Vox VX V847A Wah

I already have two Crybaby's (GCB95 and 95Q, which I love to death), but I always have had G.A.S. for a Vox wah pedal, because it has a different tonal character and it LOOKS so deliciously stylish.

I've tried them side by side for a couple of weeks. Here are my findings.

The good: the V847A's clearer/less coloured sound makes it fantastic for clean licks and 70's funk. Cool for some blues too. Looks are super sexy and retro-correct. It has a much better input buffer/bypass than the older Vox wah's (less tonesuck).

The bad: alas, it doesn't exactly sound like the warm old 60's wah pedals. It has a much thinner and treblier timbre, with muddy lows and piercing highs. Which sucks for distorted tones. Really disappointing.

To conclude: I didn't keep it. Will stick to my Crybaby's!

Edit: I just bought an older made in USA V847 (second-hand) and it sounds SO much better and warmer than the new V847a. It's fantastic with overdriven sounds!! Go for the old one!

Pedal came in a handy retro looking bag. Pedal itself is very heavy and feels sturdy and hard to break. It looks beautiful, at least to me. But, when i tried to stomp it and turn it on, it just couldn't be done. I managed to turn it on by pressing the switch directly with my finger, and i can say the pedal sounds pretty good. It would be better if it had more range but for this price that's really acceptable. When I opened the back of the pedal to see where the batteries go i was mildly disappointed to see there is no casing for battery. You just plug it in and then it lies there with no separation from the electronics.
I contacted Thomann to see what could be done about the turning on/off problem, but they suggested I return the pedal and they will send a new one. I opted for the money back option because I'm scared the next pedal could have the same issue. I know there are some people who are saying that you just have to press it harder, but I just couldn't do it. Even if it did turn on after applying all my body weight on it, I'd still not want a pedal that needs a full body jump on it to use it.

As soon as I plugged this Wah pedal into my VOX VR30 amp it was very clear that it has a beautiful classic tone, and put me in mind of a lot of classic Wah solos that have that nasal driving sound. It definitely reminds me of the solo on White Room. VOX are marketing this as a classic 'reissue' of their original wah pedals and I would agree with that. The unit itself is sturdy and feels like it will last, with strong metal construction and heavy rubber fittings. Jack inputs feel secure and the input and output jacks don't feel wriggly like on some pedals, jacks insert with a reassuring click and stay put. Comes with a nice vinyl carry case, which some might find feels 'cheap' but I find retro! The only drawback is a short travel of the pedal from open to closed - another few millimeters would make subtle wah effects easier and more intuitive. It doesn't have controls for Q etc of some wah pedals but I prefer simplicity in amps and pedals so that suits me - its tone I'm after without fidgeting and this pedal has plenty of that. Recommended for a classic 60's wah tone.

The circuit of this pedal is allegedly supposed to be more or less identical to the Dunlop Cry-Baby in the same price range. I have no clue if this is true, but I have both pedals and I definitely prefer the Vox. To me, it has more "snarl" in the sweep and therefore more character than the Dunlop, which I find to be a little too bland for my taste. If you want lots of features and options to tweak, buy a Fulltone or one of the high-end Dunlops. But if you just want a "meat and potatoes" kind of wah for classic rock and blues, this will do just nicely. Especially for the money.

I've used a lot of different wah pedals, I love the wah sound. If you want classic wah tones with minimum fuss, this is wha you're after. 70's funk, Shaft-style, beautiful, lyrical leads a la "Sweet Child O'Mine", dreamy soundscapes like Hendrix.... this wah can do it all. The difference, as I see it, is in the voicing. Every wah has a personality, and this is sweet and expressive, without the overly scooped mid and biting top of the Crybaby. I've tried a lot of digital knockoffs as well, and none of them quite get it right. I've owned three of these wahs, because they keep getting stolen on me by jealous guitarists and unscrupulous musicians of all kinds. I'll always have one in my gear bag.

I bought this as a replacement for a Dunlop Mini Wah which had proved totally unreliable and a poor model in regards to other Dunlop Wahs that I have owned in the past. I owned a Vox Wah nearly 25 years ago and really loved the sound and it lasted nearly a decade with heavy use. Having gone back to using a Vox I can say that the fat and lovely classic 60s/70s Wah sound is still as good as I remember. The only downside is the travel of the pedal seems a bit shorter than the Dunlops but I have gotten use to it. There is very low noise and it switched on and off fairly easy (unless you are sitting down). A great wah at a very affordable price. Thumbs up!