The Morley Tye Trujillo TruDrive Wah is a wah pedal with a drive circuit built in, designed with Tye Trujillo of OTTTO and Suicidal Tendencies1. Morley describes the wah as having an "Always On" drive built into the front end, which the company says gives the wah more presence and bite1. It is aimed at guitar and bass alike: Morley says it works with guitar, bass, keys or any instrument you can plug into it1, and RockBoard's PedalPedia describes it as a pedal for guitar or bass that combines a wah and a drive2.
A wah with an always-on drive
The idea behind the pedal is that the drive is not a separate effect you switch in and out but a fixed part of the wah's voice. Morley's product page puts it this way1:
"The Wah was designed to have a slight amount of drive, built into the front end, which already gives the Wah more presence and bite."
On top of that always-on drive, the pedal carries Morley's switchless wah circuit, so engaging the effect is a matter of stepping on the treadle rather than stomping a footswitch1. The enclosure is finished in a racing car blue base with a chrome treadle and diamond plate treadle grip1. Guitar World reported the pedal at $199 when it was announced in June 20253, and Bass Musician Magazine listed it as available in July 2025 at a MAP price of $1994.
Bass Musician Magazine also noted that "it's a bonus that this pedal sounds great with guitar as well as bass"4, which matters if you are shopping for a wah that can move between a guitar board and a bass rig. For other wahs that take a similar dual approach, see the Morley Rex Brown Old Blue Wah, another bassist's signature, or browse the wider field on the Wah-Wah Pedals page.
The controls
The drive section has its own three knobs, and the wah side adds a fourth that is unusual on a wah pedal: a Wah Mix control for setting how much wah effect sits in your signal1.
| Control | Section | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Drive | Drive | Dials in drive from subtle distortion to full-on overdrive growl1 |
| Level | Drive | Sets the drive level12 |
| Tone | Drive | Shapes the drive tone12 |
| Wah Mix | Wah | Customizes the amount of wah in the signal1 |
RockBoard's PedalPedia confirms the drive section's Tone, Level and Drive controls2. The Drive knob's range, in Morley's words, runs "from subtle distortion to full-on overdrive growl"1, so the drive side reaches from a light edge to what most players would call an overdrive or distortion voice. If you want to hear how that compares with a dedicated drive unit, the site's Overdrive Pedals and Distortion Pedals pages cover the standalone versions.
Switchless operation and the optical circuit
The TruDrive Wah uses what Morley calls its Famous Switchless Wah Circuit1. There is no on/off footswitch: the pedal watches the treadle, engages when you step on and returns to bypass when you step off1. The wah itself is optical rather than potentiometer-based, which Morley says means no more pots to wear out or get scratchy1. That is the same approach Morley uses across its switchless line, including the Morley Bad Horsie 2 and the Morley 20/20 Classic Switchless Wah.
The pedal also includes what Morley calls a Premium Buffer circuit, which the company says ensures pure guitar tone and output1.
Because the wah is switchless, there is no conventional footswitch to hit: stepping on the treadle is what turns the effect on. If you are used to a pot-driven wah, the optical design also removes the scratchy-pot failure mode Morley calls out1.
Power and size
The pedal is powered by one 9 volt battery or an optional Morley 9V adapter1. Morley lists its size as 6.85" x 4.5" x 2.5" (L x W x H), which the company describes as pedalboard friendly1.
Videos
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Questions
Does the Morley TruDrive Wah work with bass?
Yes. Morley says the pedal works with guitar, bass, keys or any instrument you can plug into it, and Bass Musician Magazine noted that it sounds great with guitar as well as bass. That fits its origin: Tye Trujillo is a bass player, and the pedal was designed with him. The Wah Mix knob also lets you set how much wah effect is blended into your signal, which is useful when tailoring the effect to a bass.
Is the Morley TruDrive Wah analog?
Yes. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the circuit type as analog. The pedal uses Morley's switchless optical wah circuit, which reads the treadle position optically rather than with a potentiometer, and Morley describes a Premium Buffer circuit at the front of the signal path.
How is the TruDrive Wah powered?
The pedal runs on one 9 volt battery or an optional Morley 9V adapter. Morley does not list a current draw for it, so if you plan to run it from a pedalboard power supply, use a standard 9V DC output and check the adapter Morley sells alongside it.
Does the TruDrive Wah have a pot that can get scratchy?
No. The wah is optical, which Morley says means no more pots to wear out or get scratchy. Traditional wah pedals use a potentiometer tied to the treadle, and that pot is a common wear point. An optical circuit reads the treadle position without that mechanical contact.
How do you turn the Morley TruDrive Wah on and off?
You do not press a switch. The pedal is switchless: simply step on the treadle to engage the wah and step off to go to bypass. This is Morley's long-running switchless wah approach, the same idea behind pedals like the Bad Horsie line.
Sources (4)
- Tye Trujillo TruDrive Wah, Morley
- Tye Trujillo TruDrive Wah by Morley, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Robert Trujillo's son, Tye, gets Trujillo TruDrive Wah pedal, Guitar World, 2025-06-27
- Gear News: Morley Tye Trujillo TruDrive Wah, Bass Musician Magazine, 2025-07-01
