I think I actually figured out a new idea tonight!

[GBlekas]

I have been working on something, on and off, for a few years now and had the break through I have been looking for tonight! http://musictoyz.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

This idea came to me initially as a final project in electronics for a friend of mine.

Here's the deal. I added an oscillator circuit to a wah pedal along with some other tricks so that the wah can be used as the "Jack Butler Got His Kick Ass Wah" or on automatic. In automatic mode the wah does it's thing at what ever rate you set it at. There is a control to adjust the speed of the auto-wah function. While it is an auto-wah it is not like anything that came before it as far as I know. Most of the auto-wahs I have seen were op-amp based filters and not actually made utilizing the classic wah circuit. If I am wrong let me know!

OK, so there is a toggle under the foot rocker and by the speed control to turn it from auto to wah modes. There is another toggle, also under the foot rocker, by the input jack to adjust to two different Q settings. I think both settings to be useful.

I am in the process of finishing this thing up and will post pix of it along with sound clips for you all to hear.

This thing is off the hook! http://musictoyz.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

#1 also has a vintage TDK inductor and board that has been spec'ed out by yours truly.

Anyway, I am kind of pumped up by this as it's different from just about anything else I have seen or heard.

Regards,
George

[decay-o-caster]

Neat! And congratulations - it's so cool when you break the back on a problem that's been driving you nuts for a while!

[Vinetto]

Congrats on your success, but take it from an old guy in that sometimes it's better not to tip your hand too much or too quickly.

[jfromel]

looking forward to pics, sounds fun

[RC2]

George, this really sounds interesting any pictures or updates.

[Shiny McShine]

This is similar to something I've been thinking about for a while. I'd like to see a wah that had some sort of pattern programmed into it that was somewhat random sounding sort of like talking. I'd like the sweep to be adjustable so that I could have it sort of sounding like the mom on the Peanuts cartoons on it's own. Then when you play, you would get this talking thing going on without working the foot pedal. I believe that there would be many happy accidents as my phrasing was randomly affected by it.

The key is that the pattern needs to be fairly long so the repeat doesn't seem obvious. Maybe an mp3 recording could control it and run for a couple of minutes before repeating?

The pattern would be something like this as measured from the bottom of the sweep 2 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 1 3 0 1 2 5 4 ... etc. See how it's fluctuating in a very random way (I know I'm belaboring this but I don't want it to sound mechanical or predictable).

[todd richman]

George, that sounds very cool. It seems like it might be something along the lines of the E-H Queen Triggered Wah which was the coolest Wah, albeit biggest wah, I have ever used. It allowed an auto setting alone or in conjunction with the treadle operated manual wah. Super thick, sweet wah tones.

[GBlekas]

This is similar to something I've been thinking about for a while. I'd like to see a wah that had some sort of pattern programmed into it that was somewhat random sounding sort of like talking. I'd like the sweep to be adjustable so that I could have it sort of sounding like the mom on the Peanuts cartoons on it's own. Then when you play, you would get this talking thing going on without working the foot pedal. I believe that there would be many happy accidents as my phrasing was randomly affected by it.

The key is that the pattern needs to be fairly long so the repeat doesn't seem obvious. Maybe an mp3 recording could control it and run for a couple of minutes before repeating?

The pattern would be something like this as measured from the bottom of the sweep 2 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 1 3 0 1 2 5 4 ... etc. See how it's fluctuating in a very random way (I know I'm belaboring this but I don't want it to sound mechanical or predictable).


I think Zach Vex might have made something like you described already.
Maybe called the "Seek Wah" or something like that. I have never heard one but it does look like a very cool idea!
Anybody here get to try that ZVEX pedal out?

What I have here is very musical and an interesting addition to a wah circuit....I think...:huh Basically you can use the wah as a wah and this includes two seperate Q settings of my chosing. Then the added circuitry to do the wah'ing for you at different speeds is where it gets kind of interesting. The way I have the light set it come on slowly, in slow speed, and thus slightly different from what you are used to hearing with a wah using your foot. Fast speed is almost like a vibe but not quite. I think you have to hear it to know what I mean as it'll get you to turn your head and think "what the?" To me the added circuitry seems like a logical progression to a wah circuit. I am not looking to dominate the world with this device as much as I am looking to come up with something a bit different enough to have a little extra something cool to pull out of my bag of tricks when I am playing.

