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Morley Mark Tremonti Power Wah
Photo: Morley

Morley Mark Tremonti Power Wah

Wah
List price
$279
Key facts
TypeSignature Power Wah with boost1
MakerMorley2
DesignerMark Tremonti, to his own specifications3
BoostUp to 20 dB, activates with the wah2
SwitchingElectro-optical, switchless, no on/off switch3
PowerStandard 9V operation with quick clip battery door2
Inputs/outputsMono in and out4
Works withGuitar, bass or keys2

The Morley Mark Tremonti Power Wah is a signature wah pedal from Morley, built to the specifications of Mark Tremonti, the guitarist known for his work with Creed and now Alter Bridge1. It is a switchless wah with a built-in boost: the Wah Boost control gives up to 20 decibels of extra punch, and it activates together with the wah itself2. Morley says Tremonti's signature wah has been his right-hand companion on stage for over two decades2.

What sets it apart from a vintage-style wah is its voicing. MusicRadar's review team found the sweep is narrower than a vintage-style wah, eliminating the scratchiest part of the high end, giving the pedal a distinctly modern character1. Morley describes the wah sweep as carefully tweaked to Mark's preferred settings2.

A modern-voiced wah with a narrower sweep

The core of the pedal is a wah filter tuned to Tremonti's taste. Morley states the sweep was "carefully tweaked to Mark's preferred settings"2, and the press agrees on the result: MusicRadar found the basic tonality at zero boost has a distinctly modern voicing, with a sweep narrower than a vintage-style wah that eliminates the scratchiest part of the high end1. For a player, that means the pedal skips the harsh upper region where some wahs get thin and raspy, and concentrates its sweep where a modern lead tone lives.

Tremonti himself often uses his wah for solos, as guitar.com's reviewer noted5, and Morley's history page says the Power Wah went on to be another great seller and a favorite of metal guitarists6. The pedal sits in Morley's wider signature wah family alongside models like the Morley Bad Horsie Wah and the Morley George Lynch Dragon 2, each with its own tuned sweep.

The Wah Boost control

There is only one control knob on the pedal: Wah Boost3. It adds a bit of punch to your signal once the wah is engaged, up to +20dB3. Morley says the boost was set per Mark's specifications and activates with the switchless wah, so it is not a separate always-on boost, it rides along with the effect2.

MusicRadar found the on-board boost brings in a raucous 20dB of extra gain, more than enough to get a solo noticed in a dense mix, and noted the rotary control can be manipulated on the fly with a foot1. That last point matters on stage: the boost level can be re-set mid-song with a foot instead of bending over.

ControlWhat it does
Wah BoostSets up to 20 dB of boost that activates with the wah2
TreadleEngages the wah and sweeps the filter; auto-off when the foot is removed3

Electro-optical switchless design

The Tremonti wah is one of the few wahs without a clickable on/off switch: it automatically shuts itself off when you take your foot off the treadle3. Because the Power Wah uses an electro-optical switchless design, the filter is not engaged until you rock the pedal forward1. In practice, a player steps on it to wah and steps off to play clean, with no toe-click timing to worry about.

The design also means there are no pots to wear out, which is Morley's famous electro-optical selling point2. Instead of a mechanical potentiometer sweeping the filter, light and a light-sensitive element do the job, removing the component that traditionally gets scratchy with age. The pedal also carries a Clear-Tone buffer circuit3, and buffering is part of how Tremonti uses it: Morley notes his rig can run upwards of 180 ft of cable, and by having two to three of his signature Morley wahs in the chain, the buffers help preserve his tone, since he does not use wireless systems7.

The pedal runs on standard 9V operation with a quick clip battery door2, and has mono in and out plus a PSU input2. There is no on/off switch to click: the wah engages when you rock the treadle and disengages when you lift your foot3.

What reviewers said

MusicRadar's overall verdict was positive for the pedal's intended audience: the review concluded that the Tremonti was less suited to funk or blues players but pushed all the right buttons for everyone else, describing bold, modern performance and hassle-free operation1. Pedal of the Day's reviewer, Mike B, found the wah easy to use and convenient, with never a question whether it is on, and said the 20dB of boost makes it that much more useful3.

The later MINI version, the Morley MINI Mark Tremonti Wah, got a cooler reception from guitar.com: Simon Bradley scored it 6 out of 10, and while he found all three of Morley's Custom Shop mini wahs robust and solidly made, he noted the differences in their tones can be subtle at best, and the price of admission is high5.

Where it came from and where to get it

Getting together with Morley allowed Mark Tremonti to design a wah built to his specifics3. When the Power Wah launched, MusicRadar reported it was available exclusively at Fret12 for $279, for a limited time only4. Morley later issued a Mark Tremonti Wah limited reissue in 20228, keeping the same core design, including the 20dB boost that activates with the switchless wah8. Tremonti has since extended his signature gear beyond wahs, launching his MT100 signature amp with PRS in 20259.

Videos

Mark Tremonti Signature Morley Wah Pedal
Morley
Guitar Talk Signature Series - Morley Mark Tremonti Wah Pedal Review
Guitar Gear Giveaway
Morley Mark Tremonti Wah Demo | SOUND BITES
guitarguitar

Questions

How much boost does the Mark Tremonti Power Wah add?

The Wah Boost control gives up to 20 decibels of boost, set to Mark Tremonti's own specifications. The boost activates together with the wah, so it only adds punch while the effect is engaged. Reviewers found the extra gain more than enough to get a solo noticed in a dense mix.

Does the Tremonti wah have an on/off switch?

No. It uses Morley's electro-optical switchless design, so there is no clickable on/off switch. The wah engages when you rock the pedal forward and shuts itself off automatically when you take your foot off it, so there is never a question whether it is on.

Can the Morley Tremonti wah be used with bass or keyboards?

Yes. Morley states that the Mark Tremonti Wah works with guitar, bass or keys, so it is not limited to guitar players. The modern voicing and narrower sweep were tuned for Tremonti's lead playing, but the pedal accepts any instrument with a mono output.

Where can you buy the Morley Mark Tremonti Power Wah?

When the Power Wah launched in 2018 it was available exclusively at Fret12 for $279, for a limited time only. Morley later issued a limited reissue of the Mark Tremonti Wah in 2022, and the pedal remains part of Morley's signature wah line.

Who designed the Morley Tremonti wah?

The wah was designed with Mark Tremonti, the guitarist known for his work with Creed and Alter Bridge. Getting together with Morley allowed him to design a wah built to his specifics, including the sweep settings and the 20dB boost, and he has used it on stage for over two decades.

Sources (9)
  1. Morley Mark Tremonti Wah review, MusicRadar, 2007-11-21
  2. Classic Mark Tremonti Wah, Morley
  3. Morley Mark Tremonti Wah, Pedal of the Day, 2014-07-25
  4. Summer NAMM 2018: Morley debuts 3 Custom Shop mini wah pedals for Mark Tremonti, Michael Amott and DJ Ashba, MusicRadar, 2018-06-28
  5. Review: Morley Mark Tremonti, Michael Amott & DJ Ashba Skeleton Mini Wahs, guitar.com, 2019-01-16
  6. The Morley History, Morley (www.morleyproducts.com)
  7. BUFFERS VS. TRUE BYPASS, Morley
  8. Mark Tremonti Wah, Morley, 2022-10-05
  9. Mark Tremonti road-testing his pedal line with Creed, guitarworld.com, 2025-03-21

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