Vox V846 Vintage Reissue Wah Pedal

While the V846 Vintage Reissue Wah Pedal is a faithful recreation of the second-ever production model wah, it offers an enhanced tonal profile, marked by an extended sweep range and a pronounced focus on high frequencies. This iconic pedal, first introduced by Vox in 1967, was initially designed to mimic Clyde McCoy's trumpet mute technique. However, its transformative use with electric guitars turned it into a legendary tool for renowned artists like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.

Vintage wah pedals are highly coveted for their unique tone, but their rarity, high costs, and component reliability make them a risky choice for stage use. Recognizing this, our engineers have meticulously studied the original wah to create two models that replicate the exact tonal characteristics of these iconic pedals.

The V846 Vintage Reissue Wah Pedal stands out for its assertive tonal profile, characterized by an extended sweep range and heightened emphasis on high frequencies. This makes it the definitive rendition of the widely recognized wah-wah effect.

Our journey to recreate the ultimate vintage wah began with acquiring a mint condition vintage 1960s Wah, referred to at Vox as the "Holy Grail." We then conducted exhaustive A/B testing, comparing its frequency response against other vintage units. This extensive exploration helped us understand the unique frequency curve characteristic of the holy grail unit.

Key to the wah technology is the "Halo" inductor. By analyzing the inductor characteristics of vintage units, we successfully replicated the Halo inductor for our pedals. Subtle modifications to the inductors of the VRM-1 and the V846 Vintage have resulted in distinct tonal characteristics.

The potentiometer, a variable resistor, is another crucial component driving the wah sweep. When replicating the potentiometer from the vintage unit, meticulous adjustments were made to ensure a near-identical curve.

Employing the appropriate transistor, specifically the BC108 model, delivered precise component matching. Despite the availability of similar transistors, the tonal variance observed when compared to 60s components required a custom circuit for tone adjustment.

In the new Vox wah pedals, larger 1/2W carbon film resistors are utilized to faithfully replicate the vintage Wah tonal characteristics. Moving away from chip resistors and 1/4W resistors allows us to deliver an even more authentic sound.

The design of the case plays a pivotal role in the Wah effect pedal, impacting both the angle at which the foot engages and the pedal's range of motion. To address this, a new mould was created by disassembling the vintage unit and conducting a 3D scan of both the lower case and the pedal.

The bottom plate, not just the case, holds significance among some vintage enthusiasts, who assert that the material of the bottom plate influences the sound of the Wah. Thus, replicating the vintage sound necessitated reproducing the tonal characteristics associated with the bottom plate.

In conclusion, the V846 Vintage Reissue Wah Pedal is a testament to our commitment to authenticity, offering guitarists an opportunity to experience the legendary wah-wah effect with the reliability of modern technology.