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(More customer reviews)I recently completed a quest to find the best wah pedal. I first purchased a Dunlop Crybaby 535q (returned), then a Fulltone Clyde Deluxe (returned), and now the Vox Big Bad Wah (keeper!).
The Dunlop 535q has an attractive price and a versatile/classic wah effect, but I was struck by how little pedal travel it has and how the on/off button interferes with the smooth operation of the pedal. The reason I returned it however was because it really sucked the tone out of my rig. The presence was gone from my signal, even with the wah disengaged. Thus, I sought out a "boutique" pedal with true bypass. . .
The only good thing I can say about the Clyde Deluxe is that the true bypass works great. However, the pedal picks up hum from my SKB PS-45 pedalboard, and even when running with battery, has an annoying high frequency noise that increases as you roll towards the toe. This might be forgivable if the tone were godly and I was just playing clean, but generally makes it unusable with much gain. The Fulltone is a vintage pedal through and through. The pedal itself has more sweep, but the tone changes drastically at a point near the middle; probably good for churning the pedal in time to rythym playing, but not good for inducing subtle tonal changes while soloing.
This brings me to the Big Bad Wah. I was apprehensive about getting this 1) Because it is not "true bypass" 2) Because it is the Joe Satriani signature pedal, and 3) It is in the same price range as "boutique" pedals. I am a big fan of Joe, but usually endorser models are overpriced variants of stock models and you usually end up paying for the endorser's name. How very untrue that is with this pedal! This thing has a bevy of unique features that are not gimmicky but wholly and surprisingly useful. The price is justified.
First things first, let me discuss the sonic integrity. While this is not claimed to be true bypass, it does not alter the tone of your rig! There is no loading, no high end roll off, no distortion. I have sensitive ears and it does not suck or alter the tone of your guitar. Furthermore, when used with my pedalboard power (or battery), there is no hum or noise added to the signal chain. This thing plays very well with my other gear. Add it to your chain and you won't know its there.
Now allow me to describe the wah function as best I can. The pedal travel is in between the Crybaby and the Fulltone Clyde. Just a bit more movement than the Crybaby. However, like the Crybaby, the tonal changes are spread evenly over the range of travel, so the effect can be very subtle if needed. The on/off switch is hard to depress, but does not interfere with the smooth range of pedal travel. In general, the wah behaves like a vintage crybaby, but it seems to have extra treble on top that occupies the extra bit of pedal travel. If you rock it like a crybaby, you can get the same style, but if you go the extra distance toe forward, you get an extra measure of bite.
Each channel of wah is different to begin with (classic and modern) and has multiple adjustments including voice and inductor. One of the channels has a drive knob, which at first I thought was a gimmick but adds another dimension of tone should you choose to engage it.
In general my impression is that this pedal has a very broad tonal palette, from mild to extreme. Can be used for subtle nuances to you solo tone, or classic rythmic churning. So while Joe's tone is in there, I am confident you can accomplish any classic wah tone.
I had just finished a "zone" session with this pedal and at times was laughing at how good it is and what it can do (and how well it does it.) Its a classic wah tone but with extra features. Unlike the Crybaby and the Fulltone, the ergonomics, function, and sonic integrity are all 100%. (The only exception to this is the shoddy battery cover.)
Having tried and returned the Clyde Deluxe which many regard as the "best" wah pedal for any ammount of money, I feel that this pedal outshines it in all regards. I am a 20 year player who has never been a wah aficionado, but I am quickly becoming one. It was clear after my first session, that this would be on my board for many years to come.
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The Big Bad Wah dual-mode wah pedal features two wah modes and some unique features which delivers a wide range of wah sounds. Another effect pedal created in collaboration between the world-renowned guitarist Joe Satriani and VOX. Joe Satriani Big Bad Wah Features Dual-mode design offers two distinct wah sounds in a single pedal Wah One is classic VOX; with that decidedly sweet UK tone Wah Two provides Joe Satriani's original drive and voice controls, delivering a wide range of sound-creation possibilities Big Bad Wah is one in a series of pedals designed by VOX and guitarist extraordinaire Joe Satriani.
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