If you have decided to buy a wah pedal, in our list you will find one or more that match your taste, since we have carefully selected the best wah pedals in terms of quality price.
The wah wah pedals are a staple in the pedalboard of many guitarists, especially those who practice a funky or blues style. Popularized by Hendrix and Clapton a few decades ago, wah pedals have a very characteristic and recognizable sound. We bring you the best wah pedals for guitar in our 2019 – 2020 buying guide.
Have you tired of the limited options of your amplifier? If you are looking to expand your sound elegantly and very dynamically, then a wah pedal may be the solution. The Wah is one of the oldest and easily distinguishable pedal effects on the market, it has found a common use in all styles from classic rock to metal.
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The top 10 best Wah pedals for guitar effects
Are you thinking of buying a wah wah pedal? Which is the best, according to your needs? What are the best wah wah pedal models to consider?
We have created a list to meet your needs if you are looking for your first pedal or if you would just like to add something valuable to your already formed configuration. Let’s go there!
We have also made an interesting article on how to organize all your guitar pedals. We hope that this guitar pedals chain article will help you.
Xotic Wah Pedal
Let’s start with a truly special wah pedal. Xotic Wah Effect Pedal offers a very old experience of a brand new pedal. This wah is built like a tank, and besides that, its design is like to be framed on a wall. It has a self-lubricating nylon bushing pivot for quiet and smooth operation with fully-adjustable rocker pedal tension.
A footswitch, an expression pedal and that’s it. What comes out of the amplifier is going to be a completely different story. There is range, warmth and organic sensation in the effect that this wah produces. Although it lives up to some of the most legendary designs, Xotic Wah remains one of the most complete and popular wah pedals on the market.
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Fulltone Clyde Standard Wah Pedals
The Fulltone Clyde is based on the famous original wah pedal of Clyde McCoy, which was a favorite of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and many more. This pedal borrows outstanding features from previous versions and also improves Vox-based inductors, which serve as an integral part of any wah pedal. This wonderful piece reproduces impressive classic sounds in the blink of an eye, comes with a sweeping range much wider than usual, presents a very welcome versatility when the switch is struck.
If you don’t like the default tone, you can easily tune it with a potentiometer shown on the inside. This pedal offers more than your usual wah, is quite resistant and does not present any threat in terms of durability, highlights the manufacturer’s attention to detail and quality, is well worth its price and deserves to be a recommended option.
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Ibanez WD7 Weeping Demon Wah Pedal
As Ibanez entered the wah pedals production a little late, they decided to take a route that was very different from the one used by most of the competition. Ibanez WD7 has a pretty impressive design, which incorporates a number of interesting features. In addition to the standard expression pedal, it also has a range switch that allows you to choose whether you want to work at the upper or lower end of the frequency range.
On top of that, it comes with several tone-setting controls that you can use to get the perfect wah tone. It may not be as glamorous as some of the models we’ve mentioned so far, but it’s really hard to beat the WD7 when it comes to its practical use. That’s why many guitarists prefer it over the more traditional wah pedals.
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Vox V847A Wah
A classic pedal among the classic wah. The Vox V847A is one of those pedals that were always sold and seems to always be sold. This one, in particular, is one of the models of this brand that has made the wah part of the pedalboard of a good handful of guitarists looking for, not only one of the best wah pedals in history, but also a classic and good sound balanced at a price more than acceptable.
It is a beautiful wah that comes in a robust and professional housing. In this wah wah, you will not find any controls or extra functions: a pure, simple and very effective wah pedal with a very well balanced dynamic range and performance that never disappoints.
In terms of tone, you will get a very wide dynamic range. One of the best features of the V847A is its price. It is considered to be a model for beginners and, therefore, has a reasonably affordable price.
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Morley Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2 Wah Pedal
Steve Vai’s authority as a guitarist is somewhat unquestionable. Being a musician of his caliber, Vai set out to build a wah pedal that he could support and use on stage. The end result is the Morley VAI-2 Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2. There are several defining characteristics of this model that make it particularly interesting. It contains all the quality components combined in a mega robust housing.