With the Holidays and all I have not gotten to the sound clips yet but should shortly. Sorry for the delay.

Regards,
George

[GBlekas]

George, that sounds very cool. It seems like it might be something along the lines of the E-H Queen Triggered Wah which was the coolest Wah, albeit biggest wah, I have ever used. It allowed an auto setting alone or in conjunction with the treadle operated manual wah. Super thick, sweet wah tones.


Hey Todd,

Hope the Holiday season is treating you well!

I checked the E-H Queen Triggered Wah out and while I have never played one it's an op-amp based wah. This should sound different from what I am up to since I started with a vintage wah circuit to begin with. Somebody said that Voodoo Labs makes an Auto Wah also but, once again, I think this is based upon filtering and not an inductor base wah circuit.

I have one final tweak to do to limit the current draw of the oscillator and then the first pedal is going out to a few friends to check out. I am also going to be building the auto into a cocked wah pedal. This is something similar to the Keeley Nova wah except laid out like this.

http://i44.tinypic.com/27xh2e9.jpg

This one is actually an order from a customer and not something I will be building many of.

Pix of the finished wah to follow.

Happy Holidays everybody!

George

[Shiny McShine]

Sorry for the delay.

Regards,
George

It's cool; I'm actually looking for a delay right now.

[todd richman]

George, thanks for the holiday wishes and same to you. Please keep us updated on this new development. I like the idea a lot. The cocked wah project sounds interesting as well. I also wish someone would make a sturdy and maybe smaller version of the old E-H Queen Triggered Wah.

[GBlekas]

I stayed up until 4am last night messing with this pedal.
I took a few pix that I will post later.

I did a goofy little clip of the pedal for you to hear.
This is a cheap Fender Tele knockoff into the pedal into an Allen amp done late night. Nothing fancy but gives the idea of what this thing sounds like at moderate speed.

Here is where the sound clip is located.

www.pedalworx.com/public_html/sounds/Les_Wah.wav (http://www.pedalworx.com/public_html/sounds/Les_Wah.wav)


Happy New Year,

George

[decay-o-caster]

That sounds like big fun! :)

[jackaroo]

really cool

[GBlekas]

One idea = two pedals

http://i42.tinypic.com/2vnjoya.jpg
Cocked/auto wah

Here is what they look like


http://i39.tinypic.com/1535lau.jpg
wah/auto wah

[todd richman]

George-that sounds awesome-very classic sounding pedal that would work well for classic bluesy rock and swampy southern rock too. I want one please.

I relistened to the clip and this is an amazing pedal! It does a cool wah/envelope filter/tremolo/leslie/reverse Jimi thing all in one-very expressive, vocal and I really, really want one-hint!!

[RC2]

George after listening to the clip I cant wait to get my hands on the cocked/auto wah. Thats the first auto wah I've heard that actually has the vowel tones like a classic wah, thats an amazing pedal.:AOK

[popinvasion]

Now you just need to get partnered up with someone who knows how to market and make a product have buzz. Its what I am involved in everyday when I work. Great products mean nothing without everything that actually makes the product a product.

[todd richman]

Is the clip of the cocked wah box or the rocker pedal wah? I though it was the rocker pedal?

Ah sunset, George is already well known and markets his creations through Pedalworx! He has some great OD, fuzz and boost pedals as well.

[splatt]

fwiw:
i got a lotta use out of a boss pedal
--- aw3? aw2? aw1?, can't remember, though it's here, somewhere ---
that featured a continuously selectable blend between
auto-wah (triggered by the input ampl.-envelope, of course)
&
an lfo-triggered sweep.
it seemed to allow for very dynamic filter movement,
but.....
i don't think it sounded as "fat" as your one does,
george.

dt / spltrcl

[alschnier]

wow. that is really cool...

[GBlekas]

I am working on a video to show this Cool Machine in action.
I only need to figure out how to edit and I will post is ASAP.

Regards and thanks!

George

[MightyGuru]

That thing sounds wild.

