Wah Advice

[CheapSuitG]

As a 90s kid, I dig the sound of wahs on solos like Janes Addiction and Pearl Jam. That said, I cannot for the life of me replicate those tones. Clearly it isn't me and needing to practice more, it is 100% in the wah.

I have modded 2 crybaby's I picked up for cheap with the Stinkfoot mods, one with the vocal mod and one without. It is nothing major, just changing out a couple values and making it true bypass.

Better but still lacking. The high end ice pick to the ear highs are gone but still thin.

I am picking up a broken crybaby on my way home from work today for $10, I want to gut it and use the enclosure for a PPCB build.

Any suggestions on which one?

 

[PunchySunshine]

For some serious flexibility I usually build the tearjerker. For the OG, vintage sound I go with the shamwah.

 

[mkstewartesq]

As a 90s kid, I dig the sound of wahs on solos like Janes Addiction and Pearl Jam. That said, I cannot for the life of me replicate those tones. Clearly it isn't me and needing to practice more, it is 100% in the wah.

I have modded 2 crybaby's I picked up for cheap with the Stinkfoot mods, one with the vocal mod and one without. It is nothing major, just changing out a couple values and making it true bypass.

Better but still lacking. The high end ice pick to the ear highs are gone but still thin.

I am picking up a broken crybaby on my way home from work today for $10, I want to gut it and use the enclosure for a PPCB build.

Any suggestions on which one?

I built the Tearjerker - frankly for me, being someone inexperienced with wahs, I found the tweakability a bit overwhelming and I could never get a sound I liked.

So I’m building another - I just received a Sham Wah board from Robert and I’m going to build it according to the modified version that @Guardians of the analog showed in this thread.

Mike

 

[drgonzo1969]

I am on a similar wah journey. What are you guys going to use for inductors?

 

[gonzo]

Those guys used the pretty standard only Dunlops you could buy back in the day. You'd be surprised how much you can change the sound of a wah, just by readjusting the the max the pot reaches on the toothed foot mechanism. Just need a screwdriver. Completely changes the sweep. But, I know. You want to make something.

 

[mkstewartesq]

I am on a similar wah journey. What are you guys going to use for inductors?

For my Sham-wah/McCoy build, I'll likely try a Halo inductor as suggested in the build report. I used a Mammoth ME-6 in my current Tearjerker - while I don't love the sound of the Tearjerker, I don't know that that is the inductor's fault, so on my last StompBoxParts order, I bought another ME-6 just to be safe because (1) they are still an amazing value for the money and (2) since Mammoth went out of business before I got into the hobby in early 2023, who knows whether and for how much longer these inductors will even be available?

 

[Nostradoomus]

https://forum.pedalpcb.com/threads/wah-inductors-no-hype-just-measurements.24076/ this is good info, and a super deep dive courtesy of sticky

 

[Guardians of the analog]

I built the Tearjerker - frankly for me, being someone inexperienced with wahs, I found the tweakability a bit overwhelming and I could never get a sound I liked.

So I’m building another - I just received a Sham Wah board from Robert and I’m going to build it according to the modified version that @Guardians of the analog showed in this thread.

Mike

Some food for thought, the Q resistor I ended up changing. 33k is a value used on modern vox and crybaby wahs, but it has a more broad sweep. For a more vocal sweep make R12 100k like some of the original vintage units. I changed mine to 100k and it's got a much more vocal sounding sweep now. Try both, if 100k is too much for you then try 68k.

 

[mkstewartesq]

Some food for thought, the Q resistor I ended up changing. 33k is a value used on modern vox and crybaby wahs, but it has a more broad sweep. For a more vocal sweep make R12 100k like some of the original vintage units. I changed mine to 100k and it's got a much more vocal sounding sweep now. Try both, if 100k is too much for you then try 68k.

Thanks! Adding that to my build notes.

