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Average Price: $74

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Description

Unleash the expressive power of your guitar with the Morley Power Wah PWO (Tel-Ray). This wah pedal is designed to deliver vintage tonal charm with a modern twist. A staple in the pedalboards of discerning guitarists, the PWO is celebrated for its custom HQ2 inductor, which crafts rich, authentic wah tones reminiscent of the golden era of rock. Whether you're channeling the spirit of Hendrix or navigating new sonic landscapes, the Power Wah offers the flexibility and reliability you need.

The pedal's buffered bypass ensures your signal remains pristine, even when the pedal isn't engaged, preserving your tone across complex signal chains. With an additional control for adjusting the wah level, you have the power to tailor your sound to suit any performance or recording situation, ensuring your wah stands out exactly as you intend. Built like a tank, the Power Wah is ready for the rigors of the road and the demands of the studio, making it an essential tool for any guitarist seeking that classic wah sound with a touch of modern versatility.

Key Features:

  • Custom HQ2 inductor for vintage wah tones
  • Buffered bypass preserves signal integrity
  • Wah level control for personalized sound shaping
  • Durable construction for dependable performance
  • Suitable for studio and live use

Product specs

Brand Morley
Model Power Wah PWO
Finish Silver
Year 1970s
Made In United States
Categories Controller, Expression and Volume Pedals, Filter and Wah Pedals

FAQs

How does the Morley Power Wah PWO differ from traditional wah pedals?

The Morley Power Wah PWO uses a photoelectric cell instead of a traditional potentiometer, providing a smoother and more reliable operation without mechanical wear.

Is the Morley Power Wah PWO suitable for both guitar and bass?

Yes, the Morley Power Wah PWO is designed to work well with both guitar and bass, offering a wide frequency response that accommodates both instruments.

Does the Morley Power Wah PWO require a battery or external power supply?

The Morley Power Wah PWO is AC-powered, so it does not require batteries but needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet for operation.

What are the dimensions of the Morley Power Wah PWO pedal?

The Morley Power Wah PWO measures approximately 9.13 inches in length, 5.88 inches in width, and 2.75 inches in height, consistent with Morley's traditional pedal size.

Is the Morley Power Wah PWO suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Morley Power Wah PWO is well-suited for live performances, offering robust construction and reliable operation with its photoelectric design, which eliminates issues like scratchy pots.

Neale Scott

Neale Scott

Morley Power Wah 70's Tel Ray Neale Scott

Video thumbnail for Morley Power Wah 70's Tel Ray Neale Scott by Neale Scott

Morley Power Wah 70's Tel Ray Neale Scott

Neale Scott

Neale Scott

Video thumbnail for Morley Tel Ray  PWO Power Wah   '70s by james Cooper

Morley Tel Ray PWO Power Wah '70s

james Cooper

james Cooper

Reviews

PROS

  • Exceptional performance on bass guitars

  • Compatible with a wide range of instruments

  • Impressive frequency range from -2 octave to 20 KHZ

  • Durable and long-lasting, even after decades

  • Excellent studio tool with high sound quality

CONS

  • Large and bulky design

  • Built-in power supply is extremely noisy

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Morley Power Wah PWO (Tel-Ray).

Build quality

  • The Morley PWO requires a 120V AC power supply, adding bulk with its attached cable, which some users have had to replace due to fraying.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The PWO offers a unique full-spectrum sweep from 25-4500Hz with a long treadle travel, praised for its fluid, musical wah effect.

    Source
  • The pedal has input and output jacks on the same side, creating setup challenges and necessitating longer patch cables.

    Source

User experience

  • Users noted that the PWO is a significant tone-sucker, with a buffer that doesn't meet modern standards, contributing to a high-frequency rolloff.

    Source
  • One owner noted the need for input jack repairs shortly after purchase.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Replacement of the pedal's #387 filament bulb is necessary when it burns out, and the power cable may require a length extension for practicality.

    Source
  • Owners may need to tape the curtain, but incorrect taping can reverse the pedal's operation.

    Source
  • Some users have encountered rounded prongs on the power plug, potentially requiring an adapter for modern outlets.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The pedal's loud boost and massive sweep are particularly appealing for fans of Cliff Burton’s sound.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 1 Rating

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emuemulator2

The greatest wah pedal of all time.

