The Harley Benton MiniStomp Shaft is a micro-sized auto-wah pedal: a filter effect that sweeps a wah tone automatically as you play, no rocking treadle required. Harley Benton pitches it as a way to "add some funk to your sound", saying the tiny pedal "packs in a swathe of rich, dynamic tones", whether you are after a traditional funky wah or dynamic rhythms1. It sits in the maker's MiniStomp range of compact pedals and is a digital design1. For more on the effect family it belongs to, see filter pedals and wah pedals.
Controls and modes
The Shaft keeps things simple: three knobs and a mini-switch.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Cutoff | Sets the envelope to generate the sound you want1 |
| Reso | Resonance control for the filter1 |
| Speed | Variable speed to suit the tempo of your playing1 |
| Mini-switch | Soft / normal / hard voicing modes1 |
The three-position switch is the pedal's main voicing tool. Harley Benton says "three different modes are available via mini-switch, with three voicings to provide you the right response for your musi[c]"1. In practice that means you pick a general filter character with the switch, then shape the sweep with the cutoff, reso and speed knobs until it locks in with what you are playing.
A single on/off footswitch with a status LED takes the effect in and out of the chain1.
Power, size and connections
The Shaft has no battery option in its specification: it runs only from a 9 V center-negative mains adapter, which is not included. Its 20 mA draw is light, but it still needs a dedicated supply output or a daisy chain rated for it.
The pedal's connections are a single 6.3 mm jack input and a 6.3 mm jack output1. True bypass keeps the signal path clean when the effect is off, which Harley Benton says is there "to eliminate signal interference when switched off"1.
At 92 x 38 x 32 mm and 133 g in a solid metal housing, it is built to squeeze onto a crowded board1. If you want a wah with a physical treadle instead of an automatic sweep, Harley Benton's newer Space Wah is a larger treadle pedal in the same family.
Videos
Ron Lydian
Gregor Fris
Questions
Is the Harley Benton MiniStomp Shaft true bypass?
Yes. Harley Benton describes the Shaft as true bypass, which the maker says is there to eliminate signal interference when the pedal is switched off. With the effect disengaged, your guitar's signal passes through the pedal without being processed.
Does the MiniStomp Shaft take a battery?
No. Harley Benton specifies power via a 9V mains adapter with a centre-negative plug, and the adapter is not included. There is no battery option listed for the pedal, so plan to have a suitable supply on your board.
What power supply does the Shaft need?
A 9V DC mains adapter with a centre-negative connector, which is not included with the pedal. Harley Benton lists current consumption at 20 mA, a light draw that most standard pedalboard power supplies can handle.
Is the MiniStomp Shaft analog or digital?
Digital. Harley Benton describes the Shaft as a digital auto-wah in the MiniStomp range.
How big is the MiniStomp Shaft?
Harley Benton lists the dimensions as 92 x 38 x 32 mm and the weight as 133 g, in a solid metal housing. It is a micro-sized pedal designed to take up minimal room on a pedalboard.
What do the soft, normal and hard modes do?
A mini-switch selects between soft, normal and hard modes. Harley Benton describes these as three different modes with three voicings, provided so you can set the right response for your music. The maker does not publish a more detailed breakdown of each voicing.
Sources (1)
- MiniStomp Shaft, Harley Benton
