"Fixed Wah" via EQ pedal?

[Agitator]

I've been intrigued with the Keeley Nova Wah (fixed wah pedal) as well as the Wilson Parked Wah, but they're both kind of pricey (especially the Nova).

Since wah-wah is (I think) a variable band-pass filter that cuts out the highs and lows, is it possible to get a good sounding "fixed wah" pedal using a simple EQ pedal?

It seems like most people use their EQ pedals as boosts. Has anyone gotten a good "fixed wah" sound out of one?

[6stringgrind]

Definitely. I've done it with a Dano Fish n' Chips. Can't remember what the setting was, though. I'm sure someone with a greater knowledge of frequencies will be along to help you shortly.

[drbob1]

Um, not really, no. The wah is a resonant circuit, which means that there is an emphasis at the chosen frequency, but the frequencies above it fall off at a rate of 12 dB PER OCTAVE. An EQ pedal can do emphasis to a limited extent, but the drop of is 12 dB total, the next band up is only dropped 12 dB from baseline, too, not 24 dB and so on. So it is a different sound although sometimes you can get close. Why not build the BYOC version? Much less expensive...

[bandofthieves™]

Why not pop the rack gear loose on a wah and tune the pot with your finger? Most,myself included rarely use more than 2 or 3 settings..:idea
Clarify.Might even raise the on/off switch a bit for less effort with switching.All is reversible.Great way to find out if you really want that kind of pedal.

[BootsElectric]

yeah they can get a bit expensive.

try this one http://www.customguitargear.com/cgg-jekekowah.html (http://www.customguitargear.com/cgg-jekekowah.html)

it may be cheaper

[tjmicsak]

The Keeley Nova is a real wah circuit, as is the Jekeko Pedal with Fasel inductor available from customguitargear.com.

The Jekeko is less cost but has fewer features.

The BYOC is not a true wah circuit but is opamp based so there are differences... however I would be curious to see if the BYOC could tolerate being behind a buffer or fuzz and other pedals as opposed to the real wah devices that will need to be first before buffers having the same temperament as a wah does in those situations.

[rob2001]

It won't be exactly like a cocked wah but ya, it's doable.

[Darkburst]

Why not get an old Dunlop Q Zone or MXR KFK Q Zone?

[bandofthieves™]

Why not get an old Dunlop Q Zone or MXR KFK Q Zone?
Those are not cool,no bragging rights,no wait list,and under $200..:D:hide2

[62Tele]

Really love the Robotalk 2 for this. You can set one side for a fixed wah sound and the other for full on quack. Very functional, musical and versatile piece.

[digiTED]

I just got a brand new Wilson Parked Wah directly from Kevin for ~$100. Sounds awesome and will take an expression pedal to make it like a traditional boutique-voiced wah.

Never had any luck with using EQ for that hollow, nasally thing. EQs have their own voice due to their different design.

If you have a flanger that allows a zero rate, yet another take on that nasally thing can be pretty cool. I've found great sounds like these with the Stereo Electric Mistress, the MXR gray box, and my current fave, the Strymon Orbit.

[kikbut]

I do a similar thing with my subdecay money shot. its pretty reasonable used. you can set the high and low frequencies and and the resonance so that you can get only one tone out of it. I use it to get a little bit of a dull, sit in the background sound.

[Rena Rune]

A pedal to do the effect that a wah pedal does when you leave it stationary? Seriously? That said it'd be very useful as part of a multi-fx unit.

[digiTED]

A pedal to do the effect that a wah pedal does when you leave it stationary? Seriously? That said it'd be very useful as part of a multi-fx unit.

Sure; it's a great sound to some ears (like mine!) and it's tedious to get it with a rocker pedal that can be bumped away from the sweet spot.

I like this kind tone for slow grinding riffs like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly1TYahH9wg

[Agitator]

Why not get an old Dunlop Q Zone or MXR KFK Q Zone?
Thanks for the recs. I didn't know there were "normal" versions of this. 8-)

Although for $100, it looks like the Wilson might be the best bet, since it allows you to plug an expression pedal in.

Thanks for the clarification from everybody about the differences between wah and straight EQ.

[dudelove]

Are there any fixed wah pedals that are the same size as the MXR Q Zone, cheap, and true bypassed? I don't want the buffer on the Q Zone to mess with my fuzz. Or is there a way to true bypass the Q Zone?

[SpaceFlunky]

Why not get an old Dunlop Q Zone or MXR KFK Q Zone?


i love my Q zone! It IS my lead tone.

There is also the Jekeko, i cant remember what it goes for tho.

One time my buddy told me of this one fixed wah pedal that he found. The clips sounded awesome! It was like in an orange enclosure with a script font. I can not remember the name of it. im gonna have to email him to find out.

[Tubbs]

Subdecay Prometheus does this with the depth knob fully counter clockwise.

just turn the freq knob to taste

[drolling]

Drbob said it best; A wah will cause certain notes to "pop" out, depending where the treadle's set - I've had other pedals that'll do that, but they've all been filters/fuzzes, or fuzzes with filters

I've got a pile of EQ pedals (MXR 6 band, BOSS GE-7, Antelope Morning Dew & a BJFe Sea Blue, among others) and none of them can come close - not even remotely

[aawshred]

para eq by empress does this

[Agitator]

para eq by empress does this
I was wondering about whether a para eq vs graphic would do a better job, but it turns out that one of the fine denizens of this board has offered to trade me a KFK Q Zone so I'll be rockin' out like Slayer before too long. Thanks again to everyone for the input.

[timmy2tone]

I've been watching this thread, trying to decide if I should fight for one of the Q zone's on ebay ... I ran across the Rocktron Sweet Spot (Brand New). It doesn't have a level control (like the QZone), but it does have a mix knob, to mix the effected and non-effected tones. Interesting!

[SUPERMUFF1]

+1 for the q zone i almost always have it on for leads :aok

[SpaceFlunky]

i love my Q zone! It IS my lead tone.

There is also the Jekeko, i cant remember what it goes for tho.

One time my buddy told me of this one fixed wah pedal that he found. The clips sounded awesome! It was like in an orange enclosure with a script font. I can not remember the name of it. im gonna have to email him to find out.






FOUND IT!

its kinda pricey tho.

http://www.logansoundinc.com/