The Hotone Soul Press II is a compact, multi-function floor pedal that combines a wah, a volume pedal and an expression pedal in one unit. Made by Hotone, it arrived in June 20211 as the second generation of the company's mini multi-mode wah pedal, and it integrates four function modes: volume, wah, a combined volume/wah mode, and expression2. It is a true bypass pedal with a hybrid circuit, powered by a 9V DC center-negative supply or a 9-volt battery23.
The original Soul Press, launched at $99, offered the same three capabilities in one pedal, and MusicRadar described it as having "a throatier, fuller-voiced sweep that strikes a sweet spot between high- and low-end resonance"4. The Soul Press II carries that concept forward with a redesigned enclosure and a set of new wah controls.
The controls: Q knob and Warm/Classic switch
The wah side of the pedal is shaped by two controls. A Q knob adjusts the frequency width of the wah, letting you narrow or widen the sweep's character, and a Warm/Classic switch selects between two preset wah ranges6. Gearnews describes the pedal as "complete with Q (wah tone) and Warm/Classic switches"5.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Q knob | Adjusts the frequency width of the wah6 |
| Warm/Classic switch | Selects the wah range: Warm or Classic65 |
| Mode | Selects volume, wah, or combined volume/wah mode3 |
| Footswitch | In volume/wah mode, toggles between volume and wah7 |
Delicious Audio's write-up called the tone-mode selection and Q adjustment "an absolute improvement in tone and functionality" over the first generation6.
Wah range: Warm versus Classic
The Warm/Classic switch gives you two distinct sweeps. In the Warm setting the wah covers 290Hz to 1.4kHz; in the Classic setting it covers 360Hz to 1.8kHz6. Warm sits lower and tighter, Classic reaches higher into the register where a wah's upper peak bites. From there, the Q knob adjusts the frequency width within the chosen range6.
Switching between wah and volume
The Mode control selects between volume mode, wah mode, or a combined volume/wah mode3. In the combined mode, pressing the footswitch with your foot switches between the two functions, so you can go from volume control to wah without touching anything by hand7. A fourth mode, expression, turns the pedal into a controller for other gear2.
The volume side got its own redesign for the MkII. Pedal of the Day reported that "the active Volume circuit is newly-designed as well, guaranteeing lossless sound with absolutely zero tone suck"7.
Connections and power
The pedal has a single 1/4" mono audio input and three outputs: a 1/4" TRS jack for connecting to another device's expression control input, a 1/4" audio output for connecting to other gear, and a 1/4" tuner out3. The tuner out means you can keep a tuner connected and monitoring your signal without it sitting in your main audio path.
Power comes from either a 9V DC center-negative adapter drawing 30mA, or a 9-volt battery23. At 81mm x 162mm x 51mm and around 500 grams, Bass Musician Magazine noted it is smaller than most other options on the market3.
The 9V DC requirement is center negative, the standard for most pedalboard power supplies, and the 30mA draw is low enough that it can share an isolated output or daisy chain with other small pedals. The battery option is useful on a minimalist board with no power supply.
From Soul Press and Vow Press to the Soul Press II
The Soul Press II is an upgrade built on the concepts of two earlier Hotone pedals: the Soul Press and the Vow Press2. Pedal of the Day describes it as "based on the circuits of Hotone's Soul Press and Vow Press pedals"7. The first-generation Soul Press was one of Hotone's standout products, a mini, multi-function, multi-mode wah pedal offering wah, volume and expression capabilities in one box65.
The MkII, released in June 2021615, "takes the concept even further, adding a series of new features"6, including the Q and Warm/Classic wah controls and a reimagined enclosure that, in Delicious Audio's words, "maintains portability while delivering an optimal ergonomic experience"6. A pedal position indicator shows the pedal's position in real time2.
The line continued after the Soul Press II: Pedal of the Day profiled the Hotone Wong Press, a volume/wah/expression pedal built on the Soul Press II.
What reviewers said
Published feedback on the Soul Press II has been positive. Delicious Audio noted in April 2022 that "this pedal is getting lots of positive feedback by YouTubers"6. Bass Musician Magazine's 2023 review highlighted its four-in-one functionality, true bypass switching and compact size3.
For the original Soul Press, MusicRadar's verdict was more specific about character: its throatier, fuller-voiced sweep "makes it a great shout for distorted leads, but not so much for vintage wah aficionados"4. Players chasing a vintage cry-style sweep may prefer to audition it against more traditional wahs before committing.
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Questions
Is the Hotone Soul Press II true bypass?
Yes. Bass Musician Magazine's review describes the Soul Press II as a 4-in-1, true bypass pedal, so your dry signal passes through untouched when the effect is off3. The newly designed active volume circuit is also reported to give lossless sound with no tone suck when the pedal is in use7.
Does the Hotone Soul Press II take a battery?
Yes. It can be powered by either a 9-volt DC adapter or a 9-volt battery3. The adapter spec is 9V DC with a center-negative plug and a current draw of 30mA2.
How do you switch between wah and volume on the Soul Press II?
A Mode control selects between volume mode, wah mode, or a combined volume/wah mode3. In the combined mode, pressing the footswitch with your foot toggles between the two functions7.
Can the Soul Press II be used as an expression pedal?
Yes. Expression is one of its four function modes2, and its 1/4" TRS output connects to another device's expression control input3.
What is the wah range of the Soul Press II?
In the Warm setting the sweep runs from 290Hz to 1.4kHz, and in the Classic setting it runs from 360Hz to 1.8kHz6. The Q knob adjusts the frequency width of the wah6.
Sources (7)
- Best New Guitar Pedal Releases, Delicious Audio, 2021-07-06
- Soul Press II by HOTONE, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Review: Hotone Soul Press II, Bass Musician Magazine, 2023-05-22
- Best wah pedals: Add extra expression to your sound, MusicRadar, 2020-09-20
- The 6 Best Expression Pedals: Taking your Effects to the Next Level, gearnews.com, 2026-02-02
- Hotone Soul Press II Wah/Expression Pedal, Delicious Audio, 2022-04-25
- Hotone Soul Press II Volume Expression Wah, Pedal of the Day, 2021-08-16
