Are we able to make a Wah pedal?

[JeffreyAvril]

I have 0% of knowledge in making pedals. So if peoples in this forum help me out a little, am i able to make a wah pedal?

[Coriolis]

Eh, well if you have NO experience - as in "never built anything electronic before", the maybe don't start with a wah. They're not that complex, but there are simpler things to start with, like a booster or simple distortion.

But what do you mean exactly? Are you talking about the circuit itself, or the mechanical part of things as well, like the housing and treadle and stuff?

And yeah, if you're willing to learn and think for yourself, then lotsa people here will help you out !

C

[gez]

Easier to buy a stock wah and mod it.

[Transmogrifox]

The short answer is, "yes".  You can build a wah pedal.

A good place to start is by using the search function.  From time to time I have seen people post pictures and dialogue outlining how they build the chassis, treadle, and all mechanical parts without any special tools, unless you consider a rotary tool (dremel or similar) to be a special tool.

In addition, there are a plethora of schematics and layouts for various wah pedal circuits linked by many of the users of this forum.  The search function will help there immensly.  In addition, read the sticky posts if you haven't already.  There's a lot of helpful information in there.  The sticky posts generally cover most of the problems that beginners have getting started and I think you would be able to get a lot of questions answered by reading them.

In short, you'll need to do some reading to learn how to read a schematic, how to solder, how to make a circuitboard, and what to do when it doesn't work right away.  It is not uncommon that I'll build something and it doesn't work right away. 

I recommend starting with a simple project to get your feet wet and build some confidence.  The Bazz Fuss is a good starter (if you like fuzz distortions).  Boosters are also good starter projects.  If in the end, you don't really want a fuzz or a booster, but you just want to build a wah, then get a solderless breadboard.  You can make the Bazz Fuss on the breadboard and plug your guitar into it just to see that it works, disassemble it, and use some of the components in your wah project.

Finally, when the search function doesn't turn up posts that answer your questions, and the sticky doesn't have the answer, then post your questions in a thread (such as this thread) and there are plenty of people who seem to be happy to answer.

Welcome to the forum!  And don't worry, it won't be long before you're an addict like the rest of us. 

[jonathan perez]

Easier to buy a stock wah and mod it.

[Doug_H]

Steve Daniels carries wah shells now. I thought more people would be excited by this news a few months ago. Oh well...

Doug