In terms of performance, Bad Horsie 2 is on the first level. In addition to being extremely accurate, it also allows you to choose between Contour mode and Bad Horsie mode. Each has its own benefits and disadvantages, but we definitely love the amount of scope it has in Contour mode. It is really no surprise to see that Bad Horsie 2 is a great pedal considering who designed it.
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MXR MC404 CAE Dual Inductor Wah Wah
Given the fact that MXR is owned by Dunlop, and that the latter has been producing first-class devices for decades, it is not surprising that the dual MX CAR MC404 MC404 inductor represents something really special. We are talking about a robust and reliable wah pedal that comes with several modes of operation. You can choose a standard vintage setting that will give you the kind of wah tone you can hear in many legendary rock hits.
On the other hand, you can also choose a fairly warm and “wide” wah that is more contemporary. This fusion of the new and the old, iconic and innovative, is one of the main reasons why the MC404 represents one of the best wah pedals on the market at the moment. With all that said, the pedal itself is built like a tank, using only the type of components and materials capable of withstanding frequent use on stage. That is why it makes the investment worthwhile.
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Dunlop Cry Baby
The classics never die. The Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95 is, together with Vox, one of the best wah pedals, a best seller of all time for its unmistakable sound and its tamper-proof construction. A top pedal, a top sound, and a top sale.
There are four legendary names that may convince you: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, David Gilmour.
The pedal comes with four frequency ranges, enabling you to go from bassier to trebly sweeps, while you can use the Q knob to tweak the intensity of the effect. If you’re a keen soloist, the boost switch engages up to a 16dB lift to give your leads some extra oomph.
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Boss AW-3 Dynamic Wah
Somehow, adding Boss AW-3 to this list is pure deception. This pedal is more a harmonizer that mimics an analog wah. When some see the AW-3, the last thing they expect is a standard pedal. With that in mind, you can connect an expression pedal and use it in a “more standard” way.
If that is not possible, Boss AW-3 allows you to configure all parameters in advance, and then step on it when you need it. In terms of tone, there is a lot of clarity and definition, the pedal doesn’t really sound so artificial. You get a pretty organic wah sound in an extremely compact box. In terms of price, Boss AW-3 is at the optimum point. It is affordable enough for almost everyone.
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Electro Harmonix Wailer Wah
Another good pedal, another good price. Electro Harmonix usually makes competent pedals, and this is no exception. The Electro Harmonix Wailer Wah has some of the characteristics that every wah pedal must provide: a balanced sound, smooth handling and enough versatility to be able to use it with all types of guitars and all kinds of styles without sounding lightning.
As in the case of Behringer, his weakness is construction. Its value for money will not disappoint you, but give it soft, which is still a very economical wah pedal.
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Behringer Hellbabe HB01
In 90% of cases, versatility is a word that you will hardly find in the same sentence together at an affordable price. However, it is Behringer that we are talking about. They have invented the super affordable segment of the market for guitar effects pedals. HB01 is your version of a wah pedal, and of course, it works great. While Behringer regularly reduces quality materials and aesthetic design, the type of performance you get compensates for deficiencies. Behringer HB01 is an extremely versatile pedal.
You can adjust anything from the expression pedal feedback, its heel frequency down, and much more. That said, we do not recommend going hard with this pedal. It is not the strongest piece there is. However, if your money is scarce and you need a decent wah, this is the one you should buy. Behringer has managed to hit the spot once again.
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What wah wah pedal to buy?
Well, depending on your budget, which always rules, you have cheap options and “Premium” options. Our recommendation is that always, the more sugar the sweeter, but all the pedals listed here to meet a minimum of sound. We cannot compare the Morley with the Behringer, but if what you want is a pedal that does not sound like lightning, the best wah wah pedals are waiting for you, now that you know what they are you can buy with cause knowledge.