The Donner Vowel is a 2-in-1 guitar pedal that combines a wah pedal and an active volume pedal in one unit, made by Donner1. Instead of carrying two separate floor pedals, you get both functions on one treadle, and you switch between them by pressing on the pedal with your foot2.
Donner says the Vowel's analog circuit produces a classic-inspired wah sound with deep filter resonance and smooth sweeping, one the company says "carries you back to the days of the 1970s"1. As a volume pedal it is active, which Donner says is great for eliminating signal loss, offering a powerful and clear sound with no popping, buzzing or electric noise2.
A wah and volume pedal in one
The Vowel's pitch is convenience: one pedal doing the job of two. Donner describes it as combining "the WAH WAH pedal and active VOLUME pedal in one, providing great convenience while playing"2. For a player building a small board, that means one treadle and one power connection where a separate wah and volume pedal would need two of each.
The wah side is voiced after the original classic wah pedal, with what Donner calls deep filter resonance and smooth sweeping2. The volume side is an active design rather than a passive potentiometer in the signal path, which is why Donner points to it eliminating signal loss2. Compared with a passive volume pedal, an active circuit needs power but holds the signal level rather than loading it down.
Other pedals take a similar two-in-one approach, among them the Morley Mini Wah Volume, the Hotone Soul Press II and the Sonicake VolWah, so the Vowel sits in a small class of compact combo treadles rather than being alone in the format.
Wah and Volume modes, LEDs and jacks
The Vowel has two modes, Vol and Wah, and you move between them by pressing on the pedal with your foot, which Donner describes as a smooth switch2. There is no separate mode switch to bend down and flip; the treadle action itself changes the function.
An LED tells you which mode is active:
| LED color | Mode |
|---|---|
| Red | Wah mode |
| Green | Volume mode |
In the Wah mode the LED lights red, and green for the Volume mode2. That is useful on a dark stage, since you can see at a glance what the pedal will do before you lean on it.
The connections are a 1/4" mono audio jack on the input and a 1/4" stereo audio jack on the output1. The housing is a durable plastic shell with a solid metal hinge design, in a red plastic casing, and the whole unit measures 148.5mm deep, 65.5mm wide and 60mm high1. That footprint is smaller than a full-size wah, in line with the mini format Donner sells it under.
Power: 9V DC, 140mA
The Vowel runs on a 9V DC center negative supply and draws 140mA1. Two things follow from that for a player:
The Vowel has no battery compartment, and Donner does not include a power adapter with the pedal, so you need your own 9V DC center negative supply to use it12.
The 140mA draw is worth checking against your pedalboard power supply, since some outputs serve less current per outlet and the Vowel may need a higher-current output or its own supply. As with any center negative pedal, the plug polarity has to match; a center positive supply will not power it correctly12.
Warranty and price
Donner covers the Vowel with a 1-year warranty, under which the item is repaired or replaced free of charge within 30 days of receipt2. The listed regular price is $249.99 USD, with a sale price of $73.99 USD as of October 20261.
Videos
intheblues
Steve Stine Guitar Lessons
woodsnstrings
Questions
Does the Donner Vowel take a battery?
No. Donner states the pedal does not come with a battery compartment, so it cannot run on a battery. It needs an external 9V DC power supply with a center negative plug, which is also not included in the box.
Does the Donner Vowel come with a power adapter?
No. Donner lists the power requirement as 9V DC center negative but does not include a power adapter with the pedal. You need your own 9V DC center negative supply, and at 140mA of current draw it should be one with enough headroom.
How do you switch the Donner Vowel between wah and volume?
You switch modes by pressing on the pedal with your foot. Donner describes it as a smooth switch between Vol and Wah modes, so there is no separate mode toggle to reach down and change; the treadle itself handles the change.
What do the red and green LEDs on the Donner Vowel mean?
The LED tells you which mode you are in. In Wah mode the LED lights red, and in Volume mode it lights green. That way you can see at a glance which function the pedal is set to before you start playing it.
Is the Donner Vowel an analog circuit?
Yes. Donner describes the Vowel as equipped with an analog circuit, and the company says its classic-inspired wah sound with deep filter resonance and smooth sweeping carries you back to the days of the 1970s.
What warranty does the Donner Vowel have?
Donner covers the Vowel with a 1-year warranty. Within 30 days of receipt, the item is repaired or replaced free of charge. Beyond that window, the warranty covers repair or replacement during the one-year period.
Sources (2)
- Vowel 2-in-1 Wah/ Volume Mini Guitar Pedal Donner, donnerdeal.com
- Vowel 2-in-1 Wah/ Volume Mini Guitar Pedal Donner, Donner (us.donnermusic.com)
