When it comes to expressing yourself through your guitar, wah pedals are perhaps one of the best and most crucial devices. They are versatile, allow you to give your guitar a whole new sound, and are well-loved by guitar players throughout history.
If you’re looking to improve your playing with a volume wah pedal, or want to upgrade your current one, here are the top ten wah pedals that can help you achieve the wah effect.
Best Wah Pedals
1. Dunlop Cry Baby Mini 535Q Wah Pedal
Our absolute favorite wah pedal is the Dunlop Cry Baby. Coming in at under $200, this industry-loved wah pedal is impressive and versatile. Widely thought to be the best wah pedal, the Dunlop comes with a boost switch, range selector, Q knob, and volume knob, so you have complete control over the wah effect.
2. Vox V847-A Wah Pedal
While accessing the battery on this wah wah pedal can be a little challenging, don’t dismiss it. In fact, many guitarists like how closely the Vox resembles the classic wah sound. This pedal is great as a first wah pedal for those who have never used one before. It’s affordable, simple, and heavy enough that it won’t move around under your foot.
3. Electro-Harmonix Wailer Wah Pedal
As a super affordable wah wah pedal, you may not expect much from the Electro-Harmonix Wailer, but you’d be wrong. This pedal has a great tone and transitions smoothly from bass to treble. It’s lightweight which is great for those with a heavy pedal board.
4. Dunlop Cry Baby GCB-95 Wah Pedal
This wah pedal may not have any adjustment capabilities, but it’s an affordable pedal with smooth sound. Even if there’s a lot of distortion to compete with, the Cry Baby GCB-95 will cut through it all with impressive strength.
5. Morley Steve Vai Bad Horsey 2 Wah Pedal
Decked out with a contour switch, level, and contour controls, the Bad Horsey 2 allows for a lot of adjustments and is easy to use. The wah pedal has a great midrange and a strong sweep. Designed to last a long time and needing minimal maintenance, this wah wah pedal is great for those who want something easy to take care of.
6. Fulltone USA Clyde Standard Wah Pedal
This model has been used by rockstars like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, so there really isn’t much (other than the high price) that should keep you from considering it. It has resonance controls and true bypass with a switchable booster. The wah pedal itself is well built and has only been improved since it first debuted.
7. Hotone Soul Press Wah Pedal
This mid-price wah pedal is better than you may expect. It boasts several control options, a great tone, and a strong wah sound. With a powerful, full sweep, this wah pedal will certainly cut through other sounds. As a multipurpose pedal, it’s a great choice for anyone!
8. Xotic XW-1 Wah Pedal
Although this Xotic wah pedal is rather pricey, it’s a beautiful, vintage-style pedal that’s bound to impress. It offers lots of control over treble, bass, wah-Q, bias, and internal resonance frequency. Built from high quality materials, this Xotic pedal is one of the most versatile wah pedals.
9. Dunlop CAE Wah Pedal
This flexible wah pedal offers controls for boost levels, Q, and internal gain. It also has boost and Fasel kick switches and boasts tons of adjustability. While it isn’t one of Dunlop’s cheaper wah pedals, it’s undoubtedly good quality.
10. Boss PW-3 Wah Wah Pedal
If you’re looking for an analog, truly vintage wah pedal, this is the choice for you. It has vintage dials with an impressive tone, and two wah sounds to choose from. While everyone may not love the look of this wah pedal, it’s a great choice for those who want to use both past and present wah sounds with impressive tone.
Conclusion
There are tons of different wah pedals to choose from, making it possible to find the perfect pedal no matter your budget. By adding a wah pedal to your pedal board and learning how to use it, you can take your guitar playing to a whole new level, and further express yourself through your music.