This thing is the best wah sound ever. The range is from -2 octave to 20 KHZ. So it will work with absolutely any instrument and with authority. The downsides are that it is huge, and the built in power supply is extremely noisy. I had to part ways with mine as I need working musician tools, but this would be awesome in the studio. These are almost 50 years old but you can still find them working just as new. If you can afford one, get it.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Josh Homme uses Morley Power Wah PWO (Tel-Ray)

Josh Homme

Guitarist

Kyuss

...
Verified via Effects Bay

The photo shows the Morley Power Wah with the single footswitch on the right side of the pedal, NOT the Morley Power Wah Fuzz which people incorrectly think Josh has on his board (with two footswitches). Even the regular Morley wah has a very gritty, vintage sound, and this is definitely the one Josh is using.

See how Troy Van Leeuwen uses Morley Power Wah PWO (Tel-Ray)

Troy Van Leeuwen

Guitarist

Queens of the Stone Age

...
Verified via YouTube

There's a Morley Wah too, yeah, it's just a straight up wah. Yeah, I don't think there's a fuzz in there.

See how Bootsy Collins uses Morley Power Wah PWO (Tel-Ray)

Bootsy Collins

Singer, Bassist

Funkadelic

...
Verified via TalkBass.com

Used with Parliament and Funkadelic, as mentioned by Collins in this excerpt from a 1979 Guitar Player interview as transcribed TalkBass here and here from a reprint in Bass Heroes: Styles, Stories & Secrets of 30 Great Bass Players.

What kind of amps do you use in your setup?

The entire system is divided into three different parts - high, mid, and low. But we're not just talking about amplification, we're talking about the effects in each part. On my highs I use a Big Muff fuzz, a Mu-tron III [envelope-following filter], an MXR digital delay, a Morley Fuzz/Wah, a Morley Power Wah, and an Eventide Harmonizer. The Harmonizer sits in a case that looks like R2D2 from Star Wars. It looks just like a little robot, so I call it R2FunkU. There's a sign hanging on it that says, "Can I Play?" Inside of it, there's also a keyboard for the Harmonizer that enables me to preset harmonized intervals to what I'm playing. That way I can play a note and have a fifth or a third coming out at the same time.

All of that equipment just for the highs?

Right. For the mids, I have a Big Muff fuzz, a Mu-tron III, and an MXR digital delay. On the lows, I use a Mu-tron Octave Divider, two Roland Space Echos, a Big Muff fuzz, and a Mu-tron III. I keep all my effects in one box called the Space Case. The highs and mids each have an Alembic preamp, two Crown DC-300A amps, and four Cerwin-Vega speaker cabinets.

What's in each cabinet?

The cabinets used for the highs are called V-32s. They have two 12s, one midrange horn, and two tweeters. The midrange cabinets are basically the same, except there's one 15" speaker instead of two 12s. Those are called V-34s. On the bottom end are three Acoustic 370 heads and six Cerwin-Vega cabinets. Two have one 18" speaker and one 12", two more have an 18 and a 10, and two have one 18" and an 8.

Isn't that a lot of equipment for onstage?

I don't play it that loud. I've just got it there so that I don't have to strain the equipment and everybody can hear. As a matter of fact, the whole stage is set up like that. The guitar player, the keyboard player, everybody is set up like that so there is no real strain.

See how Jake E. Lee uses Morley Power Wah PWO (Tel-Ray)

Jake E. Lee

Guitarist

Ozzy Osbourne

...
Verified via Naver

Used on "The Rapture", as specified in this July 20, 2012 breakdown of a A Fine Pink Mist gear list printed in the October 1996 issue of Young Guitar.

See how David Bryant uses Morley Power Wah PWO (Tel-Ray)

David Bryant

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

...
Verified via YouTube

Seen at minute 35:50.

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Community setups

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neale_scott

neale_scott

Gear IQ 569

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Vintage or Discontinued similar sound

The Morley bass wah is the closest they have gotten to the circuit on this thing. Because it has a similar deep range and large high end. Whilst being way smaller and run off 9 volt PSU.

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