The Morley 20/20 Power Wah Volume is a switchable combination of an optical wah and a volume pedal in one treadle, part of Morley's 20/20 line introduced in August 201912. It carries a Boost knob that allows up to 20 dB of clean boost in wah mode, and Morley fits it with the company's 20/20 Buffer circuit, which Morley says prevents signal loss and maintains tone1. The housing is cold-rolled steel painted Traffic Yellow, with an LED indicator, a quick clip battery door and a glow-in-the-dark treadle grip12.
What it does for a player
The pedal starts in volume mode, and a side switch activates the wah4. That means one treadle covers two jobs on a board: ride it for level, then flip the side switch when you want the filter. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio described it this way:
"It delivers a traditional Wah tone with an added 20db Wah Boost control, but can also act as a Volume pedal."
The boost is the distinguishing control. Morley's press release for the 20/20 line, with Scott Fietsam speaking for the company, describes "a 20db Wah Boost control" on the Power Wah Volume2, and gearnews.com framed the pedal as combining the +20dB boost functionality of the regular Power Wah with the option to use the unit as a volume pedal5. In the Sweetwater demo video, Don Carr and Pete Feniger walk through the side switch and the boost control on the side of the pedal, which "allows you up to 20 decibels of boost"4.
Controls and power
| Control or feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Treadle | Volume in volume mode; wah sweep once the wah is engaged14 |
| Side switch | Activates the wah from volume mode4 |
| Boost knob | Up to 20 dB of clean boost in wah mode1 |
| 20/20 Buffer | Prevents signal loss and maintains tone, per Morley1 |
| LED | Indicates the pedal's status1 |
Power is straightforward: one 9-volt battery through the quick clip battery door, or an optional Morley 9V adapter, and Morley notes compatibility with most 9V adapters1. gearnews.com's report on the 20/20 range confirms the pedals run on a 9V battery or external DC power supply5.
The pedal is optical, so there is no pot to wear in the treadle path, and the built-in 20/20 Buffer means it is an active pedal: it needs power to pass signal, whether from the battery or an adapter1.
Where it came from
Morley announced the 20/20 line in August 2019 as a pedalboard-friendly update to its classic pedals, debuting the Bad Horsie Wah, Power Wah and Power Wah Volume2. Premier Guitar's report on the line notes the updates added a buffer, a lifetime warranty, switchless activation and glow-in-the-dark details across the range6. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley covered the reveal of the revised trio in their new smaller sizes, listing the Power Wah Volume at $1597.
The 20/20 Power Wah Volume sits alongside Morley's earlier full-size Power Wah Volume and the smaller Mini Power Wah Volume. Guitar World's 2018 report on the Mini line described the Mini Power Wah Volume as a combo wah and volume pedal with a Wah Level control at $1598, so the 20/20 version carries the combination into the newer format with the buffer and boost added.
Morley posted a review by guitarist Cesar Huesca in May 2024, provided through Guitar Gear in Mexico. Morley notes that Huesca used the previous classic size version for the past decade and was excited to have the newer smaller version9.
Delicious Audio, reviewing the first three wah releases of the line, observed that "the 20/20 Power Wah seems to be the one that caught more attention" among them3. Guitar.com's NAMM 2020 report similarly notes that the Power Wah and Power Wah Volume each pack a 20dB wah boost, with the latter offering additional volume pedal capabilities10.
Videos
Sweetwater
Morley
Sean Pierce Johnson
Questions
Can the Morley 20/20 Power Volume Wah run on a battery?
Yes. Morley powers the pedal with one 9-volt battery, accessed through a quick clip battery door, or with an optional Morley 9V adapter. The company notes it is compatible with most 9V adapters, so it can share a standard pedalboard supply.
What does the +20dB boost do?
The Boost knob allows up to 20 dB of clean boost, and it works in wah mode. Morley positions it as a way to push a wah solo or lead part forward. Delicious Audio describes the pedal as delivering a traditional wah tone with the added 20dB wah boost control.
What color is the Morley 20/20 Power Volume Wah?
Traffic Yellow. Morley's press release for the 20/20 line describes the Power Wah Volume as having a Traffic Yellow paint job over a cold-rolled steel housing, with a glow-in-the-dark treadle grip.
Does the Morley Power Volume Wah have a buffer?
Yes. Morley fits the pedal with its 20/20 Buffer circuit, which the company says prevents signal loss and maintains tone. That places a buffer ahead of the wah and volume electronics, which matters on longer pedalboard cable runs.
How much does the Morley 20/20 Power Volume Wah cost?
Morley's 2019 press release listed a street price of $159. By January 2021, Delicious Audio listed the street price at $139, so the going price has come down since launch.
Sources (10)
- 20/20 Power Wah Volume, Morley
- 20/20 Pedals Press Release, Morley, 2019-08
- Morley 20/20 Power Wah/Volume (with Boost), Delicious Audio, 2021-01-18
- Morley 20/20 Power Wah/Volume Pedal Demo, Sweetwater (YouTube), 2019-11-07
- Morley 20/20 Wah Range: Classic pedals get a pedalboard-friendly update, gearnews.com, 2019-08-21
- Morley Introduces the Updated 20/20 Pedal Line, Premier Guitar, 2019-08-21
- Morley unveils a trio of wahs from their new 20/20 lineup, MusicRadar, 2019-08-20
- Morley Debuts Three New Mini Pedals, Guitar World, 2018-02-20
- Cesar Huesca Reviews the 20/20 Power Wah Volume, Morley, 2024-05-29
- NAMM 2020 Video: Morley introduces three new Wahs for its 20/20 range, Guitar.com, 2020-01-16
