The Morley Custom Shop Mini Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2 Wah is a wah pedal in Morley's limited-edition Custom Shop mini format, carrying Steve Vai's own artwork and limited to just 500 pieces1. It packs the Bad Horsie 2 circuit into a smaller enclosure, with a footswitchable Contour Wah mode on top of Vai's signature default setting1.
What it does
The pedal's default mode is set to Steve Vai's preferred tone and sweep, the same as the original Bad Horsie. MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen called it "a nicely expressive classic wah with plenty of chewy midrange - particularly vocal with distortion sounds"1.
Beyond that default, there is a footswitchable Contour Wah mode where you can shape the effected frequencies with a Contour knob, which the reviewer found runs "from subtle and subdued to gnarly with a strident peaky top end with the toe down"1. If you like a boost in volume when you engage the pedal, there is also a volume knob with loads of extra gain1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Treadle | Spring-loaded wah sweep; starts operating as soon as you press down1 |
| Footswitch | Switches between the default mode and Contour Wah mode1 |
| Contour knob | Shapes the effected frequencies in Contour Wah mode1 |
| Volume knob | Extra gain for a boost in volume when the pedal is engaged1 |
How it switches and how it is built
Operation is different from traditional wahs: this one is spring-loaded and starts operating as soon as you press down. Take your foot off and it springs back to its bypass mode1. That makes it a switchless design in practice, with no latch to stomp.
As is the tradition with Morley wahs, it features electro-optical operation, so there is no pot to get scratchy and eventually need replacing1. The enclosure is rugged steel1.
The pedal is limited to 500 pieces1. Morley has also released a standard Mini Bad Horsie 2 and the full-size Bad Horsie 2 for players who want the same circuit outside the Custom Shop run.
The Custom Shop mini series
The Custom Shop mini series includes a mini version of the Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2 wah. Its operation is different from traditional wahs: it is spring-loaded and starts operating as soon as you press down, and it springs back to bypass mode when you take your foot off1. Alongside the standard wah mode there is a footswitchable Contour Wah mode, with a Contour knob to shape the effected frequencies, and a volume knob with loads of extra gain for a boost in volume when you engage the pedal1.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's verdict, in Trevor Curwen's words: "It's is a lot of money for a wah, but then it's a lot of wah for the money..."1. His review weighed the price against the Contour mode, the volume boost and the electro-optical circuit, and found the default mode expressive with plenty of chewy midrange1.
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Questions
How many Mini Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2 wahs were made?
The Morley Custom Shop Mini Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2 Wah is a limited edition, capped at just 500 pieces. Each one carries Steve Vai's own artwork, a psychedelic look with luminous logos on the front and on the treadle. Once the run of 500 is gone, Morley has said nothing about further production, so the pedal's availability depends on what remains of that run.
What is Contour Wah mode?
Contour Wah is a second mode on the Mini Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2, reached by footswitch. In it you can shape the effected frequencies with a Contour knob, which MusicRadar's reviewer described as ranging from subtle and subdued to gnarly, with a strident, peaky top end when the toe is down. The pedal's default mode stays set to Vai's preferred tone and sweep.
Does the Bad Horsie 2 use a pot?
No. As is the tradition with Morley wahs, the pedal uses electro-optical operation, so there is no pot to get scratchy and eventually need replacing. That is one of the practical differences between it and conventional wah pedals that rely on a mechanical pot under the treadle.
How does the Bad Horsie 2 switch on and off?
Operation is different from traditional wahs: the pedal is spring-loaded and starts operating as soon as you press down on the treadle. Take your foot off and it springs back to its bypass mode. There is no conventional on/off switch to stomp, which suits players who want the wah only while their foot is on it.
Is the Mini Bad Horsie 2 the same sweep as the original Bad Horsie?
The pedal's default mode is set to Steve Vai's preferred tone and sweep, which MusicRadar notes is the same as the original Bad Horsie. The reviewer described that default mode as a nicely expressive classic wah with plenty of chewy midrange, particularly vocal with distortion sounds.
Sources (1)
- Morley Custom Shop Mini Steve Vai Bad Horsie 2 Wah review, MusicRadar, 2018-11-10
