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Average Price: $244

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Description

Meet the Colorsound Wah-Wah, an iconic piece of music history that has been gracing the pedalboards of players for decades. Originating from the creative minds at Sola Sound, Colorsound brought some of the very first fuzz and wah effects to musicians in England. This pedal is a true testament to the innovation of the 1970s music scene, offering a unique tonal palette that has stood the test of time. With its distinctive sounds and robust build, the Colorsound Wah-Wah offers an authentic vintage playing experience that is sure to captivate any guitar enthusiast.

Key Features: - Produced by Sola Sound - Part of the early fuzz and wah effects revolution - Made popular in the 1970s - Known for its unique tonal quality - Sturdy and durable build for longevity - Offers an authentic vintage playing experience

Product specs

Brand Colorsound
Model Wah Wah
Finish Gray
Year 1970s
Made In United Kingdom
Categories Filter and Wah Pedals

FAQs

What kind of sound can I expect from the Colorsound Wah-Wah pedal?

The Colorsound Wah-Wah pedal is known for its wide sweep and distinctive vintage tone, offering a rich, expressive sound that is ideal for classic rock and psychedelic music.

Is the Colorsound Wah-Wah pedal suitable for both guitar and bass?

Yes, the Colorsound Wah-Wah pedal can be used with both guitar and bass, providing a versatile and dynamic wah effect that enhances the tonal range of either instrument.

How does the Colorsound Wah-Wah compare to other vintage wah pedals?

The Colorsound Wah-Wah is renowned for its unique tonal character and robust build quality, often featuring a broader frequency range and more pronounced sweep compared to other vintage wah pedals.

Does the Colorsound Wah-Wah require a specific power supply?

The Colorsound Wah-Wah typically operates on a 9V battery, which is common for vintage pedals, allowing for easy integration into most pedalboards without additional power supply requirements.

Is the Colorsound Wah-Wah pedal easy to use for beginners?

Yes, the Colorsound Wah-Wah is straightforward to use, making it a great choice for beginners who want to explore classic wah sounds without complicated controls.

Evan the ski park rat

Evan the ski park rat

Colorsound Wah-Wah

Video thumbnail for Colorsound Wah-Wah by Evan the ski park rat

Colorsound Wah-Wah

Evan the ski park rat

Evan the ski park rat

Video thumbnail for #POTD NO.20 Colorsound Wah by Macari's SolaSound

#POTD NO.20 Colorsound Wah

Macari's SolaSound

Macari's SolaSound

Reviews

PROS

  • Vintage, highly collectible item with a rich history

  • Unique old school sound that stands out

  • Compatible with fuzz without causing squealing

  • Praised for its overall tone and sweep range

  • Some users appreciate its distinct, abrupt transition between bass and treble

CONS

  • Lacks a DC power jack; operates on battery only

  • Can lose some bass frequencies when activated

  • Known to produce an audible click when switched on

  • Some units may have quality control issues like loud clicking or squeaky treadles

  • Can pick up radio signals, affecting sound purity

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Colorsound Wah-Wah.

Comparisons

  • The Wilson Effect Colorful Cone is noted as a clone of the Colorsound wah, providing an alternative for those seeking a similar tonal character.

    Source
  • The Maestro Boomerang wah is noted for its cutting ability and added gain, associated with sounds like Zappa and possibly Shaft, often available under $200.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The EHX Cock Fight Plus offers versatility with its Cry/Talk functions and a Fuzz option, allowing for varied experimentation beyond traditional wah effects.

    Source
  • The Colorsound wahs are reputed for a wider treadle sweep, which may significantly influence their tonal expressiveness compared to standard enclosures.

    Source

User experience

  • Availability of Jam Pedals in North America is limited, often requiring direct orders from the manufacturer, which can involve additional duty fees for buyers.

    Source
  • Owners express dissatisfaction with the Ibanez Weeping Demon due to its large, bulky design and inconvenient external switch, impacting usability despite its tonal capabilities.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Colorsound wah can be heard in Jerry Garcia's performances with the Grateful Dead, paired with a Stratocaster, showcasing its compatibility with classic rock tones.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Soldering flux residue can cause capacitive issues, potentially leading to high-pitched tones; cleaning and rechecking soldering can resolve this.

    Source
  • Swapping electrolytic capacitors and probing input/output wiring can help diagnose tonal issues in Colorsound wah setups.

