Examples of wah used well?

[HolmfirthNJ]

I can think of Ron Asheton playing on The Stooges first album as being a really great example of wah being used well, and then there’s Reggae of course, and Jimi Hendrix, and then I’m starting to run out… so this effect that so many guitarists have, yet hardly anyone seems to get a half-decent sound out of. I might be wrong, and I’d be interested in your favourite examples, if you have any?

 

[drmordo]

Cream "Tales of Brave Ulysses" is a personal fav.

I chased that wah sound (which is similar to Hendrix' "Still Raining Still Dreaming" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" wah) for years until I got a RMC6 Wheel of Fire. That was my Holy Grail, and I finally found it.

 

[HolmfirthNJ]

Cream "Tales of Brave Ulysses" is a personal fav.

I chased that wah sound (which is similar to Hendrix' "Still Raining Still Dreaming" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" wah) for years until I got a RMC6 Wheel of Fire. That was my Holy Grail, and I finally found it.

Good call, I’m listening to ‘Tales of Brave Ulysses’ now - first time in about 40 years

 

[Vibroluxer]

I love Mike Campbells wah in this song. It's very tastefully done. Zip ahead to 3:50 if you like.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

You may think he overused it, or that some of the songs it’s on are overplayed, but I think Slash uses it well.

Henry Garza of Los Lonely Boys does some tasty wah.

I like how John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers) employs some of the more “hissy” qualities of wah. He’s also on some Mars Volta tracks/albums.

Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains).

Gary Clark Jr.

I think the best wah users don’t go “way wah wah” all the time so much as use it as real-time EQ/gain/feedback manipulation.

 

[control voltage]

Uli Roth's lead parts in "The Sails of Charon", by Scorpions, come to mind.

 

[Old Plank]

I was just listening to 'Eddie' from the latest Chili Peppers album (Return of the Dream Canteen) as I read your post! Fruscianti's subtle/cocked wah on that sounds pretty nice to me. Also lately listening a lot to the Dead's Europe '72 Vol. 2, on which Garcia has some cool extended wah work going on in 'Playing In the Band'. (Starts at about 2:57, you can hear it kick on.)

 

[jkingma]

Any time John Squire used his wah it sounded pretty darn good to me.

 

[Wildcard_35]

Charles Pitts, the guy who played guitar on the theme from Shaft and other tunes. Curtis Mayfield on several things, namely Superfly. I also really like Slash's use of the wahwah in Civil War. Eddie Hazel on Maggot Brain.

 

[GGardner]

25 or 6 to 4

 

[Tommy Biggs]

Give this a listen for Jeff Beck doing rhythmic wahs particularly after 3:24 when it breaks down. So sparse, so effective to me. Different from everyone else, as he always is.

 

[dlew919]

Brian may.



But usually he used it in a cocked position.

 

[1 21 gigawatts]

Tom Morello used a wah quite a bit with Rage Against the Machine.

 

[mandoloony]

 

[Powdog]

Michael Schenker and Mick Ronson both used a wah as an EQ. Sweep the wah til you find the perfect tone then leave it alone.

Also, Garth Hudson used one with a clavinet on “Up On Cripple Creek”. Very original idea.

 

[Togman]

Another vote for the incredible Jeff Beck.

 

[THX1123]

 

[HolmfirthNJ]

Some amazing music here, thanks, and most of it is new to me. It was good to see Mick Ronson get a mention

 

[Danb541]

No Quarter
Voodoo Chile/Child

 

[Danb541]