The Brushed Aluminum 12 Position Wilson Wah Smooth Taper is a wah pedal made by Wilson Effects, the pedal builder's 12 Position Wilson Wah circuit housed in a brushed aluminum enclosure. Wilson Effects sells it in two versions that differ only in the taper of the wah potentiometer: this Smooth Taper version, and an ICAR Taper version. Both are listed by the maker at $225.00 USD as of October 19, 2026.1
Smooth Taper and ICAR Taper versions
The taper of a wah's potentiometer determines how the pedal's sweep maps to the movement of the rocker, so it is the main thing that separates the two versions of this pedal. Wilson Effects offers both tapers across much of its wah range, and the choice is left to the player: the Smooth Taper and ICAR Taper versions of the 12 Position Wilson Wah carry the same $225.00 price.14
The same two-way split runs through the rest of the brushed aluminum wah line. The Rippah Wah comes in Smooth Taper and ICAR Taper versions, both at $185.00, and the Tunable Colorful Clone is offered in a Smooth Taper Version and an ICAR Version at $215.00.235
How it compares in the Wilson Effects wah range
Wilson Effects builds a wide family of wahs, most of them also available in brushed aluminum. The table below gathers the maker's listed prices for the brushed aluminum models, all as stated on the maker's product pages146.
| Model | Taper versions | List price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Brushed Aluminum 12 Position Wilson Wah | Smooth Taper, ICAR Taper | $225.0014 |
| Brushed Aluminum Rippah Wah | Smooth Taper, ICAR Taper | $185.0023 |
| Brushed Aluminum Rippah Booster Wah | Smooth Taper | $240.007 |
| Brushed Aluminum Tunable Colorful Clone | Smooth Taper, ICAR | $215.005 |
| Brushed Aluminum Freaker Wah V.3 w/LED | n/a | $250.006 |
| Brushed Aluminum Ten Spot II V.3 w/LED | n/a | $225.008 |
The 12 Position Wilson Wah is not the same pedal as the Rippah Wah. They are separate models in the Wilson Effects line, each with its own product page, and the Rippah Wah sits $40.00 below the 12 Position Wilson Wah at the maker's listed prices ($185.00 versus $225.00).12
Beyond the brushed aluminum versions, Wilson Effects also lists the 12 Position Wilson Wah and the 12 Position Wilson Wah ICAR Version as products in their own right, along with the Wilson Wah V2 in Smooth Taper and ICAR Taper forms, and replacement wah pots such as the Wilson Smooth Wah Pot and the Wilson ICAR Taper Wah Pot for players servicing or modifying an existing wah.14
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Questions
What is the difference between Smooth Taper and ICAR Taper on a Wilson wah?
They are the two potentiometer taper options Wilson Effects offers across its wah line, including the 12 Position Wilson Wah, the Rippah Wah, and the Tunable Colorful Clone. The taper of the pot shapes how the wah's sweep responds as you rock the pedal, so the two versions feel different under the foot. Wilson sells each model in whichever taper you prefer, at the same price for both.
How much is the Wilson Effects Brushed Aluminum 12 Position Wilson Wah?
The maker's product page lists the Brushed Aluminum 12 Position Wilson Wah Smooth Taper at $225.00 USD as of October 19, 2026. The ICAR Taper version of the same pedal is also listed at $225.00 USD.
Is the Wilson Wah the same as the Rippah Wah?
No. They are separate models in the Wilson Effects wah range, each sold in brushed aluminum enclosures and each offered in Smooth Taper and ICAR Taper versions. The Rippah Wah Smooth Taper Version is listed at $185.00, twenty dollars less than the 12 Position Wilson Wah, and Wilson also makes a Rippah Booster Wah at $240.00.
Sources (8)
- Brushed Aluminum 12 Position Wilson Wah Smooth Taper, Wilson Effects, 2026-10-19
- Brushed Aluminum Rippah Wah Smooth Taper Version, Wilson Effects, 2026-10-19
- Brushed Aluminum Rippah Wah ICAR Taper Version, Wilson Effects, 2026-10-19
- Brushed Aluminum 12 Position Wilson Wah ICAR Taper, Wilson Effects, 2026-10-19
- Brushed Aluminum Tunable Colorful Clone Smooth Taper Version, Wilson Effects
- Brushed Aluminum Freaker Wah V.3 w/LED, Wilson Effects, 2026-10-19
- Brushed Aluminum Rippah Booster Wah Smooth Taper, Wilson Effects, 2026-10-19
- Brushed Aluminum Ten Spot II V.3 w/LED, Wilson Effects, 2026-10-19
