The Morley 20/20 Power Wah Volume is a switchable combination optical wah and volume pedal from Morley, part of the pedalboard-friendly 20/20 line announced in August 201912. It puts two treadle-controlled functions in one housing: the classic Morley Power Wah circuit, which Morley describes as having a vintage tone and wide sweep, and a volume pedal with what the maker calls a smooth audio volume taper1. A boost knob adds up to 20 dB of clean boost in wah mode1.
The pedal starts in volume mode, with a side switch to activate the wah, and Morley says the optical design means you do not have to settle on a specific potentiometer value the way some wah and volume combos require3. In a Sweetwater demo, Morley's Pete Feniger called it "a great space saving combo you get wah and volume in one pedal"3.
The controls
The pedal is built around a treadle and a small set of side controls:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Treadle | Controls the wah sweep in wah mode, or your volume level in volume mode31 |
| Side switch | Activates the wah; the pedal starts in volume mode3 |
| Boost knob | Up to 20 dB of clean boost, active in wah mode1 |
Morley describes the result as the classic Morley Power Wah with its vintage tone, wide sweep and 20 dB clean boost, plus a smooth audio volume taper1. Because the wah and volume share one treadle, the pedal occupies one pedalboard slot instead of two, which is the main practical draw for players with limited space.
What the +20dB boost does
The boost knob allows up to 20 dB of clean boost in wah mode1. Morley frames this level control as a way of pushing your signal above the mix5. In Sweetwater's demo video, the boost was presented as a way to level yourself out in the mix when you need to cut through, with up to 20 decibels available, and it was noted that the boost works only when the wah is activated3.
"allows you up to 20 decibels of boost so if you need to level out in the mix or ascend into guitar greatness it's your choice"
Power, battery and buffer
The 20/20 Power Wah Volume is powered by one 9-volt battery or the optional Morley 9V adapter, and Morley says it is compatible with most 9V adapters, so a standard pedalboard supply will run it1. Gearnews reported the same arrangement at launch: a 9V battery or an external DC power supply6.
The pedal also carries Morley's 20/20 Buffer circuit, which the maker says prevents signal loss and maintains tone1. For players running long cables or a large board, that buffer is part of the 20/20 line's update rather than an extra purchase.
The boost control works only when the wah is activated, according to the Sweetwater demo of the pedal3. If you want boost on a clean, non-wah sound, this is not the pedal for that job.
Part of the Morley 20/20 line
According to Sweetwater's demo, the 20/20 pedals are built in a cold rolled steel housing, made in the USA, with LED indication and glow-in-the-dark treadle rubber so you can find the pedal on a dark stage37. The Power Wah's listed dimensions, 6.85 by 4.5 by 2.5 inches, give a sense of the line's footprint7.
The 20/20 Power Wah Volume is a newer, smaller version that sits alongside the previous classic-size Power Wah Volume. Morley notes that reviewer Cesar Huesca had used the classic-size version for the past decade before picking up the smaller one8. Earlier compact Morley wah and volume combos include the Morley Mini Power Wah Volume, announced in 2018 as a smaller version of the Power Wah Volume910.
Power Wah versus Power Wah Volume
The two pedals are close siblings. Both are 20/20 wahs with a 20 dB boost control11. The differences:
| 20/20 Power Wah | 20/20 Power Wah Volume | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Wah with built-in 20 dB clean boost7 | Wah plus volume pedal capability7112 |
| Boost | 20 dB, in wah mode7 | 20 dB, in wah mode1 |
| Finish | Midnight Pearl Blue4 | Traffic Yellow4 |
| Launch street price | $139, August 20194 | $159, August 20194 |
Guitar.com summarized the relationship plainly: "The Power Wah and Power Wah Volume each pack a 20dB wah boost, with the latter offering additional volume pedal capabilities"11. Gearnews described the Volume version as combining the regular Power Wah's boost with the option to use the unit as a volume pedal6.
