a listener. And if you’re a guitarist, too, probably even more so. The unmistakable sounds of a wah pedal can add bite and character to your guitar parts and make your guitar solos even better. What Are The Best Wah Pedals? Brad Plunkett continued to fiddle and with his pile of capacitors, wires, and resistors and asked a friend to plug them into a guitar he had and strum a few chords. Whilst Brad Plunkett turned the potentiometer knob, and his friend continued to strum; the sound wailed out with that now renowned wah-wah sound. Plunkett knew that any guitarist would not be keen on having to turn the potentiometer whilst playing. He scanned the room and found a Vox Continental Organ volume pedal, which he stripped apart and wired a 9-Volt battery and the potentiometer inside it, and began to use it as a pedal, fluctuating the pitch using his foot. When the pedal was depressed, it filtered out the notes played, at a lower frequency, and when the guitarist's foot was lifted, the notes were filtered at a higher frequency. This was the birth of the rudimentary wah-effects pedal. The LED’s on the side provide a clear indication of the selected mode, whilst another LED signals the on and off mode. The Wah pedal is simply an effects pedal for guitars. It is one of many pedals that provide various effects for guitar players who want to ramp up the sound of their guitar, or merely change the resultant tone. Pedals are often used together in a sequence but can be used individually too. You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Invented in the ‘60s and popularised by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Kirk Hammett and Jerry Cantrell — wah pedals are adored for the articulation and nuance that they provide to guitar players. In fact, you’d probably have a tough time finding guitarists without one on their pedalboards!

Then they’ve added a volume boost which amps it up by +15dB. Last but not least of their additional features, is the Auto-Return function, which automatically engages when the guitarist puts a well-placed foot on the treadle. This great sounding wah FX-pedal is the ultimate in versatility and increased function. This treadle can be Powered by the in-house Dunlop ECB003 AC Adapter, or a single 9-Volt Battery if so preferred. Given the relatively simple nature of the wah effect, there’s a dazzling array of options available when it comes to the best wah pedals. Yet, although the mechanics of wahs have remained largely unchanged over the years, recent times have seen the bulky, weighty enclosure trimmed down to produce a number of mini guitar effects pedal formats. Originally named for trumpet player Clyde McCoy due to his iconic “wah” sound, the Vox McCoy wah pedal was created in 1967. Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, among other famous guitarists, used it extensively. Fulltone took this concept into the modern age and made their Clyde wah pedal series. Pros So you thought Dunlop was only for tennis players and tires? Well think again, as Dunlop is a name you are likely to hear or see pop up quite often when it comes to guitar pedals, and our first wah pedal being reviewed, is no exception. Although, the two Dunlop entities are completely unrelated. Dunlop Manufacturing was founded by Jim Dunlop Snr. in 1965 and went from a small home-based operation, to one of the largest manufacturers of musical accessories and effects. Kostelanetz, Richard; Rocco, John M. (1997). The Frank Zappa companion: four decades of commentary. Schirmer Books. p.94. ISBN 0-02-864628-2.

This is one of the iconic wah pedals that you can find in the market and has been around since 1966, but the latest versions have modern features. It is designed with a metal chassis, which makes it a durable choice, and the use of metal actually improves the aesthetics of the pedal. Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1sted.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p.375. ISBN 1-904041-96-5. For instance, you can add mods to the pedal, so you create the true bypass (you can also add the LED indicator lights). It has a metal construction, which means it will last a long time. The pedal consists of the pot and a basic circuit board, so nothing will break, and it will probably last for decades.There are a number of famous brand names associated with musical instruments like guitars, and the music industry and the Wah Pedal is no different. You will find them being manufactured by some of the best names in music, and here are a few to look out for.