[GBlekas]

Just got this link for some clips of the Cool Machine.
This is of the Cocked wah/auto wah while the previous clip was a wah configuration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...0-x0&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VED6gXc0-x0&feature=related)

I ended up adding an LED to the outside of the pedal so that you can see how fast the oscillator is set.

On top of that if the LED is blinking the pedal will be in auto wah mode and if the LED is not blinking then you will be in the wah setting as soon as you kick the pedal on.

Thanks to Russ C. for that idea!

I am stuggling with video editing so my video clips are in limbo.

Regards,
George

[todd richman]

George, the Cool Machine sounds, well...Cool! That demo is spot on tonewise. Is this the blue pedal with the MXR style rubber knob cover on your website?

[Richards]

Geia sou Georghous!! Orea Phoni!! Great clip and fantastic playing!! Pedal sounds unique thats for sure, and I buy one in a heartbeat!! Efharisto re manga!! Nik

[GBlekas]

:>)

The clip is of the #1 Cool Machine in the blue box with the large MXR style knob.
This is considered the "Cocked Wah" version.
I am building this circuit in wah shells as well.

Regards,
George

[quinnamps]

Hey George,

Great idea. I have in fact seen it done before but not in a commercial product or as a mod to existing wah circuits.
I can tell you for certain that a mutronII envelpe follower circuit paired with the wah filtering circuit is SICK! I have actually done that one as well but again have never seen a commercial product employing anything close to it.
If you ever find the time to work on something like that keep me on your list. I have no time to even think about building pedals for commercial or personal use but if someone clever came up a with a product based on that I would probably be first in line for it.
None the less though a cool auto wah you got there.

[todd richman]

George, I want one that sounds identical to the youtube "Who Knows" video clip in a wah shell. Please PM me with pricing and ordering info. Thanks...

[RC2]

I just got the Auto / Cocked Wah pedal #1 last week and I have to say this is the coolest pedal I've gotten in years. A real true vintage wah tone in an auto wah, what a brilliant idea.
Thanks again for building it George :AOK

[GBlekas]

Hey George,

Great idea. I have in fact seen it done before but not in a commercial product or as a mod to existing wah circuits.
I can tell you for certain that a mutronII envelpe follower circuit paired with the wah filtering circuit is SICK! I have actually done that one as well but again have never seen a commercial product employing anything close to it.
If you ever find the time to work on something like that keep me on your list. I have no time to even think about building pedals for commercial or personal use but if someone clever came up a with a product based on that I would probably be first in line for it.
None the less though a cool auto wah you got there.


Insightful post.

You know I never found that anything called an auto wah to actually sound like a wah at all to me. I realize they are auto filters but they actually sounded like filters to me too. That being said I think Jerry Garcia probably used them best.

Could you tell me where a MutronII and wah could be heard in a song?
You said it sounded "sick" and that sounds interesting!

[GBlekas]

Two very cool videos playing through the "Cool Machine"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...etE4&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILTJ76MetE4&feature=related)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...EAOw&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3Lnui6EAOw&feature=related)

[todd richman]

George, I still like the Who Knows demo the best-the sound on that one is so true to the original tone. If I get a Cool Machine in a vintage wah shell, how will it operate-will I have to rock the treadle like a regular wah to recreate the Who Knows timbres or just click it on?

[Wilson Effects]

I stayed up until 4am last night messing with this pedal.
I took a few pix that I will post later.

I did a goofy little clip of the pedal for you to hear.
This is a cheap Fender Tele knockoff into the pedal into an Allen amp done late night. Nothing fancy but gives the idea of what this thing sounds like at moderate speed.

Here is where the sound clip is located.

www.pedalworx.com/public_html/sounds/Les_Wah.wav (http://www.pedalworx.com/public_html/sounds/Les_Wah.wav)


Happy New Year,

George

Nice!! Sounds like a mix between a Vibe and a wah even though it's not! Good tones! Good Work!!!

[GBlekas]

George, I still like the Who Knows demo the best-the sound on that one is so true to the original tone. If I get a Cool Machine in a vintage wah shell, how will it operate-will I have to rock the treadle like a regular wah to recreate the Who Knows timbres or just click it on?


