The Real McCoy Custom RMC6 WHEELS OF FIRE is a wah pedal built by Geoffrey Teese of Real McCoy Custom (RMC) to reproduce the sound of the original Macari-built wahs of 1960s and 1970s England, with a more balanced output than the originals. It began as a custom piece in 2003 and became an official part of the RMC lineup in 2006, as the company's sixth production model1.
From custom build to production model
The Wheels of Fire started life in 2003 as a one-off custom build. Three years later, in 2006, Teese added it to the production lineup as a sixth model, alongside the RMC1, RMC3, RMC4 Picture Wah and the rest of the range13.
Production has not been continuous. In September 2015, Geoffrey R. Teese announced that "The RMC6FL/Wheels Of Fire Wah and Joe Walsh Signature Wah are now in production again, bringing the active lineup back up" to seven models2. The Joe Walsh Signature Wah returned to production at the same time.
Specifications at a glance
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | RMC6 - WHEELS OF FIRE1 |
| Type | Wah pedal1 |
| Bypass | True-bypass on/off switch1 |
| Controls | No additional controls1 |
| Potentiometer | RMC exclusive ROC-POT1 |
| Inductor | Low noise inductor1 |
| Fuzz-friendly technology | Licensed, included1 |
| Power | 9VDC AC regulated Class II adapter, 5.5/2.1mm coax plug, negative center post1 |
| Adapter current output | 20 mA to 200 mA max1 |
| Pedal current draw | Less than 10 mA1 |
| Battery | Not offered; adapter only1 |
| Warranty | Limited one year1 |
| List price | $235 US MSRP (as listed 2020)1 |
Controls and features
The pedal has no presets or extra controls. The maker's product page describes it plainly1:
"No additional controls, just straight-ahead British sound"
What the product page lists for the pedal:
- RMC exclusive ROC-POT potentiometer1
- Low noise inductor1
- Licensed fuzz-friendly technology1
- True-bypass on/off switch1
- AC adapter operation only, no battery1
Enclosure finishes vary from unit to unit. As the product page puts it, "The RMC6 is housed in what ever finish wah case I have on hand, and topped with a black footpad"1.
What it sounds like and how it works
Teese positions the Wheels of Fire deliberately against the Italian-voiced wahs that most vintage-style pedals chase. In his buying guide he writes that it "Delivers a sonic replication of one of the old British Macari wahs and should not be thought of as an Italian sounding wah"4. He also notes one departure from the originals:
"The WOF has an adjustable low end since not everybody likes the boomy bottom end of a real Macari"
Internally, the pedal uses RMC's exclusive ROC-POT potentiometer, the part the rocker pedal turns to sweep the wah filter, together with a low noise inductor. It also includes licensed fuzz-friendly technology, which is RMC's design approach for wahs that behave well when driving fuzz, overdrive and distortion pedals1.
Power and setup
The RMC6 runs on an external adapter rather than a battery. The maker specifies a 9VDC AC regulated Class II supply with a 20 mA to 200 mA max current output, using a 5.5/2.1mm coax plug with a negative center post. The pedal itself draws less than 10 mA1. The pedal is covered by RMC's limited one year warranty1.
Videos
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Questions
What is the RMC6 Wheels of Fire wah based on?
Real McCoy Custom describes the Wheels of Fire as a sonic replication of one of the old British Macari wahs, the wahs built in England in the 1960s and 1970s. Geoffrey Teese is explicit that it should not be thought of as an Italian sounding wah, and the pedal aims for a more balanced output than the originals.
Does the RMC6 Wheels of Fire have a battery option?
The maker's product page lists only an AC adapter power option, requiring a 5.5/2.1mm coax plug with a negative center post, and gives no battery provision. The pedal draws less than 10 mA, so any adapter meeting the 9VDC AC regulated Class II specification with 20 mA to 200 mA output will run it.
Is the RMC6 Wheels of Fire true bypass?
Yes. The maker's product page specifies a true-bypass on/off switch, so the pedal passes your guitar's signal untouched when it is switched off.
What does the ROC-POT do in an RMC wah?
The ROC-POT is Real McCoy Custom's exclusive potentiometer, the part that the rocker pedal turns to sweep the wah filter. It is a signature component of the RMC6 Wheels of Fire, listed on the maker's product page alongside a low noise inductor.
What does fuzz-friendly mean on an RMC wah?
The RMC6 includes licensed fuzz-friendly technology, meaning the wah is built to work placed before fuzz and distortion pedals without the interaction problems a standard wah circuit can have. That matters for players who run a wah into a fuzz on the same board.
Sources (4)
- RMC6-WHEELS OF FIRE, realmccoycustom.com, 2020
- WHAT'S HAPPENING, Real McCoy Custom, 2015-09-15
- RMC HISTORY, Real McCoy Custom, 2006
- WHICH WAH?, Real McCoy Custom (realmccoycustom.com), 2024
