The Wilson Effects Mini Freaker Wah is a wah pedal that takes the synth tones and filter sweeps of Wilson's original Freaker Wah and packs them into a compact, mini wah enclosure1. Wilson describes it as built on a dual-filter circuit inspired by the legendary Parapedal, with modern enhancements1. It is hand-built in the U.S.A. and carries a list price of $225.001.
A dual-filter wah in a mini enclosure
Most wah pedals use a single swept filter. The Freaker family is different: Wilson describes the circuit as a unique dual filter with controllable parameters, which the company says produces synth tones and crazy filter sweeps34. On the Mini Freaker, that circuit sits in a mini wah enclosure, so a player gets the Freaker's range of sounds in a smaller footprint than the full-size pedal1.
Wilson positions the Mini Freaker as a faithful reproduction of the vintage wah circuit that Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi made famous, in a mini wah format1. Butler and Iommi are named by Wilson in connection with the circuit's lineage.
The controls
The Mini Freaker gives the player several points of control over the sweep, some external and some internal13.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume/Boost Control (heel of pedal) | Provides extra volume control for cutting through a live mix1 |
| Boost Control | Pushes the filter above unity gain for a stronger presence in the mix1 |
| External Sweep Knob | Expands or narrows the wah range, for broad, expressive sweeps or tight, focused filtering1 |
| Mini Toggle on the Side | Retain the original function, or eliminate volume drop at the heel of the sweep for a consistent response1 |
| 6-Position Internal Q Switch | Adjusts filter settings from high, piercing sweeps to deep, resonant tones1 |
| Internal 6-Position DIP Switch | Controls the depth and pitch of the sweep3 |
The internal Q switch is the main voice-shaping control. Wilson says it moves the filter from a high, piercing sweep to a deep, resonant filter, covering everything in between5. The same six-position Q switch appears on the full-size Freaker Wah V2, where Delicious Audio described it as adjusting the filter's settings, delivering anything from a high filter sweep to a deep filter sweep6.
The volume and boost controls address a common wah complaint. In Delicious Audio's fuzz-friendly wah buying guide, the site notes that a volume control lets you compensate for loss in volume when the pedal is activated6. Wilson's own description of the side toggle makes the same point from the other direction: it lets you keep the original behavior or remove the volume drop at the heel of the sweep1.
Power and build
The Mini Freaker Wah operates on a 9V DC power supply with a standard 2.1mm center-negative plug, and Wilson specifies power supply only, with the supply not included3.
No battery. Unlike the full-size Freaker Wah V2, which Wilson says runs on a 2.1mm center-negative supply or a high-quality alkaline battery, the Mini Freaker is power-supply only35.
The pedal is hand-built in the U.S.A. and comes with a one-year warranty on parts and labor1. Wilson says the Mini Wahs are typically made to order and can take one to two weeks to build, because the enclosures are ordered in for each build13.
From the Parapedal to the Freaker Wah
The circuit's lineage runs through two pedals. Wilson says the Freaker Wah is based on one of the most unique pedals of all time, the Parapedal, a vintage dual-filter design4. The Mini Freaker carries that inspiration forward with what Wilson calls modern enhancements1.
The full-size line developed in stages. The Freaker Wah V2 is built on a dual filter and, like the Mini, takes its circuit from the Parapedal, which Wilson Effects calls one of the most unique pedals of all time4. It was followed by the Freaker Wah V.3, an expansion of the V2 circuit that lets the user further customize the 6 position rotary control5. The Mini Freaker Wah carries a list price of $225.00 and comes with a one-year warranty on parts and labor1.
The Mini Freaker sits alongside these as the compact version of the same idea: the Freaker's dual-filter circuit, the V2's boost and toggle features, and the V.3's internal DIP-switch customization, all in a mini enclosure13.
For questions about the Mini Freaker Wah, Wilson Effects invites contact via email or through its website1.
Videos
Wilson Effects
Pedalman
Questions
What power supply does the Wilson Mini Freaker Wah use?
It operates on a 9V DC power supply with an industry-standard 2.1mm center-negative plug. The supply is not included with the pedal, so you need to provide your own. This is the same connector and polarity arrangement most modern 9V pedal power supplies use.
Does the Mini Freaker Wah take a battery?
No. Wilson Effects specifies the Mini Freaker Wah runs on a 9V DC 2.1mm center-negative power supply only, and the supply is not included. This differs from the full-size Freaker Wah V2, which Wilson says also runs on a high-quality alkaline battery.
What does the internal Q switch do on the Mini Freaker Wah?
The six-position internal Q switch adjusts the filter settings, moving from high, piercing sweeps at one end to deep, resonant tones at the other, covering the ground in between. It lets you shape the character of the wah's sweep without changing its overall range.
Is the Mini Freaker Wah made to order?
Yes. Wilson Effects says these are typically made to order and take around a week or so to build, with all Mini Wahs taking one to two weeks because the enclosures are ordered in for each build. Each pedal is hand-built in the U.S.A.
Sources (6)
- Mini Freaker Wah, Wilson Effects
- Brushed Aluminum Freaker Wah V.3 w/LED, Wilson Effects
- Mini Freaker Wah, Wilson Effects
- Freaker Wah V2, Wilson Effects
- Freaker Wah V2, Wilson Effects
- The 7 Best Fuzz Friendly Wah Pedals In 2022, Delicious Audio, 2020-05-29
