The Real McCoy Custom RMC4 Picture Wah is a wah-wah pedal built as a recreation of a vintage Italian Picture Wah, the circuit behind the original 1967 Clyde McCoy wah. Geoffrey Teese developed and built it, and Real McCoy Custom released it in July 2001 as "our version of a blueprinted vintage Italian Picture Wah"1. The company's own history article calls it "a no-bones-about-it reproduction of the original Italian built '67 CLYDE MCCOY PICTURE WAH"2, and Delicious Audio's buying guide describes it as "an authentic recreation of a vintage Italian Picture Wah"3.
What it is and where it came from
The Picture Wah takes its name from the original Italian-built wah that carried a picture of Clyde McCoy on its shell. Real McCoy Custom's history article dates the RMC4 to July of 2001, when Geoffrey Teese brought out two RMC models, with the Real McCoy Picture Wah described as "the first concept piece from RMC"2. An Analog Man page carrying the maker's text marks the same July 2001 release and describes a later version of the pedal in an extended hammertone gray shell with a chrome rocker and black footpad4.
Teese's approach, in his own words on the product page, is "No mojo parts, just mojo sound"1: the pedal is built to a blueprint of the vintage original rather than loaded with collectible components.
Controls and construction
The RMC4 includes a taper/resonance toggle switch alongside the rocker, and the internal parts list is specific4:
- Free-standing Switchcraft jacks
- A heavy-duty Italian on/off switch
- Double-clad circuit board
- Real McCoy Custom's metal can Halo inductor, listed as Low Noise1
- Rugged RMC ROC-POT1
- Taper/resonance toggle switch
- Tight tolerance componentry
Power requirements
The RMC4 runs on an AC adapter rather than drawing from a daisy chain shared with high-draw pedals. Real McCoy Custom specifies 9VDC AC regulated Class II, with the adapter requiring a 5.5/2.1mm coax plug with a negative center post and a current output of 20mA to 200mA1. The pedal itself draws less than 10 mA1.
The adapter must supply between 20mA and 200mA max current output per the maker's specification, and use a 5.5/2.1mm coax plug with a negative center post1.
Versions of the RMC4
Real McCoy Custom builds the RMC4 in four build types: VINTAGE, VINTAGE PLUS, PRECISION PLUS, and PRECISION FWR5. Delicious Audio's buying guide explains the point of the choices: "The builder offers several more or less fuzz-friendly build options, including different kinds of vintage Carbon comp resistors and Metal film resistors"3. On the maker's news page, Teese states that "the build version in the black case Picture Wah you'll find in a shop now is the fuzz-friendly PRECISION FWR"5.
| Build type | Character |
|---|---|
| VINTAGE | Vintage-style build5 |
| VINTAGE PLUS | Vintage-style build, plus variant5 |
| PRECISION PLUS | Precision build, plus variant5 |
| PRECISION FWR | Fuzz-friendly precision build; the version in current black case units5 |
A 2018 maker news item notes that the chrome rocker tops were to be discontinued once stock ran out, and that "The Picture Wah may end up all grey"5.
Price and warranty
Real McCoy Custom lists the RMC4 Picture Wah at a US MSRP of $235, covered by the maker's limited one year warranty1.
Videos
Fernando Pareta
Mark Flores
Questions
Is the Real McCoy Custom RMC4 true bypass?
Yes. Real McCoy Custom lists the RMC4 Picture Wah as true-bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar signal passes through without the wah circuit in the way. The pedal also uses free-standing Switchcraft jacks, which keeps the input and output wiring separate from the circuit board.
What power supply does the RMC4 need?
The RMC4 runs on 9VDC from a regulated Class II AC adapter. The adapter needs a 5.5/2.1mm coax plug with a negative center post, and Real McCoy Custom specifies an adapter with a current output between 20mA and 200mA. The pedal itself draws less than 10mA.
Who designed the RMC4 Picture Wah?
The RMC4 Picture Wah was developed and built by Geoffrey Teese of Real McCoy Custom. Teese released it in July 2001 as Real McCoy Custom's version of a blueprinted vintage Italian Picture Wah, and the company's history article describes the Picture Wah as the first concept piece from RMC.
How much does the RMC4 Picture Wah cost?
Real McCoy Custom lists a US MSRP of $235 for the RMC4 Picture Wah on its product page, dated 2024. The model number is RMC4 - PICTURE WAH.
What is the warranty on the RMC4?
Real McCoy Custom covers the RMC4 Picture Wah with a limited one year warranty, as stated on the maker's product page.
Sources (5)
- RMC4-PICTURE WAH, Real McCoy Custom, 2024
- RMC HISTORY, Real McCoy Custom, 2001-07
- The 7 Best Fuzz Friendly Wah Pedals In 2022, Delicious Audio, 2020-05-29
- Teese Real McCoy RMC Wah Wah Pedals, Analog Man Vintage guitar effects (analogman.com), 2025
- WHAT'S HAPPENING, Real McCoy Custom, 2019-07-10
