The Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah is a wah pedal from Fulltone, the expanded version of the company's Clyde wah, itself an unofficial reissue of the vintage Vox Clyde McCoy wah1. The Deluxe adds voicing options and mechanical adjustments over the original Clyde, and a 2014 Delicious Audio review judged it "the most functional wah on the market"2.
What It Does
A wah pedal sweeps a resonant filter across the frequency range as you rock the treadle with your foot, producing the vocal-like "wah" sound heard across funk, rock, and psychedelic guitar. The Clyde Deluxe's defining trait among the wahs Delicious Audio compared it with is its sweep: it "features the widest pedal sweep among the bunch"2.
The three voicing settings shape the filter's character:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Jimi | Aims to emulate the 1960s Vox Voodoo Chile tone2 |
| Shaft | A second voicing option2 |
| Wacked | A third voicing option2 |
The Deluxe also carries a buffer, which Delicious Audio notes "helps ensure that the wah plays nice with other pedals on the chain, particularly fuzz pedals"2, a common trouble spot since vintage-style fuzz circuits often load down a wah placed ahead of them. When the effect is off, true bypass switching removes it from the signal path entirely2.
How It Is Controlled
The Clyde Deluxe has an adjustable treadle, "which allows for customized resistance for your foot"2. In practice this means the rocking action can be set to feel stiffer or looser, so a player can dial in how much effort each sweep takes.
The wide sweep that defines the Deluxe takes getting used to. Delicious Audio reports that "some users complain that the sweep is too big, because the range is wide enough that you can't simply go top to bottom" and that it requires practice with both small and large sweep ranges2.
Where It Came From
The Clyde Deluxe descends from the Fulltone Clyde, designed and built by Mike Fuller of Fulltone Custom Effects and described by Vintage Guitar in 2001 as "an unofficial reissue of the Clyde McCoy," the late-1960s Vox wah1. The Clyde was offered in Powder-coated White, Hammertone Black, and Hammertone Gray finishes and carried a limited lifetime warranty1. In that 2001 review, comparing it against two original Vox Clyde McCoy wahs and a Dunlop Crybaby, Vintage Guitar found "the Fulltone demonstrated the widest tonal range, the best tapered pot, smoothest treadle action, and offered the most control of the effect" of the wahs tested1.
The Clyde line also has a second life: Wilson Effects sells a Clyde Signature Wah "designed next to an original vintage Clyde Wah"3, a separate product from the Fulltone original. Related Fulltone wahs covered elsewhere on this site include the Fulltone Clyde, the Fulltone Clyde Standard Wah, and the Fulltone WahFull.
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Questions
What are the three modes on the Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah?
The Clyde Deluxe offers three settings: Jimi, which aims at a 1960s Vox Voodoo Chile tone; Shaft; and Wacked. Each mode changes the wah's voicing so a player can pick the character that suits the part without swapping pedals.
Does the Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah work with fuzz pedals?
Yes. The Deluxe includes a buffer that helps the wah play well with other pedals on the chain, particularly fuzz pedals, which often misbehave in front of a wah. It also uses true bypass switching when the effect is off.
Can you adjust the treadle on the Clyde Deluxe?
Yes. The Clyde Deluxe has an adjustable treadle that lets you customize the resistance for your foot, so the rocking action can be set stiffer or looser to match your playing style.
Sources (3)
- Fulltone Clyde Wah, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2004-01-13
- Pedal Review: The Fulltone Clyde Deluxe, Delicious Audio, 2014-07-10
- Clyde Signature Wah, Wilson Effects
