The Black Cat Mona Wah is a wah pedal from Black Cat Pedals, announced in January 2014 and designed with the help of Joe Gagan, whom Premier Guitar describes as a "DIY guru and wah master"1. It arrived in two models, Vintage and Modern, each offered in standard and Deluxe editions, with the standard model listed at $225 and the Deluxe at $295 as of the January 2014 announcement1.
At its heart is a special custom tuned Black Cat inductor, and a Black Cat wah pot with a new taper and redesigned gear, credited to Gagan1. Delicious Audio's Eric Werner wrote that "What really pushes this pedal into a league of its own is the Black Cat wah pot"2.
Controls and the buffer switch
The standard versions carry three internal trimpots: Frequency, Q, and Volume3. Premier Guitar's announcement explains what they do: "The Q and Freq controls are for adjusting the Q (resonant peak or sharpness) and the Frequency range"1. In plain terms, Q sets how sharp and pronounced the wah's peak is, while Frequency sets where in the spectrum the sweep sits.
The Deluxe Edition moves those three internal controls to the outside of the pedal, which lets you make on-the-fly adjustments while playing1. Both standard and Deluxe share the same buffer and buffer bypass mini-switch2.
| Control | Standard | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency (range) | internal trimpot3 | external control1 |
| Q (resonant peak or sharpness) | internal trimpot3 | external control1 |
| Volume | internal trimpot3 | external control1 |
| Buffer bypass | external mini-switch1 | external mini-switch2 |
The buffer is a notable design choice: standard models include a built-in buffer with an external mini-switch that allows you to bypass the buffer completely1. That means a player can run it buffered in a long pedalboard chain, or switch the buffer out for fully true-bypass operation3.
Vintage and Modern models
The Mona Wah is available in two different models, Vintage and Modern1. Of the Vintage version, Delicious Audio's Eric Werner noted it "uses carbon comp resistors and NOS vintage capacitors"2. Of the Modern version, he wrote that its parts "provide a cleaner and fuller response, but not quite as classic a sound as the vintage"2.
Four versions were offered: Vintage and Modern models, each in standard and Deluxe editions1. The Deluxe differs mainly in having the trim controls on the outside rather than inside the pedal1.
Werner's overall verdict on the design was favorable: "The attention to detail on the Mona is ridiculously thorough, and with four different takes on the same wah, you better..."2.
Practical details
The pedal was built as "a lighter-weight, pedalboard-friendly design"3, with Switchcraft jacks and power from a 2.1mm Boss style power jack or a 9-volt battery3. The Boss-style connector means it takes the same center-negative DC supply format used by most standard pedal power supplies.
Questions
Is the Black Cat Mona Wah true bypass?
Yes. Vintage Guitar's announcement of the Mona Wah lists a true-bypass switch among its features, alongside Switchcraft jacks and a 2.1mm Boss style power jack or 9-volt battery option. Note that standard versions also carry a built-in buffer with an external mini-switch, so you can bypass the buffer completely and run the pedal fully true bypass if you prefer.
Does the Black Cat Mona Wah run on a battery?
Yes. According to Vintage Guitar's announcement, the Mona Wah uses a 2.1mm Boss style power jack or a 9-volt battery, so it works either on a standard pedal power supply or on a battery inside the pedal.
Who designed the Black Cat Mona Wah?
Black Cat Pedals designed the Mona Wah with the help of Joe Gagan, described by Premier Guitar as a DIY guru and wah master. Gagan is also credited with the Black Cat wah pot used in the pedal, which features a new taper and redesigned gear.
What is the difference between the standard and Deluxe Mona Wah?
The standard versions have three internal trimpots for Frequency, Q, and Volume, so adjustments mean opening the pedal up. The Deluxe Edition moves those three controls to the outside, which lets you make on-the-fly adjustments while playing. Both share the same buffer and buffer bypass mini-switch.
Can you turn off the buffer in the Mona Wah?
Yes. Standard models include a built-in buffer with an external mini-switch that allows you to bypass the buffer completely, so you can choose between buffered and true-bypass operation without opening the pedal or modifying it.
What does the Q control do on a wah?
On the Mona Wah, the Q control adjusts the Q, meaning the resonant peak or sharpness of the wah's filter. Together with the Frequency control, which sets the frequency range, it shapes how pronounced and vocal the sweep sounds. On standard versions it is an internal trimpot; on the Deluxe it is an external control.
Sources (3)
- Black Cat Pedals Unveils Mona Wah, Premier Guitar, 2014-01-03
- Black Cat's Mona Wah, Delicious Audio, 2014-01-07
- Black Cat Pedals Introduces Mona Wah, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2013-12-27
