The GUP Tech Ottawa-Wah Auto-Wah Douche Edition is an auto-wah, or envelope filter, pedal: it sweeps a filter in response to how hard you play, producing the automatic wah sound without a treadle. GUP Tech describes it as based on the old DOD 440 Envelope Filter, "the classic Green pedal of old school boards," and notes it is the first auto-wah in the company's catalog. It is built in Saguenay, Québec, Canada.1
The UP/Down emphasis toggle
The pedal's main control beyond the filter itself is a UP/Down emphasis toggle. GUP Tech describes the two positions this way1:
"In up position, you get a throaty-bassy tone, perfect for guitar. In the bottom position, a lot of the low-end is cut, letting the pedal shine in a mix."
In practice, that means guitar players can keep the full-bodied response in the up position, or flip down to thin the low end when the pedal needs to cut through a band mix1.
The Douche Edition and availability
The Douche Edition is one version of the Ottawa-Wah; the maker also lists a Gold Rush Edition. The Douche Edition is described as a "Super limited Sparkling Red edition," and the maker's page showed only one unit left when last listed.1
This is a limited run.1
Power and setup
The Ottawa-Wah runs on 9V DC only, center negative, and draws 6mA. That is a very light load, so it works with standard pedalboard supplies and shared outputs.1
For more on this family of effects, see Filter Pedals and Wah-Wah Pedals.
Questions
What circuit is the GUP Tech Ottawa-Wah based on?
GUP Tech describes the Ottawa-Wah as based on the old DOD 440 Envelope Filter, which the maker calls the classic green pedal of old school boards. The Douche Edition is one of several versions of the Ottawa-Wah, alongside the Gold Rush Edition.
What power supply does the Ottawa-Wah need?
The Ottawa-Wah runs on 9V DC only, with a center negative plug, the same standard supply most pedalboards use. It draws 6mA, so it sits comfortably on a shared daisy-chain supply alongside other low-draw pedals.
How much current does the Ottawa-Wah draw?
GUP Tech lists power consumption at 6mA, which is very low by pedal standards and easy on any regulated 9V supply.
Where is the GUP Tech Ottawa-Wah made?
GUP Tech states that all of its pedals are made by the company in Saguenay, Québec, Canada, and the Ottawa-Wah is no exception.
What does the switch on the Ottawa-Wah do?
The UP/Down emphasis toggle changes where the filter sits in the frequency range. In the up position you get a throaty, bassy tone that GUP Tech calls perfect for guitar. In the bottom position a lot of the low end is cut, letting the pedal shine in a mix.
Sources (1)
- Ottawa-Wah Auto-Wah Douche Edition, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
