The Real McCoy Custom RMC8-Guitar Eqwahlyzer is a wah pedal with a switchable 5-band graphic equalizer built into the front slope of the case, developed and built by Geoffrey Teese of Real McCoy Custom1. It is an all-analog pedal, housed in the maker's extended wah shell with a silk-screened bottom plate, a multi-sparkle graphite gray finish and a black footpad on top1. The circuit is built on the classic Plunkett wah design, used by permission and blueprinted from an Italian original1.
The pedal is discontinued: Real McCoy Custom lists it as sold out and no longer in production1, and the maker's buying guide repeats that it is no longer in production2.
Power and connections
The RMC8 runs on a 9V battery or an AC adapter. The adapter input sits just below the output jack on the left side of the pedal3. The maker specifies a 5.5/2.1mm coax plug with a negative center post, 9VDC AC regulated Class II, with a maximum current output of 20mA to 200mA1. Current draw is under 10 mA1.
The battery is reached by removing the underside plate, which is attached by four screws that pass through the rubber feet; no screwdriver is required3.
The pedal is discontinued, so any unit you find is secondhand. The maker's limited one year warranty applied when it was new1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rocker | Standard wah treadle over the sweep pot3 |
| On/off switch | Heavy-duty Italian true-bypass switch1 |
| 5-band graphic EQ | Five sliders with +/-15 dB range and center detents, on the front slope of the case31 |
| EQ push button | Engages the EQ circuit3 |
| EQ indicator LED | Lights to show the EQ circuit is active31 |
| Sweep contour toggle | Mini toggle under the rocker, switches between two sweep tapers31 |
The EQ is part of the wah circuit, not a standalone effect: it is only available when the wah is turned on, and then only if you choose to switch it on with the push button1. That makes it a tone-shaping layer on top of the wah rather than an always-on EQ pedal.
Built on the Plunkett wah by Geoffrey Teese
The wah circuit follows the classic Plunkett design, the layout behind the original wah pedals, used by permission and blueprinted from an Italian original1. Premier Guitar's review credits the utility of Teese's design throughout3. The wah circuit uses through-hole components while the equalizer circuit uses surface mount components, both on double clad copper circuit boards1. The inductor is a custom-manufacture Karmaflux type, which the maker describes as EMI resistant1.
Under the rocker, the mini toggle switch changes the sweep contour between two characters31:
- NOS Icar-taper: the fast response of a new-old-stock Icar-taper pot1
- Aged Icar-taper: the slower, expanded-range articulation of an aged Icar-taper ROC-POT 5.2 wah pot1
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the sweep smooth and quiet in both positions. The NOS setting imparted a slightly more aggressive snarl with quicker access to the extreme ranges, while the aged setting swept more slowly, which the reviewer preferred3.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar reviewed the pedal at a street price of $2693. The reviewer's overall verdict:
"The tone was always lush, the sweep was smooth and free of scratchiness, and the sonic flexibility was nearly unlimited3."
Premier Guitar, September 20263
The review called it a potent musical asset that can extend your voice as a player overall3.
Videos
Sam Vilo
GEAR HAVEN & GH SYSTEMS
Baron Avery
Questions
Is the RMC8 Eqwahlyzer still in production?
No. Real McCoy Custom lists the RMC8-Guitar Eqwahlyzer as sold out and no longer in production, on both the product page and the maker's buying guide. It is a discontinued pedal, so finding one means the secondhand market.
Does the Eqwahlyzer take a 9V battery?
Yes. It runs on a 9V battery, which you reach by removing the underside plate. The plate is attached by four screws that pass through the rubber feet, and no screwdriver is needed to take it off.
Is the Real McCoy Eqwahlyzer true bypass?
Yes. The maker fits a heavy-duty Italian true-bypass on/off switch, so the pedal's circuit is out of the signal path when it is switched off.
Can the Eqwahlyzer EQ be used with the wah off?
No. The EQ sits within the wah circuit and is only available when the wah itself is turned on. Even then, a push button decides whether the EQ is engaged, and an LED shows when it is active.
What does the sweep toggle on the Eqwahlyzer do?
A mini toggle under the rocker changes the sweep contour between two feels: the fast response of an NOS Icar-taper pot, and the slower, expanded-range articulation of an aged Icar-taper ROC-POT 5.2 wah pot.
Sources (3)
- RMC8-Guitar Eqwahlyzer, Real McCoy Custom, 2020
- WHICH WAH?, Real McCoy Custom (realmccoycustom.com), 2024
- Real McCoy Custom RMC8-Guitar Eqwahlyzer Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2010-10-20