Hi Todd,

The Cool Machine works in either auto or manual mode so you can use it either way.

If you see the LED blinking you know that you will be kicking on in auto mode. The LED blinks to the speed set by the speed knob.
So, if the LED is off and you kick the pedal on you know that you are in wah mode.
The modes are set by a toggle switch located under the rocker pedal on the input side of the pedal.

There are also 2 distinct Q settings.
There is a second toggle under the rocker pedal located on the output side of the pedal.
I actually like both setting and have gotten zero complaints about it.
There is about a 50/50 split on some liking the higher and others liking the lower setting.

The wah is controlled by the rocker pedal and the speed of the auto function is controlled by the speed pot which is located on the side of the pedal.

The Who Knows video was done in auto mode.

Feel free to email me anytime at GBlekas at PedalworX.com

Regards,
George

[GBlekas]

Nice!! Sounds like a mix between a Vibe and a wah even though it's not! Good tones! Good Work!!!


Thank you! :dude


George

[todd richman]

Thanks George-I will be in touch soon to order. I need that Who Knows tone-it is embedded on my mind since I watched the video.

[GBlekas]

Just got the boards in and here is what the first two look like.

http://i43.tinypic.com/2w658h5.jpg (http://i43.tinypic.com/2w658h5.jpg)




Labor intensive pedal but worth it in the end!


Regards,
George

[decay-o-caster]

Folks - I am here to tell you that ordering from George is a major pleasure. I've never been so well communicated-with by anyone in the boo-teek music world as I have been by George, and I really can't wait to get my hands on this pedal. That "Who Knows" clip definitely got embedded in my skull... :)

[decay-o-caster]

I have been working on something, on and off, for a few years now and had the break through I have been looking for tonight! http://musictoyz.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gif
Regards,
George

I just came into possession of Cool Machine CW #02 (Cocked Wah version) about a half an hour ago, and happened to have the time to put into testing it out.

Quick review: Baby oh baby! :crazy :love:

More later. Clips later...

:)

[muddy]

if you could figger out a way to switch to auto mode, in the way those digitech tonecore peds have a heavy/light switching system (like their leslie ped allows you to switch speeds by lightly tapping the on/off footpad), this ped would make MUCH more sense, performance wise. for me, i'd really want to be able to play the wah in the normal fashion, & be able to activate the auto mode on the fly (with the same tread) at a fast, bubbling clapton/cream-like speed, like more for punctuation. know what i mean? otherwise, there really wouldn't be any compelling reason to have both features in 1 ped, not for me, in any event. not if you have to stop & bend down to switch it. don't get me wrong, it's still a really kool-O idea, but players would HAVE to get one if it did what i'm suggesting. it'd almost be like having a pedal orgasm!


ml

[decay-o-caster]

Well, mine is the cocked wah version, so it's not a regular wah to begin with. I figured I have a wah I like already, and I'll use that if I want the regular wah thing. But I've been waiting for a cocked wah pedal for quite some time (I know they're out there, but I've never found one), and the auto-wah is even cooler. So for me, it's a different problem than the one you want to solve. For wah I'll use my Picture Wah; for cool I'll used the Cool Machine.

[GBlekas]

if you could figger out a way to switch to auto mode, in the way those digitech tonecore peds have a heavy/light switching system (like their leslie ped allows you to switch speeds by lightly tapping the on/off footpad), this ped would make MUCH more sense, performance wise. for me, i'd really want to be able to play the wah in the normal fashion, & be able to activate the auto mode on the fly (with the same tread) at a fast, bubbling clapton/cream-like speed, like more for punctuation. know what i mean? otherwise, there really wouldn't be any compelling reason to have both features in 1 ped, not for me, in any event. not if you have to stop & bend down to switch it. don't get me wrong, it's still a really kool-O idea, but players would HAVE to get one if it did what i'm suggesting. it'd almost be like having a pedal orgasm!


ml


How would you lay that one out?
Would it have two stomp switches?
What about the speed and cocked wah pots? (where would they go?)

Or are you talking about doing this in the wah layout?

[muddy]

call me. it might be too difficult to explain here. i'll pm you my new #.


ml

[Boggs]

That sounds really cool! Congratulations, George!