The Mojo Hand FX Little Wonder is a compact envelope filter pedal: a filter that opens and closes in response to how hard you play, producing the automatic-wah "quack" associated with funk guitar. Mojo Hand FX describes it as having "classic envelope filter sounds for any rig that needs a little quack"1.
It is a smaller version of the company's Wonder Filter, with circuitry modeled after the Mu-Tron's legendary '70s filter2. Mojo Hand FX puts it plainly: "We took the funk from our original Wonder Filter and squished it into a smaller, pedal board friendly enclosure"1. It shipped starting September 25, 2020 at $1492, and the maker's current list price is $1593.
A Mu-Tron-style envelope filter with a blend
The Little Wonder's circuitry is modeled after that found on Mu-Tron's legendary '70s filter, the Mu-Tron III2. Premier Guitar's review of the larger Wonder Filter, on which the Little Wonder is based, described its "classic Mu-Tron-rooted voice" and found that "what it might lack in complexity relative to an old Mu-Tron is made up for by the forgiving and easy-to-dial-in control"5. The Little Wonder follows the same philosophy: Delicious Audio called it "a three-knob, stylized, and more intuitive version" of the Wonder Filter that still offers two filter types, Bandpass and Lowpass6.
The standout feature for many players is the Blend control, which sets the balance between your instrument's dry signal and the effect's7. Guitar.com's Daniel Seah noted that this "could be especially handy for bass players looking to add a touch of filtered character to a carefully crafted bass tone"7. Eric Gales runs one on his pedalboard, using it for funk material or when a part calls for it8.
The controls
The control set is three knobs plus a center switch2. Here is what each one does:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Adjusts the input sensitivity of the envelope. It is not a distortion gain control and does not add distortion1. |
| Peak | Fine-tunes the sharpness of the filter, from a smooth roll-off to a full-on quack attack at the extremes7. |
| Blend | Sets the mix of dry and wet signal2. |
| BP/LP switch | Sets the filter type: Band Pass or Low Pass1. |
The two filter modes shape the sound differently. In Low Pass mode the pedal dials back on high frequencies; in Band Pass mode it slopes off the highs and lows, akin to a wah effect7. The maker describes Band Pass as a filter that slopes off the highs and lows like a wah pedal's filtering1.
The Gain knob deserves a note, because its name misleads. Guitar.com explained that it "tweaks the input sensitivity of the envelope without introducing colouration to the overall signal," helping the pedal adapt to your instrument and playing dynamics7. Set it so the filter responds to your attack, not so it distorts.
Revision 2 of the Little Wonder adds an internal trimpot not found on earlier units1. If you are buying used, check which revision you are getting.
Little Wonder vs Wonder Filter
The Little Wonder is a downsized, simplified take on the Wonder Filter. The differences621:
- Size: the Little Wonder sits in a compact, pedalboard-friendly chassis4, where the Wonder Filter was a full-size enclosure.
- Controls: the Little Wonder keeps Blend, Peak and Gain6; the Wonder Filter added a 2-way Range toggle (low/high) and a 2-way Drive toggle (down/up)3.
- Availability: the Wonder Filter is now discontinued by Mojo Hand FX3, while the Little Wonder remains in the lineup.
On bass
The Blend control is the reason the Little Wonder works for bass as well as guitar. Because you can keep part of your dry signal in the mix, the filtered effect sits on top of your low end rather than replacing it, which Guitar.com flagged as especially handy for bass players7. The Gain control's job of matching the envelope's sensitivity to your instrument also matters here, since a bass's output and attack differ from a guitar's7. See also bass pedals for where a filter fits on a bass board.
Who makes it
Mojo Hand FX is a custom shop based in Evans, Louisiana, as Premier Guitar described it9. The company is also known for its fuzz pedals10. The Little Wonder is made in the US4.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Mojo Hand Little Wonder good on bass?
Yes, it is well suited to bass. The Blend control lets you mix your dry signal with the filtered signal, so low end is never fully lost, and Guitar.com's writer noted this could be especially handy for bass players adding a touch of filtered character to a crafted bass tone. The Gain control also adapts the envelope to your instrument and playing dynamics.
What is the difference between the Wonder Filter and the Little Wonder?
The Little Wonder is a smaller version of the Wonder Filter, in a more pedalboard-friendly enclosure with a simplified three-knob control set. The Wonder Filter added a Range toggle and a Drive toggle that the Little Wonder drops, and Mojo Hand FX has since discontinued the Wonder Filter while the Little Wonder remains in the lineup.
Is the Little Wonder a Mu-Tron III clone?
Not a clone, but a pedal modeled on one. Mojo Hand FX describes the Little Wonder as taking the funk of its Wonder Filter, whose circuitry is rooted in the classic Mu-Tron voice, and packing it into a smaller box. It offers two filter types, Band Pass and Low Pass, like the Mu-Tron, but with a simpler, more intuitive control set.
Where is the Mojo Hand FX Little Wonder made?
The Little Wonder is made in the US, in a compact chassis, per Guitar World's launch coverage. Mojo Hand FX is a custom shop based in Evans, Louisiana, as described in a Premier Guitar review of the maker's gear.
Sources (10)
- Little Wonder, MojoHandFX
- Mojo Hand FX Debuts New Little Wonder Filter Pedal, GuitarPlayer, 2020-09-17
- Wonder Filter, Mojo Hand FX
- Mojo Hand FX reveals Mu-Tron filter-aping Little Wonder, Guitar World, 2020-09-11
- Mojo Hand Fx Wonder Filter Review, Premier Guitar, 2016-09-13
- Mojo Hand FX Little Wonder Filter, Delicious Audio, 2020-09-08
- Mojo Hand FX’s Little Wonder is a compact filter pedal inspired by the Mu-Tron, Guitar.com, 2020-09-14
- “There's nothing that over-washes the natural sound of the guitar and amp, Guitar World, 2024-07-23
- Review: Mojo Hand Analogue Filter, Nebula & Luna, Premier Guitar, 2008-06-15
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-09-23
