The Ibanez WH10 is a wah pedal made by Ibanez, produced from 1987 to 1996 and reissued since 20091. Unlike most wahs, it was built in a plastic housing and used a multiple feedback op amp circuit rather than the inductor design of a classic Cry Baby-style wah, with a depth control to set the effect's intensity23. It is best known today as the wah of Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante, whom MusicRadar calls "a long time user of the original version of this wah pedal"24.
What it is and what it does
The WH10 sweeps a filter across your signal like any wah, but it gets there differently. MusicRadar notes that "The WH10 has a multiple feedback op amp circuit"2, where most traditional wahs use an inductor and a potentiometer ganged to the treadle. A depth control lets you set how intense the sweep is3, and the reissue adds guitar and bass modes, which MusicRadar describes as "offering guitar and bass modes for optimal filter sweeps for each"2, so bass players get a sweep voiced for their instrument.
The pedal's reputation is double-edged. Guitar World, recounting how Eddie Van Halen helped John Frusciante track one down, summed up the original's appeal and its weakness in one line32:
"They sound great! But they break all the time."
That plastic enclosure is the reason original units are scarce and collectible today: TONEHOME rates the WH10's collectibility as high1.
Versions: V1, V2 and V3
The WH10 went through three versions, and the naming of the reissues is not straightforward15.
| Version | Years | Look | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| V1 | 1987 to 1993 | Gray/green | The original; the sweep players associate with the pedal16 |
| V2 | 1993 to 1996 | Black/purple | Replaced the V1; original buffer design16 |
| WH10V2 (reissue) | 2009 | Die cast enclosure | Called WH10v2, but TONEHOME notes it "is actually version 3"1 |
| WH10V3 | Announced late 2019 | Die cast enclosure | Selectable true/buffered bypass switch4 |
A few things matter when comparing them:
- Sweep character. Wilson Effects, a modder who works on these pedals, says "Stock WH10V3 & V2 pedals have a darker, less pronounced sweep compared to the original WH-10 V1"6, and that the V3 and V2 sweep "lacks that punchy funk that the original is known for"7.
- Bypass and buffering. The V3 has an op-amp-based buffer and the V2 has the original buffer design, and Wilson Effects says "both of which color your tone"6. The V3 improves on the V2 with "a selectable true/buffered bypass switch"5, and MusicRadar reports the wah "now has a new switch to choose between true bypass and buffered outputs, so no more tone suck"2.
- Enclosure. The reissue came in "a more road-worthy die cast enclosure we saw in its second version"2, addressing the fragility of the plastic original.
John Frusciante and the WH10
The pedal's modern profile rests largely on one player. MusicRadar calls the WH10 "Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante's favourite wah"2, and gearnews.com describes him as "a long time user of the original version of this wah pedal"2. Guitar World tells the story of how Eddie Van Halen helped Frusciante get one when the originals were already hard to find3.
Modifications and the Wilson Effects route
Because the stock V2 and V3 reissues differ from the V1 in sweep and buffering, modification services have grown up around the pedal. Wilson Effects offers WH10 modifications that convert the pedal to true bypass: "The pedal is true bypassed with the mods"7. Their Modified WH10V3 with V1 Pot Swap goes further, fitting V1 components to address the darker sweep, and it is also true bypassed after the mods5. See the Wilson Effects WH10 modification and Modified WH10V3 with V1 Pot Swap pages for details.
Prices over the years
TONEHOME records the pedal's list prices in its home market: 189 DM in 1989, 211 DM in 1994, and 98 EUR for the 2010 reissue1. No US list price appears in those records.
Related Ibanez wahs
Ibanez has kept wahs in its range alongside and since the WH10, including the Weeping Demon, the Weeping Demon Junior, and the dual-inductor TWP10 Twin Peaks, which blends two frequency peaks rather than sweeping one.
Videos
Dave Simpson
Martin Primicias
Honpo Nori-chan
News
Questions
Is the Ibanez WH10 true bypass?
The original WH10 and the stock reissues are not true bypass. Wilson Effects says the WH10V3 has an op-amp-based buffer and the V2 has the original buffer design, and both color your tone. The V3 adds a switch to choose between true bypass and buffered output, and Wilson Effects modification services convert the pedal to true bypass.
What is the difference between the Ibanez WH10 V1, V2 and V3?
The V1 (grey/green) sold from 1987 to 1993 and was replaced in 1993 by the V2 (black/purple). Wilson Effects says the stock V2 and V3 have a darker, less pronounced sweep than the V1. The V3 adds a selectable true/buffered bypass switch and a die cast enclosure, and it includes guitar and bass modes.
Does the Ibanez WH10 work with bass?
Yes. MusicRadar reports that the reissued WH10 offers guitar and bass modes, giving optimal filter sweeps for each instrument, so bass players get a sweep voiced for their range rather than a guitar-only filter.
Is the Ibanez WH10 still in production?
The original run ended in 1996, but the pedal was reissued in 2009 and TONEHOME lists it as reissued from 2009 to the present with good availability. The WH10V3 re-release was announced toward the end of 2019.
Which wah does John Frusciante use?
John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers uses the Ibanez WH10. MusicRadar calls it his favorite wah, and gearnews.com describes him as a long time user of the original version of the pedal.
Is the Ibanez WH10 housing metal or plastic?
The original 1980s WH10 was made of plastic, which is part of why it became scarce: as Guitar World put it, the pedals sound great but break all the time. The reissue moved to a more road-worthy die cast enclosure, as in the second version.
Sources (7)
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME, 1989
- NAMM 2020: Ibanez launches trio of new effects pedals, MusicRadar, 2020-01-02
- How Eddie Van Halen Helped John Frusciante Score a Wah Pedal, Guitar World, 2017-04-05
- NAMM 2020: Ibanez re-releases the Echo Shifter pedal, gearnews.com, 2020-01-01
- Modified WH10V3 with V1 Pot Swap, Wilson Effects
- Send in Your WH10 for Mods, Wilson Effects
- Modify Your WH10, Wilson Effects
Eddie Van Halen
