The Wilson Effects Rippah Wah is a hand-built wah pedal that reproduces the vintage Maestro Boomerang wah circuit, with the tuning controls moved inside the pedal so you can set your sound and leave it there. Wilson Effects describes it as "built around the legendary vintage Maestro Boomerang wah circuit, delivering classic tone with modern" versatility, and sells it for $185.001.
It comes in two pot options, ICAR and Smooth Taper, each available in a traditional Black Powder finish or a Brushed Aluminum finish, and there is also a Rippah Booster Wah variant that adds control knobs on the outside of the pedal1.
A wah built on the Maestro Boomerang circuit
The core of the Rippah Wah is a faithful reproduction of the vintage Maestro Boomerang wah1. Where many wah pedals put their voicing controls on the outside, the Rippah Wah takes the opposite approach: Wilson Effects calls it a pedal "with all of the controls inside so you can set it and forget it"1. Once you have dialed in the sweep, growl and Q position to taste, the pedal behaves like a fixed-voice wah you operate with your foot.
The pedal also carries a fuzz-friendly output buffer, which Wilson Effects says lets the wah work seamlessly with most fuzz and overdrive pedals and avoids the common impedance problems that show up when a wah feeds a vintage-style fuzz12.
The internal trim pots
Inside each Rippah Wah are three blue trimmers, adjustable with a small Flathead or Phillips screwdriver12. They set the pedal's core voice:
| Trim pot | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sweep | Alters the range and depth of the wah sweep. Widen the spectrum for a throaty, full-bodied sound, or thin it out to focus on upper and mid-range frequencies1. |
| Growl | Adjusts the amount of bass and gain in the circuit. Maxed out for the stock setting, or turned down for a smoother, funkier feel1. |
| Boost | Compensates for any volume drop when adjusting the Growl control, and can push the front end of a tube amp for enhanced presence in a mix1. |
Alongside the trimmers there is a six-position DIP switch on the main board that adjusts the "Q" position of the wah, from very subtle to very drastic adjustments. The pedal ships with the stock setting, position one ON, and Wilson Effects encourages experimenting with the other positions13.
ICAR and Smooth Taper versions
The Rippah Wah is available with two different wah pots, and the choice changes how the pedal feels under your foot1.
The ICAR option uses a pot modeled after the vintage ICAR taper pots found in original wah pedals. Wilson Effects notes that the wah pedals which used those pots had a very limited physical sweep, which caused most of the Q transition to happen at the toe end of the pedal1. Players who want that vintage feel and abrupt vocal snap get it here. The Rippah Wah ICAR Version is the dedicated product page for this option3.
The Smooth Taper option allows the pedal to maintain a smoother transition through the sweep of the Q range, spreading the wah's movement more evenly across the pedal's travel1. The Rippah Wah Smooth Taper Version covers this variant2.
Both pots are also offered in a Brushed Aluminum finish alongside the traditional Black Powder finish, as the Brushed Aluminum Rippah Wah ICAR Taper Version and Brushed Aluminum Rippah Wah Smooth Taper Version14.
The ICAR and Smooth Taper pots are not interchangeable settings on one pedal: they are separate versions. Pick the taper you want when you order, since the pot determines how the wah responds through its whole travel.
The Rippah Booster Wah variant
For players who would rather tune the wah from the outside, Wilson Effects also builds the Rippah Booster Wah, a faithful reproduction of the Maestro Boomerang wah with tons of tuning options5. It includes a Wilson Effects vintage taper wah pot precisely modeled after a vintage ICAR taper pot, and its Q-Wah controls let you dial in your favorite wah tones via easy-to-access control knobs56. The Booster Wah comes in ICAR and Smooth Taper versions as well, with a six or twelve position Q switch that adjusts the position of the Q in the sweep, "from a deep synth like growl to a high almost envelope filter type of sound"6.
Power, bypass and warranty
The Rippah Wah operates on a standard regulated 9V DC power supply with a 2.1mm center-negative plug, or on a high-quality 9V alkaline battery3. It uses true bypass switching with a bright side-mounted LED, which Wilson Effects says prevents accidental activation1.
Every pedal is hand-built in the U.S.A. and covered by a one-year warranty on parts and labor1. Items ship via USPS Priority Mail, and Wilson Effects can be reached at wilsoneffects@wilsoneffects.com or through the contact form on its website3.
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Questions
What is the difference between the ICAR and Smooth Taper pots on the Rippah Wah?
The ICAR pot is modeled after the vintage ICAR taper pots used in original wah pedals, which had a very limited physical sweep and pushed most of the Q transition to the toe end of the pedal. The Smooth Taper pot maintains a smoother, more even transition through the sweep of the Q range. Both are available in the Rippah Wah.
Where is the Wilson Effects Rippah Wah made?
Every Rippah 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.
Is the Rippah Wah true bypass?
Yes. The Rippah Wah uses true bypass switching with a bright side-mounted LED, so the pedal is out of the signal path when disengaged and the LED prevents you from accidentally leaving the wah on.
What do the internal trim pots do on the Rippah Wah?
There are three blue trim pots inside, adjustable with a small Flathead or Phillips screwdriver. Sweep sets the range and depth of the wah sweep, Growl sets the amount of bass and gain in the circuit, and Boost compensates for any volume drop when you turn Growl down, and can push the front end of a tube amp.
What power connector does the Rippah Wah use?
It runs on a standard regulated 9V DC power supply with a 2.1mm center-negative plug, or on a high-quality 9V alkaline battery. Either option works, so the pedal fits a normal pedalboard power supply.
What warranty does the Rippah Wah have?
Wilson Effects covers the Rippah Wah with its standard one-year warranty on parts and labor. The company can be reached at wilsoneffects@wilsoneffects.com or through the contact form on its website.
Sources (6)
- Rippah Wah, Wilson Effects
- Rippah Wah Smooth Taper Version, Wilson Effects
- Rippah Wah ICAR Version, Wilson Effects
- Brushed Aluminum Rippah Wah Smooth Taper Version, Wilson Effects
- Rippah Booster Wah, Wilson Effects
- Rippah Booster Wah Smooth Taper Version, Wilson Effects