Mike

 

[comradehoser]

I just got a used BBE Ben Wah, which is the ShamWah. The effort sourcing, finagling, and building the parts and shell landed the project on the wrong side of the "DIY vs. NIB" plot for me, especially as I'm a very occasional Wah user. And I could just use that time and effort to build yet another dirt pedal! hahaha...

Shamwah is one of the best names of all PPCB boards.

 

[jcpst]

Another option, you can use a 100k trim in R12. I use the trimmit! adapters to keep it clean.

 

[mkstewartesq]

Another option, you can use a 100k trim in R12. I use the trimmit! adapters to keep it clean.

Great idea! I actually just bought several Trimmits from Robert in my last order – not because I specifically needed them for anything but because I figured they would be useful if I ever did need them. And now you have identified a good first use case. Thanks!

 

[PunchySunshine]

I am on a similar wah journey. What are you guys going to use for inductors?

Wah Inductor ME-6

Top Quality Parts for Guitar Effects Pedals and DIY Music Devices. Knobs, Pots, Switches, Kits, LEDs, Enclosures, Jacks, Wire, Resistors, Capacitors, Semiconductors

stompboxparts.com

 

[Flying]

Some information on the inductor types used in crybabies: https://delicious-audio.com/the-wah-pedal-inductor-the-secret-to-your-favorite-wah-tone/

I have a Budda Bud-Wah, and I’m going to replace the Hot Potz II with a ICAR taper pot. My hope is that the sweep will be more progressive and I won’t have a dead area at the heel down end of the travel. However I have read contradictory things about these different pot tapers, so once it arrives I’ll post my thoughts.

 

[Feral Feline]

Whenever I order anything from SBP, I always tack on an ME-6.

Hopefully, SBP will continue in the path of Mammoth and maintain a supply of the ME-6.




To get those Janes Addiction tones, clearly the Supeream Dame Navarroeho model needs to be traced...

Never heard of Suppereem before this thread, and I don't know what that company is/produces/sells — but I'd rip that red pad off right away, 'cause I think it's fugly and clashes with the Candy Apple Red finish.

I really like the CAR finish on the treadle.

 

[mkstewartesq]

Whenever I order anything from SBP, I always tack on an ME-6.

Hopefully, SBP will continue in the path of Mammoth and maintain a supply of the ME-6.




To get those Janes Addiction tones, clearly the Supeream Dame Navarroeho model needs to be traced...

Never heard of Suppereem before this thread, and I don't know what that company is/produces/sells — but I'd rip that red pad off right away, 'cause I think it's fugly and clashes with the Candy Apple Red finish.

I really like the CAR finish on the treadle.

Supreme is basically a fast fashion/streetwear/hype brand - people (including, once, unfortunately me with my daughter) lineup around the block outside their store because they do daily drops of exclusive streetwear merchandise and shit like that. Way overpriced and you’re buying the shit to be seen in it, not because it’s particularly of any quality.

So if this pedal is real, it’s basically like Dave Navarro releasing a signature pedal with a really expensive Hot Topic or Forever 21.

 

[Feral Feline]

Thanks for the 411. I saw from a review of it that it was expensive, now I know why.

I'll definitely be looking for a broken one, down the road.


I enjoyed Jane's Addiction in my youth and had a number of records/CDs, but I never got into Pearl Jam enough to spend $ on a PJ album — only listened to them if they were on the radio, on someone else's stereo/car-unit, etc.

Can you describe the Wah Tone for PJ or provide a vid-link? I'm become curious about it.

 

[CheapSuitG]

Even Flow is a great example, especially during the call and response with the vocals and guitar.
He also uses it as a fixed was for some other parts.

Thanks for the 411. I saw from a review of it that it was expensive, now I know why.

I'll definitely be looking for a broken one, down the road.


I enjoyed Jane's Addiction in my youth and had a number of records/CDs, but I never got into Pearl Jam enough to spend $ on a PJ album — only listened to them if they were on the radio, on someone else's stereo/car-unit, etc.

Can you describe the Wah Tone for PJ or provide a vid-link? I'm become curious about it.