The Sonicake VolWah is a mini-sized pedal that puts two foot-controlled effects in one rocker unit: a volume pedal and a wah. Sonicake describes it as a 100% analog volume/wah 2-in-1 pedal, an active volume/wah pedal built on a pure analog circuit design1. The wah side goes after the iconic Crybaby style vintage wah sound, which the maker describes as dynamic and responsive and employed widely by guitarists from all genres1. It sits alongside Sonicake's other compact rockers, the Sonicake Vexpress expression pedal, the Sonicake FlipWah and the Sonicake FlipVol, and it competes with combined wah/volume units such as the Morley Mini Wah Volume and the Hotone Vowpress.
What it does and how it is controlled
The pedal's two functions share one rocker. A hidden footswitch switches between Volume and Wah modes1, so the same rocking action serves as a volume pedal in one mode and as a wah in the other. There are no knobs or secondary switches described on the maker's page; mode selection and the rocker are the whole control set.
The volume section is active rather than passive. Sonicake says the active volume control can keep away impedance mismatch troubles1, the tone interaction that a passive volume pedal's resistance can cause with the pedals around it. The published figures back that design: 1M Ohms of input impedance in Volume mode and 100 Ohms of output resistance in Expression mode1.
The VolWah needs its own 9V center-negative power supply. Sonicake lists the adapter as not included1, and Delicious Audio's review confirms the box ships without one2. There is no MIDI support: asked directly, Sonicake's page answers, "No, it doesn't support midi."1
Build and size
The enclosure is hard plastic with a lightweight casing that Sonicake describes as truly robust and well-built1. At 280g and 148.5 x 65.5 mm1, it is a small footprint pedal by volume-pedal standards, closer to a mini pedal than a full-size rocker like the Boss FV-500H. Current consumption is 22mA1, well within what a standard 9V pedal supply provides.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio, the effects-review site run by Paolo De Gregorio, covered the VolWah in March 2022 and described it as very popular on Amazon or eBay2. The site's verdict on its reception:
"For such an affordable pedal, it's getting really good reviews both by users on Amazon and by a select YouTube converts"
That review also confirms the power adapter is not included2. A player comparing it against, say, the Ernie Ball MVP or the Dunlop Volume X Mini has the maker's specifications and Delicious Audio's account to go on.
For more on how the VolWah compares with dedicated units, see the site's pages on Volume Pedals and Wah-Wah Pedals.
Videos
The Pedal Picassos
Rob Galley
Sean Pierce Johnson
Questions
Does the Sonicake VolWah come with a power adapter?
No. Sonicake's product page lists the power requirement as DC 9V center negative and states that the adapter is not included, and Delicious Audio's review likewise notes the power adapter is not in the box. You will need a 9V center-negative supply of your own to run the pedal.
Does the Sonicake VolWah have MIDI?
No. Sonicake's product page states plainly that the VolWah does not support MIDI. Mode changes are made with the pedal's hidden footswitch rather than by program change or control change messages.
How do you switch the VolWah between volume and wah?
A hidden footswitch on the pedal switches between Volume mode and Wah mode. Because the switch is built into the pedal rather than placed as a visible toggle, you change modes with your foot while playing, and the rocker then controls whichever mode is selected.
Is the Sonicake VolWah analog?
Yes. Sonicake describes the VolWah as a 100% analog volume/wah 2-in-1 pedal with a pure analog circuit design, combining an active volume control and a vintage-style wah in one mini-sized pedal.
What does active volume control mean on the VolWah?
The VolWah's volume section is active rather than passive, meaning the circuit is powered and buffers the signal. Sonicake says this active volume control keeps away impedance mismatch troubles, the interaction between a passive volume pedal's resistance and surrounding pedals that can dull or alter tone.
Sources (2)
- SONICAKE VolWah, Sonicake
- Sonicake VolWah Wah + Volume Pedal, Delicious Audio, 2022-03-28
