Grateful Dead Music Forum

I couldn't take it any longer, and I've added a Wah pedal. Those '72 Box Set shows…they demand a Wah in you're head. It's like a psycho-phrenia of Wah-ness.

I settled on the Real McCoy Geoffrey Teese RMC6 - Wheels of Fire Macari/Colorsound clone. I've only had it a couple of days, but I can already tell it's got some very cool Moki.
http://www.realmccoycustom.com/WHEELS%20OF%20FIRE.htm

So here are my questions:
1) I have a GCX, and since a wah is not an expression pedal (it doesn't return a numeric value to a Midi system) I've currently run it into the headworks of my SMS. This was new info to me. Thanks Helpful Ben at Voodoo labs. Now one of the real benefits of the SMS>Mc250 > OBeL > GCX system is there is almost no hiss. I can produce a whole lot of SPL's with this thing (as many of you can), and the noise (hiss/pop/etc) is almost non-existent compared to many rigs I hear. Are wah pedals hissy as you step forward in general? The switch is dead silent, but as treble is added…so is hiss. I'd love to know if that is normal.

2) Should I be going between the Waldo buffered guitar and the input of the SMS? Or…should I add a channel to my ground control and wire it direct to the GCX?

3) Anyone else have one? Like it? Hate it? Played it?

Anything else??? I'm sure there are Kings & Queens of Wah on this board.
Thanks in advance!
Peace
M

Also…I have a MIM Tigerized Strat.
I'm hearing a better Jerry like tone with the SDS-1 neck pickup, or the Super II in Humbucker mode. A hotter signal into the wah seems to produce a less trebly and less ice picky high. And a throatier and growly low.

What are ya'all doing?

Thanks!

The best, I mean my favorite thing about the wah is when you put it in a sweet spot and leave it then slightly move it for subtle tone changes.

Y'dig?

So I too have a mim tigerized strat (señorita I call her). I also have an obel and run the voodoo gcx for my effects pedals. I resisted getting a wah pedal for a while with this set up because frankly it's not convienent. I broke down 2 months ago and got a jim Dunlop cry baby.

I am running it through the obel and the gcx. I went to Home Depot, grabbed some cable wrap and created a snake that includes send and return for the wah pedal as well as the midi controler cable for voodoo ground control. It saves a couple of minutes when setting for a show. I used 15' cables which is plenty for the size of stages I play on.

Wah pedals traditionally were tone suckers so even if it says true by pass ... I'm still a little skeptical. With that being said it is a huge advantage to run it through the obel >gcx system from a tone perspective. It also ranks high in the pain in the ass department. The only effect I leave out of the effects loop is the earth drive which I leave on almost the entire time and place it directly in front of the preamp. Cheers! ~Bill

Both posts are excellent!

Aiq...I went to that exact strategy while working a Playin' jam for a couple of hours last night. Thanks for the confirmation. That wah is definitely a scalpel not a cleaver. I did like the neck p/u tone with it. I looked for some video clips last night but I do think Jer used the neck on Alligator more than he used the neck p/u in future years.

Willyk... I didn't experience much tone suck in the Teese wah, but after walking away with it all plugged in, the rig as a whole seemed tonally grumpy for a few seconds. GCX it is. I'm thinking I'll solder up a snaked pair and put them in a common sheath. I thought about some sort of j-box, but the killer lean version hasn't dawned on me yet.

Thanks very much.

Wah(t)!
Ya'all just use your Mutron and don't fiddle with the pedal?

Gotta be more goodies here!

I bought a modded VOX Wah from Modest Mike's Mods on Ebay. I'm pretty happy with it. I think I get a pretty decent early 70s Jerry wha sound using it with my strat/voodoo 69/Fender HRDX/JBL K-120.

http://modestmikesmods.wix.com/welcome#!wah-pedals