    Source
  • Transistor checks are suggested when inductors cause unusual sounds like whistling or whale noises.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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2 star
1 star
eddie_sabotage

The cream of the wahs!

Back in the day I heard that Prince used a Colorsound Wah. I got one to replace my Maestro Boomerang II and loved it immediately. It's a cream pedal - like that stain on the chair. Mine was built in January 1973.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Prince uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

Prince

Singer, Guitarist

The New Power Generation

...
Verified via Proguitarshop

Along with his love of Boss effects, Prince is a regular user of the Digitech Whammy, Dunlop Crybaby Wah (though he has been known to use a Colorsound Wah as well), and Line 6 MM4 modulation modeler.

See how Jerry Garcia uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

Jerry Garcia

Guitarist, Singer

Grateful Dead

...
Verified via Dozin

Can be seen using it in various photos and footage from 72-74, 8/27/72 "Sunshine Daydream" movie, 4/21/72 Beat Club footage. Its believed the pedal is "Wah+Vol", giving it the "swell" sound.

See how Marc Bolan uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

Marc Bolan

Singer, Guitarist

T. Rex

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo of Bolan and his small pedalboard, the Colorsound Wah Wah pedal can be seen.

See how Jason Pierce uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

Jason Pierce

Guitarist, Singer

Spacemen 3

...
Verified via Photo

Jason Pierce uses a vintage blue Colorsound Wah-Wah pedal, as shown in the user-uploaded photo on Equipboard.

See how George Duke uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

George Duke

Singer, Keyboardist

Earth, Wind & Fire

...
Verified via Keyboardmag

George used a Colorsound wah wah on his Clavinet D6

Contemporary Keyboard Magazine July 1977 Interview: "...I use a Colour Sound wah-wah pedal with the Clavinet; I think it works better with the sound of the Clavinet"

See how Peter Tosh uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

Peter Tosh

Singer, Guitarist

Bob Marley & The Wailers

...
Verified via Photo

Peter used this Wah-Pedal throughout his career, first using it on The Wailer's album, Burnin' and its subsequent tour.

See how Brian Robertson uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

Brian Robertson

Guitarist

Motörhead

...
Verified via Photo

The rig diagram on this page of Guitar Geek shows that Brian used a Colorsound Wah Wah.

See how David Gavurin uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

David Gavurin

Guitarist

The Sundays

...
Verified via Narkive

"Found this after a little digging. I'va always liked the layered sound david Gavurin produced on record, very Johnny marr like.Anyway - Dave G: Played a Gibson ES335 for most of the clean / jangle songs like "Can't be sure" and "I kicked a boy" He played a standard Tele (not the custom w/ humbuckers) for most all of the new songs from S & S. He whipped out the Tele Custom for for the rockers like Another flavour, & Goodbye. Amps were two Vox AC-30's. They were old ones too... pretty beat up. Effects used were one Alesis Quadraverb in a rack. On the floor was a coloursound wah (also used by Prince). Boss Super Overdrive, Some Purple Tremolo pedal I didn't recognize, some old silver electro harmonix pedal I didn't recognize, a blue Ibanez Sound tank pedal I didn't recognize (sorry...I couldn't see them very well). There was also an older Boss chorus pedal."

See how Dean Garcia uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

Dean Garcia

Guitarist, Bassist

Curve

...
Verified via Curve-online

One of the wahs used by Curve in the early 1990s.

See how Sek Loso uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

Sek Loso

Singer, Guitarist

Loso

...
Verified via Photo

In this picture taken when Loso was rehearsing, we can see a Colorsound Red Wah-Wah pedal from the 90s.

See how Michael Gibbons (Bardo Pond) uses Colorsound Wah-Wah

Michael Gibbons (Bardo Pond)

Guitarist

Bardo Pond

...
Verified via effettidiclara

Michael Gibbons of Bardo Pond is shown using a Colorsound Wah-Wah pedal in a photo featured on effettidiclara.

Album Usage

The Colorsound Wah-Wah has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Colorsound Wah-Wah, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Boss SD-1 Super OverDrive
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Boss BF-2 Flanger
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1
Boss PN-2 Tremolo/Pan
Boss PN-2 Tremolo/Pan Tremolo Effects Pedals
1
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi Fuzz Effects Pedals
1
Boss OC-2 Octaver
Boss OC-2 Octaver Harmonizer & Octave Effects Pedals
1

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    austinmw

    Gear IQ 5227