The Wilson Effects 12 Position Wilson Wah ICAR Version is a wah pedal that takes the classic vintage wah circuit and modifies it to increase the bass response on the input of the circuit. Wilson Effects describes the result as a wah that is "fat and spongy sounding right out of the box and can be tuned to cop a variety of other wah tones"1. The company also describes the design as a faithful reproduction of the original Halo wah with its modifications accessible as controls2.
What sets this version apart is its pot: the ICAR Version uses a Wilson Effects vintage taper wah pot modeled after a vintage ICAR taper pot for an authentic feel2. The pedal is hand-built in the U.S.A. and carries a one year warranty on parts and labor1.
A vintage wah circuit with extra bass response
The starting point is the classic vintage wah circuit, the same basic filter design players know from the original wah pedals of the 1960s. Wilson Effects modifies it to increase the bass response on the input, which the company says enhances the bass response at the input and creates a thick, full-bodied sound2. For a player, that means the sweep has more low-end weight behind it than a stock vintage circuit, rather than the thinner, honking character some vintage wahs can have.
The build follows vintage practice in its components. The 12 Position Wilson Wah is built with NOS Mullard Tropical Fish capacitors, carbon composition resistors in the wah circuit, and BC109B transistors1. NOS means new-old-stock: unused parts from the original production era, the kind of components the vintage circuits were originally built with.
Controls
The pedal puts its modifications on the outside as controls, alongside two internal trimmers1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Q Selector Switch | A 12 position selector switch that lets you choose between darker Q settings and brighter Q settings. Turn it clockwise for darker settings and counterclockwise for brighter settings1. |
| Growl | Thickens up or thins out the bass and gain response. Clockwise thins out the tone, and too much causes a drop in volume. Counterclockwise thickens and darkens the tone1. |
| Sweep Range | Controls the depth of the sweep. Fully clockwise, the sweep is at its greatest; fully counterclockwise, it disappears1. |
| Top Trimmer (internal) | Adjustes the midrange response2. |
| Bottom Trimmer (internal) | Controls the overall volume output2. |
The Q Selector Switch is the feature the pedal is named for. Twelve positions give you fine control over the wah's tonal character, from dark and warm at the clockwise end to bright and sharp at the counterclockwise end2. Between that, the Growl knob, and the Sweep Range control, a player can tune the pedal toward a range of wah tones rather than being locked into one fixed voice1.
How do you adjust the trimmers inside the Wilson Wah?
Inside the pedal you will find two blue trimmer controls, which you can turn with a small flathead or Phillips screwdriver1. The top trimmer controls the midrange of the pedal and the bottom one controls the volume of the pedal1. These are set-and-forget adjustments for voicing and level matching rather than performance controls, which is why they live inside the enclosure instead of on the outside.
The ICAR-style taper pot
The pot is what you rock with your foot, and its taper, the way its resistance changes across the travel, shapes how the sweep feels. This version uses a Wilson Effects vintage taper wah pot modeled after a vintage ICAR taper pot for an authentic feel2. ICAR pots were the potentiometers found in original vintage wahs, and their taper is part of the feel players associate with those pedals.
Wilson Effects also measured the taper of a vintage ICAR taper pot to replicate it in its own pots4. The company sells the same pot separately as the Wilson Effects Wilson ICAR Taper Wah Pot for players who want that taper in another pedal.
Versions and finishes
The 12 Position Wilson Wah is available in two pot options, ICAR pot and Smooth Taper Pot, with either the traditional Black Powder finish or a Brushed Aluminum finish2. The alternatives in the range include:
- Wilson Effects 12 Position Wilson Wah, the same pedal in its standard listing
- Wilson Effects Brushed Aluminum 12 Position Wilson Wah ICAR Taper, the ICAR taper pot in the brushed aluminum enclosure3
- Wilson Effects Brushed Aluminum 12 Position Wilson Wah Smooth Taper, the smooth taper pot in the brushed aluminum enclosure5
The Smooth Taper versions use a Wilson Effects vintage taper wah pot replicated by measuring the taper of a vintage Car taper pot4, a different feel from the ICAR taper of this version.
Power, bypass and buying details
The Wilson Wah operates on an industry standard 2.1mm center negative power supply or a high quality alkaline battery1. That connector is the same one used by most modern pedals and pedalboard power supplies, so it fits a standard daisy chain or isolated supply. Each pedal comes equipped with True Bypass and a super bright LED on the side, so you do not accidentally leave the wah engaged1.
The maker recommends a high quality alkaline battery rather than any battery, and the page lists no voltage or current draw figure, so check your power supply against the maker's guidance if you are unsure.
The list price is $225.00 USD as listed in October 20261. All items are shipped via USPS Priority Mail, returns are accepted within 7 days of receiving your new pedal, original shipping is not refunded, and return shipping costs are the customer's responsibility1.
Videos
Brett Kingman
gearmanndude
Questions
Is the Wilson Wah true bypass?
Yes. Wilson Effects fits each 12 Position Wilson Wah with True Bypass switching and a super bright LED on the side of the pedal, so you can see when the wah is engaged and avoid leaving it on by accident.
Where is the Wilson Wah built?
Every Wilson Wah is hand-built in the U.S.A. by Wilson Effects, and each pedal is covered by a one year warranty on parts and labor.
What power supply does the Wilson Wah need?
It runs on an industry standard 2.1mm center negative power supply, the same connector most pedalboard power supplies use, or on a high quality alkaline battery. No voltage or current draw figure is published by the maker.
What does the Growl control do?
The Growl knob thickens or thins the bass and gain response of the pedal. Turning it clockwise thins out the tone, and going too far causes a drop in volume. Turning it counterclockwise thickens and darkens the tone.
How do you adjust the trimmers inside the Wilson Wah?
Open the pedal and you will find two blue trimmer controls that you turn with a small flathead or Phillips screwdriver. The top trimmer sets the midrange response and the bottom trimmer sets the overall volume output.
Sources (5)
- 12 Position Wilson Wah ICAR Version, Wilson Effects
- 12 Position Wilson Wah, Wilson Effects
- Brushed Aluminum 12 Position Wilson Wah ICAR Taper, Wilson Effects
- 12 Position Wilson Wah Smooth Taper Version, Wilson Effects
- Brushed Aluminum 12 Position Wilson Wah Smooth Taper, Wilson Effects