Price and what reviewers said
At launch in August 2019 the Power Wah Volume carried a $159 street price, reported by Morley's press release, MusicRadar, Premier Guitar and Gearnews412136. By January 2021, Delicious Audio listed the street price as $13914, so the two figures reflect different dates.
Delicious Audio also noted that among the first three 20/20 wah releases, "the 20/20 Power Wah seems to be the one that caught more attention"14. Sweetwater's demo of the Power Wah/Volume highlighted the space saving of combining wah and volume in one pedal, along with the optical design removing the potentiometer compromise of some wah and volume combos3.
In 2024 Morley published a review by Cesar Huesca of the 20/20 Power Wah Volume, provided by Guitar Gear in Mexico, in which Huesca moved from the classic-size version he had used for a decade to the newer smaller version8.
For players comparing wah and volume combos, Morley's range also includes the Morley M2 Wah Volume and the Morley MWV Mini Wah/Volume, alongside dedicated volume pedals such as the Morley Volume Plus.
Videos
Sweetwater
Morley
Brett Kingman
Questions
Does the Morley Power Wah Volume have a buffer?
Yes. The 20/20 Power Wah Volume includes Morley's 20/20 Buffer circuit, which the maker says prevents signal loss and maintains tone. It is built into the pedal rather than being an optional add-on, so it is always in the signal path as shipped.
How much does the Morley 20/20 Power Wah Volume cost?
At launch in August 2019 the street price was $159. A January 2021 write-up at Delicious Audio listed the street price as $139, so the price has moved since launch. The related 20/20 Power Wah, without the volume function, launched at $139.
What is the difference between the Morley Power Wah and the Power Wah Volume?
Both are 20/20 wah pedals with a 20 dB boost control. The Power Wah is a wah only, in a Midnight Pearl Blue finish. The Power Wah Volume adds volume pedal capability, so the same treadle can control your level, and it comes in Traffic Yellow. The Power Wah launched at $139 and the Volume version at $159.
How do you change the battery in a Morley 20/20 pedal?
The 20/20 Power Wah Volume is powered by one 9-volt battery or an optional Morley 9V adapter, and Morley says it is compatible with most 9V adapters. The maker's product page offers a manual download with the full battery and power details for the pedal.
Can the Morley 20/20 Power Volume Wah run on a battery?
Yes. Morley powers the 20/20 Power Wah Volume with one 9-volt battery, or you can use the optional Morley 9V adapter instead. The maker notes the pedal is compatible with most 9V adapters, so a standard pedalboard power supply works too.
What does the +20dB boost do?
The boost knob gives up to 20 dB of clean boost, and it works in wah mode. Morley describes it as a way to push your signal above the mix, and Sweetwater's demo presents it as a tool for leveling yourself out in the mix when you need to be heard, for example during a solo.
Sources (14)
- 20/20 Power Wah Volume, Morley
- Morley Expands 20/20 Pedal Line, Premier Guitar, 2019-11-18
- Morley 20/20 Power Wah/Volume Pedal Demo, Sweetwater (YouTube), 2019-11-07
- 20/20 Pedals Press Release, Morley, 2019-08
- Power Wah Fuzz, Morley
- Morley 20/20 Wah Range: Classic pedals get a pedalboard-friendly update, gearnews.com, 2019-08-21
- 20/20 Power Wah, Morley
- Cesar Huesca Reviews the 20/20 Power Wah Volume, Morley, 2024-05-29
- Morley introduces three new Mini pedals, Guitar.com, 2018-02-22
- Morley Debuts Three New Mini Pedals, Guitar World, 2018-02-20
- NAMM 2020 Video: Morley introduces three new Wahs for its 20/20 range, Guitar.com, 2020-01-16
- Morley unveils a trio of wahs from their new 20/20 lineup, MusicRadar, 2019-08-20
- Morley Introduces the Updated 20/20 Pedal Line, Premier Guitar, 2019-08-21
- Morley 20/20 Power Wah/Volume (with Boost), Delicious Audio, 2021-01-18
