A switchless optical wah with a glow-in-the-dark finish
The pedal's core is Morley's electro-optical, potless wah operation1. Where a conventional wah uses a potentiometer linked to the treadle, Morley's design uses light and a light sensor to track the treadle's position, so there is no pot to scratch or wear out. The Skeleton Wah also carries the company's custom MQ2 inductor, which Guitar World reported was designed for a more intense wah, a smooth range and less noise3.
The signature design is the finish: Morley's Patent Pending Glow In The Dark Coating Technology, so the entire pedal glows after the lights go down24. The full-size version is housed in a cold rolled steel chassis2.
Operation is switchless. As the Premier Guitar announcement put it:
"This new signature wah is switchless; simply step on to engage wah and step off to go to bypass"2
The pedal is not guitar-specific. Morley describes the Skeleton Wah as suitable for guitar, bass, keys or any other instrument you can plug into it2. Power comes through a PSU input, and the full-size version has an easy-access battery compartment15.
The controls
There is little on the outside to adjust, which is the point of the design. The wah's sweep is tuned to Ashba's preferred tone and sweep3, and the only user control is an internal trim pot for output level.
| Control | What it does | How to reach it |
|---|---|---|
| Internal wah level trim pot | Sets the wah's output level | Unscrew the pedal base, adjust with a small screwdriver1 |
Guitar.com's reviewer noted that adjusting it means opening the pedal up, so it is a set-and-forset adjustment rather than something you tweak between songs1. The same trim pot was described in the 2017 launch coverage of the full-size version23.
Versions and limited run
The DJ Ashba Skeleton Wah first appeared in full-size form, which Morley's own history dates to 20176. It was also offered in an M2 European version, model SKW223. The Mini reviewed here arrived at Summer NAMM 2018 as part of a Custom Shop mini wah line, available from mid-July 2018 at $229 in the US4. The full-size pedal launched at a $145 recommended retail price5, and guitar.com's UK pricing for the mini was £2091.
The Mini DJ Ashba Skeleton Wah was a limited edition of 500 units worldwide1, so it now turns up secondhand rather than at retailers. The Skeleton Wah line itself has continued under the Morley Product Group in Carpentersville, Illinois7.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com reviewed the Mini DJ Ashba Skeleton Wah in January 2019 alongside the Tremonti and Amott minis, scoring it 7 out of 101. The reviewer's verdict:
"Sounds good for disparate styles and also illuminates the rest of your pedalboard!"1
That last point was literal: the glow-in-the-dark finish doubles as a practical feature on a dark stage. At the original 2017 launch, Gearnews expected the build to hold up, writing that the pedal is sturdily built, as all Morley wah pedals they had seen, so it should last5.
Questions
Is the Morley Mini DJ Ashba Skeleton Wah true bypass?
Yes. It is a switchless true bypass pedal: you step on the treadle to engage the wah and step off to return to bypass, with no footswitch to hit. The switching is done electro-optically rather than with a mechanical switch.
How do you adjust the output level on the Mini Skeleton Wah?
The wah level is set by an internal trim pot. To reach it you unscrew the pedal's base plate and turn the trimmer with a small screwdriver, so it is a set-and-forget adjustment rather than a knob on the outside of the pedal.
How many Mini DJ Ashba Skeleton Wahs were made?
The Mini DJ Ashba Skeleton Wah was limited to 500 units worldwide. It was one of three Custom Shop mini wahs Morley debuted at Summer NAMM 2018, alongside models for Mark Tremonti and Michael Amott.
Does the Morley Skeleton Wah use a pot?
No. Morley's wahs use electro-optical circuitry, where a light and a light sensor control the wah sweep instead of a potentiometer. There is no pot to scratch or wear out over time.
How much did the DJ Ashba Skeleton Wah cost in the US?
The full-size DJ Ashba Skeleton Wah launched in 2017 with a $145 recommended retail price. The Mini Custom Shop version that followed in mid-2018 was priced at $229 in the US.
Sources (7)
- Review: Morley Mark Tremonti, Michael Amott & DJ Ashba Skeleton Mini Wahs, guitar.com, 2019-01-16
- Morley Releases Signature DJ Ashba Skeleton Wah, Premier Guitar, 2017-01-11
- NAMM 2017: MorleyReleases DJ Ashba Signature Skeleton Wah, Guitar World, 2017-01-10
- Summer NAMM 2018: Morley debuts 3 Custom Shop mini wah pedals for Mark Tremonti, Michael Amott and DJ Ashba, MusicRadar, 2018-06-28
- NAMM 2017: Morley preview DJ Ashba Skeleton 'glow in the dark' wah, gearnews.com, 2017-01-17
- The Morley History, Morley (www.morleyproducts.com), 2017
- Introduced in the 1970s, Morley's PWF Power Wah Fuzz Pedal Was the Final Word in Unrelenting Fuzz-Wah Tone, GuitarPlayer (www.guitarplayer.com), 2023-06-07
