The Dunlop EVH wah pedal is a great addition to anyone’s setup who wants a wah pedal that favors the mid-low end of things and is tour-ready.
Although Jim Dunlop didn’t invent the Wah (the Crybaby was actually invented by the Thomas Organ Company), few companies have helped spread the Gospel of Wah as much as Dunlop. In addition to the company’s “classic” wah pedal line, they currently offer several signature wahs, including one for rock god Eddie Van Halen. Although EVH isn’t known for his wah usage on studio albums (seriously, aside from “Poundcake,” name another wah-heavy VH song), his live work is often punctuated by wah tones. So, it’s fitting that the company responsible for the EVH Phaser and Flanger crank out a wah pedal as well.
The Dunlop EVH wah is based off of Eddie’s own modified early 90’s Crybaby, complete with a High Q inductor and frequency sweep wider than the norm. Perhaps the first thing you’ll notice is that the wah definitely has the Van Halen signature – it’s black with yellow stripes. So, if the boys in Stryper are dying for a wah pedal, this one will probably fit the bill. Other hardware niceties include trye bypass switching and two on/off LEDs. The pot is also a copy of the one in Eddie’s favorite wah, characterized by more midrange and a broader sweep on the low end.
In practice, using the EVH wah with wide variety of guitars and amps, it’s apparent that this isn’t your daddy’s wah-wah pedal. First of all, the feel is what you would expect from a more expensive signature wah pedal. Both the travel and the switching definitely scream “custom,” which is a good thing. It has a solid, sturdy feel. However, the wah itself isn’t much of a screamer, though that’s not a bad thing. The tonal focus is on the mid to low end of the frequency spectrum, which is good for some grawling wah tones, but if you’re looking for some high end moan, you just won’t get it as much with the EVH. That’s not a criticism. It just has a different voicing than most wahs, which is actually a good thing, depending on your preference.
Aside from its appearance (seriously, I think I’d have to paint it if I were to put it on my pedalbaord), the Dunlop EVH wah pedal is a great addition to anyone’s setup who wants a wah pedal that favors the mid-low end of things and is tour-ready.