VOX Real McCoy Wah Pedal (Limited Edition Chrome)

VOX VRM1 LTD Overview

The New Wah Pedal from the Original Creators

1967 is back in a big way with the chrome Real McCoy Wah Pedal from VOX, a meticulous recreation of the original VOX wah pedal. Delivering iconic nasal tone and the same warm midrange that made the original pedal so legendary, this new pedal sports true-to-spec components and a body molded from a 3D scan of the vintage model.

Painstaking effort was taken to perfectly reproduce the vital tool that drove now-legendary performances from artists like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. All the components, including inductors, transistors, potentiometers, resistors, capacitors, and wiring are either newly designed to perfectly match the original specs or hand-selected to deliver the performance of a true holy grail unit. This pedal can operate either on 9V power supply input or a 9V battery.

Historic Pedigree

Introduced by VOX in 1967, the wah-wah pedal stemmed from the Midrange Boost feature of a VOX amp design and was initially marketed as a way to emulate Clyde McCoy's trumpet mute technique. However, an unintended but music-changing use with electric guitar turned the wah pedal into a vital tool for renowned artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, driving the creation of now-legendary performances and songs. From the 1960s to today, the wah pedal has become an essential tool for guitarists.

The Pursuit of the Ultimate Vintage Wah

The journey to the Real McCoy wah pedal was started by acquiring a mint condition vintage McCoy wah from 1967, referred to at VOX as the Holy Grail-the epitome of the ideal unit. Exhaustive A/B testing was conducted, systematically comparing its frequency response against that of other more conventional vintage units. This exploration unraveled the alchemy inherent in vintage components that collectively shape the unique frequency curve characteristic of the holy grail unit.

The new Real McCoy wah is unlike any wah on the market today, it's built with custom-designed parts to fully replicate the original. This includes newly designed inductors, transistors, and potentiometers, with hand-selected resistors, capacitors, and wiring to complete the circuit. This exact recreation extends to the exterior as well, with a body molded from a 3D scan of the vintage model, and a focus on detail down to the screws and font on the underside.

Inductors: The Crucial Component in Wah Technology

The Halo inductor stands as the quintessential element in the vintage wah. By meticulously analyzing the inductor characteristics of vintage units, VOX has successfully replicated the Halo inductor to incorporate it into this wah. The Real McCoy, renowned for its iconic nasal tone, accentuates the midrange, imparting a warm and melodic quality for expressive lead guitar playing that underscores the articulation of each note.

Potentiometer: Integral Component in Wah Dynamics

The potentiometer, a variable resistor, is the pivotal element driving the wah sweep. When the potentiometer from the vintage unit was copied, meticulous adjustments were made to ensure a near-identical curve. The Real McCoy employs distinct resistance values and curves.

Transistor: Precision in Component Matching

Employing the appropriate transistor, specifically the BC108 model with identical numbering and appearance as its vintage counterpart, delivered precise component matching. This configuration requires careful assembly due to the interaction with the bottom plate, an integral component of the transistor's terminals. Despite the availability of similar transistors, the tonal variance observed when compared to '60s components required a custom circuit for tone adjustment.

Resistor: Navigating the Evolution of Resistive Elements

In guitar amplifiers, carbon composite resistors were once highly regarded. However, by the late ˜ 60s, carbon film resistors, cost-effective and consistent in quality, became standard. The VOX Wah, introduced in 1968, adopted carbon film resistors.

However, in the new VOX wah pedals, larger 1/2W carbon film resistors are utilized to faithfully replicate the vintage wah tonal characteristics. By moving away from chip resistors and 1/4W resistors, VOX can deliver an even more authentic sound.