Morley Wah Pedals
Morley has been one of Dunlop’s biggest competitors in the wah pedal market since the ’70s. Considered as a popular alternative, Morley wah pedals are distinctive for their large chassis’, which are constructed from cold-rolled steel. However, like Dunlop, Morley has started producing mini wah pedals that are better suited for modern players and their preferences for pint-sized pedalboards.
While some guitarists may be put off by the large dimensions of Morley’s full-sized wah and volume pedals, they are certainly engineered to survive the rigours of the road – with notoriously robust “tank-like” enclosures. That’s part of the reason why so many high-profile players rely on Morley’s effects, including the likes of Steve Vai, Mark Tremonti, Michael Amott, George Lynch and DJ Ashba – all of whom have their own signature Morley wah pedals.
What does a Morley Wah Pedal sound like?
It’s understandable why many guitarists consider wah pedals as “one-dimensional” and lacking in tonal diversity. But if you really compare them, particularly those made by different brands, there are actually quite a lot of discernible differences between certain wahs. Their purpose is obviously the same, but Morley wah pedals definitely sound quite unique and possess an idiosyncratic voice.
There are multiple Morley wah pedals available, but their standalone models produce what can be best described as a “synthetic” and exaggerated wah effect that drastically accentuates a guitar/amp’s top-end frequencies. In many ways, they sound akin to envelope filter pedals – heavily processing a signal and altering its base “dry” tone. This is very noticeable when using a Morley wah into a clean guitar amplifier.
One of the coolest things about the Morley wah range is that it features several crossover pedals. Instead of boasting just re-voiced or re-liveried wahs like you’d find in the Dunlop ‘Cry Baby’ series, the Morley lineup comprises a number of pedals that merge their signature wah circuit with distortion, fuzz and boost effects! Some of these sound absolutely incredible, and sport controls that allow you to adjust their gain levels. There are some models that even feature footswitches that enable you to engage their secondary effects separately. The beauty of these crossover wahs is that they are very effective as lead pedals – just ask Mark Tremonti!