The Real McCoy Custom RMC5/Wizard Wah is a hand-built wah pedal from Geoffrey Teese, the builder behind Real McCoy Custom. The maker describes it as "part RMC1, part PICTURE WAH", a pedal that "sounds like nothing else", and Pedal of the Day's reviewer called it "a mix of the RMC1 and the Picture Wah"12. It sits in the Real McCoy Custom wah range alongside the RMC1, which Teese also develops and builds3.
What it does to your sound
The Wizard Wah's headline feature is its sweep. Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote that "The Wizard Wah has an extended sweep range, providing the user with total control of their tone", running from a smooth top end and mids to a low end the reviewer described as deep but clear2. On the character of the pedal, the same reviewer found "tons of non-traditional wah character and yet all the great quack you want from a great wah"2.
That extended sweep is a Real McCoy Custom trait: Teese says his hand-built wahs "deliver more sweep range than mass produced wahs"3.
How it is built
Like the rest of the Real McCoy Custom range, the RMC5 is developed and built by Geoffrey Teese himself1. The maker lists the following on the Wizard Wah's product page1:
- True-bypass switching
- Easily adjustable rocker tension, a feature dated to October 2006
- AC adapter jack
- Low noise inductor
- RFI filtering
Pedal of the Day's review adds EMI filtering alongside the RFI filtering, and identifies the inductor as a custom manufacture Karmaflux2.
RMC5 Wizard Wah compared with the RMC1
The two pedals share a good deal, which fits the maker's description of the Wizard as part RMC11.
| Feature | RMC5 Wizard Wah | RMC1 |
|---|---|---|
| Bypass | True-bypass1 | True-bypass3 |
| Inductor | Low noise1 | Low noise3 |
| RFI filtering | Yes1 | Yes3 |
| Fuzz-friendly technology | Not listed | Included3 |
| Voicing | Part RMC1, part Picture Wah1 | RMC1 circuit |
One difference worth noting for players who run a fuzz in front of their wah: the RMC1's page lists fuzz-friendly technology, while the Wizard Wah's page does not13.
Production status
Pedal of the Day's 2014 review states that the version they looked at, a 2005 model, is "no longer in production"2. Real McCoy Custom's own Wizard Wah page was still live as of 2024, and RockBoard's PedalPedia still lists the RMC5/Wizard Wah among Real McCoy Custom's pedals as of 202614.
The review also credits Geoffrey Teese with "building some of the finest wah pedals on the market" for some twenty years, and calls the RMC5 "one of the most popular Real McCoy Custom wahs"2.
Videos
ProGuitarShopDemos
Prymaxe
Jack's Corner
Questions
Is the Real McCoy Custom RMC5 Wizard Wah true bypass?
Yes. Real McCoy Custom lists the RMC5 Wizard Wah as true-bypass, and the Pedal of the Day review also describes it as true bypass. The maker's page also notes an easily adjustable rocker tension, a feature dated to October 2006, and an AC adapter jack.
Is the RMC5 Wizard Wah still made?
The Pedal of the Day review from April 2014 states that the particular version reviewed, a 2005 model, is no longer in production. Real McCoy Custom still maintains a product page for the Wizard Wah, so the model remains part of the company's lineup on paper, but the 2005 version itself is discontinued.
What inductor does the RMC5 use?
The maker's page lists the inductor simply as low noise. The Pedal of the Day review identifies it as a custom manufacture Karmaflux inductor.
How does the RMC5 differ from the RMC1?
The RMC5 Wizard Wah is described by its maker as part RMC1 and part Picture Wah, so it shares the RMC1's core circuit but adds the Picture Wah voicing. Both pedals are true-bypass, use a low noise inductor, and include RFI filtering.
Does the RMC5 have RFI filtering?
Yes. Real McCoy Custom lists RFI filtering on the Wizard Wah's product page, and the Pedal of the Day review confirms RFI filtering and adds EMI filtering.
Sources (4)
- RMC5-WIZARD WAH, Real McCoy Custom, 2024
- Geoffrey Teese Real McCoy Custom RMC5 Wizard Wah, Pedal of the Day, 2014-04-09
- RMC1, realmccoycustom.com, 2022
- RMC5/Wizard Wah by Real Mccoy Custom, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
