VOX Announces New V845 Wah Pedal

(ShackMan | Posted 2009-09-22)

MELVILLE, NY, September 14, 2009 It was early in the 60s when VOX developed the world’s first wah-wah effect. Almost instantly put to use by stars of the day like Jimi Hendrix in his landmark recording "Voodoo Chile (slight return)," the wah-wah has been a definitive and instantly recognizable guitar effect ever since, and the boys who started it all are at it again.

Renowned more recently for the Clyde McCoy Wah pedal (modeled after the real Clyde's plunger-muted trumpet) released oh-so-many-moons-ago, VOX Amplification recently announced the release of the affordable new V845 Wah Wah Pedal. It's a step in a more traditional wah pedal in the style of Dunlop's Crybaby or Morley's Bad Horsie. Don't be fooled; while the features are no more than the traditional pots and on/off switch, the V845 Wah pedal features Vox's standard for exquisitely shielded wiring and high quality circuitry, and that leads to just plain good tone.

With the V845, Vox intends to preserve the spirit and tone of the early VOX wah-wah pedals – a sound still sought after by today’s players; you can find the original models on eBay every now and then for somewhere between $Arm and $Leg. Vox, in a never-before-seen move, decided that re-making an old design that thousands of guitar players know and love to exacting specifications and releasing it for a fraction of what an original goes for today would be cool (warning: that sentence may contain sarcasm). I'll second that. Let's take a look at the pedal, then, shall we?

I'd say that looks pretty solid at first glance, without a doubt. Designed to withstand the rigors of life on the road, the V845 features a solid yet lightweight diecast aluminum housing, as found on authentic VOX wah pedals from the 1960s (they had a reputation for having the same indestructibility as old Shure microphones). According to Vox, the V845 "creates a vintage mood with its black crepe finish and it's black-on-black setting." So...it's black. Thanks guys. Didn't get that from the picture.

I'm still Switzerland on the fact that Vox didn't really add anything new this time around. Sure, it appeases traditionalists, and people looking for the closest they can get to a true vintage Vox wah pedal have found their answer, and to an extent, really, what DO you add to a classic wah pedal? Still, there isn't anything new about it. It's a repeat of tradition.

Back to the other hand, and taking a listen to Jimi, how much of that is really a bad thing, eh?

You can expect the V845 Wah Pedal sometime in November 2009 with a price of $155 retail.

James is a bassist, pianist, organist, composer and writer currently living and working in the Pittsburgh, PA, and Morgantown, WV areas. He is currently performing regularly with baritone Justin Barclay. You can reach him at james.rushin@musicgearreview.com.

VOX Announces New V845 Wah Pedal

$310

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