The Wilson Effects Tunable Colorful Clone ICAR Version is a wah pedal modeled after what Wilson Effects calls the infamous Macari wah, with its deep throaty sweep and sound. The company says it tuned the pedal by setting it side by side with its own Macari wah, and that it ships set to the vintage Macari sound1. What separates it from a fixed-voice wah is right in the name: it is tunable, with external and internal controls that let a player reshape the sweep, the midrange, the Q and the growl without touching a soldering iron.
The ICAR in the version name refers to its treadle potentiometer. Wilson Effects fits its Vintage Taper Wah Pot, which the company describes as meticulously replicated from a vintage ICAR taper pot for an authentic wah feel2. The pedal is hand built in the U.S. and carries a one year warranty on parts and labor1.
A Macari-style wah you can tune
Wilson Effects describes the Macari wah as legendary, known for its deep, throaty sweep and unmistakable tone, and the Tunable Colorful Clone is inspired by it2. The company says the pedal delivers "vintage tone, modern tone and all the throat you'd ever want in a wah"2.
The starting point is the stock setting. Both the ICAR and Smooth Taper versions come set to the vintage Macari sound14, so a player who wants that voice can simply plug in and play. From there, the controls open the pedal up to other territory, including several fine-tuning Q positions Wilson Effects says unlock various other vintage wah tones1.
The controls: sweep, midrange, Q and growl
The Tunable Colorful Clone has more exterior controls than any other Wilson wah4. Wilson Effects lays them out by position on the pedal:
| Control | Location | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Sweep | Front of the pedal | Adds or takes away depth from the sweep54 |
| Midrange | Knob behind the sweep control | Adds more throat to the sweep, or smooths it out542 |
| Q | 6-position switch | One position deeper than stock, plus four additional fine-tuning positions for various other vintage tones2 |
| Growl | Heel of the pedal | Makes the sweep even deeper, or lightens it up1 |
| Volume | Inside the pedal | Sets the pedal to unity gain, or boosts the signal to cut through the mix1 |
The Q control deserves a closer look for players comparing wah circuits. Beyond the stock setting there are six additional positions: one goes deeper than stock, and four more are fine-tuning positions Wilson Effects says reach various other vintage tones1. That makes the pedal a practical choice for a player chasing a specific recorded wah voice, since the Q, sweep and growl controls together cover both the depth of the peak and where it sits.
The volume control is internal rather than on the outside. Wilson Effects says it adjusts the pedal to unity gain or boosts the signal so the wah can cut through the mix, and that the built-in fuzz buffer comes included with this volume control1. For a player running a fuzz before the wah, that buffer is worth knowing about, since wahs and vintage fuzz circuits do not always get along.
Power, bypass and warranty
The Tunable Colorful Clone operates on an industry standard 2.1mm center-negative power supply or a high-quality alkaline battery1, so it fits a typical pedalboard supply and also works standalone. All Wilson Effects pedals are built with a true bypass circuit, which the company says avoids sucking the life out of your signal when in bypass1, and the pedal adds a super bright LED indicator to prevent accidental activation2.
The volume control and the built-in fuzz buffer are inside the pedal, not on the outside. A player who wants to change the output level or the buffer behavior needs to open the enclosure.
The pedal carries a one year warranty on parts and labor. Returns are accepted within 7 days of receiving the new pedal; original shipping is not refunded and return shipping is the customer's responsibility. All items ship via USPS Priority Mail1.
Versions: ICAR, Smooth Taper and Brushed Aluminum
The Tunable Colorful Clone line comes in two pot options, ICAR and Smooth Taper, each available with either the traditional Black Powder finish or a newer Brushed Aluminum finish2. This page covers the ICAR version; the Smooth Taper version shares the same Macari-based circuit, the same control set and the same stock setting4, differing in the treadle pot: the ICAR version carries the pot replicated from a vintage ICAR taper pot2, while the Smooth Taper version uses a smooth taper pot.
The Brushed Aluminum Tunable Colorful Clone ICAR Version is the same pedal in a brushed aluminum enclosure3. Wilson Effects' site showed its deals section updated as of 10/19/26, with the Brushed Aluminum Tunable Colorful Clone Smooth Taper Version available for purchase at that date.
Players looking at other tunable Wilson wahs can also compare the Rippah Wah family, including the Rippah Booster Wah Smooth Taper Version, which Wilson Effects says lets you dial in your favorite wah tones via easy-to-access control knobs6.
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Questions
What is the difference between the ICAR and Smooth Taper versions?
The two versions share the same circuit, controls and stock setting, which Wilson Effects tunes to the vintage Macari sound. The difference is the treadle potentiometer: the ICAR version uses the Wilson Effects Vintage Taper Wah Pot, replicated from a vintage ICAR taper pot, while the Smooth Taper version uses a smooth taper pot for a different feel under the foot.
Is the Wilson Tunable Colorful Clone true bypass?
Yes. Wilson Effects builds all of its pedals, including the Tunable Colorful Clone ICAR Version, with a true bypass circuit, so the signal passes through unaffected when the pedal is off. The pedal also has a bright LED indicator to prevent accidental activation.
Does the Tunable Colorful Clone take a battery?
Yes. It operates on a high-quality alkaline battery or on an industry standard 2.1mm center-negative power supply, so it works with the common 9V pedalboard power setup.
What is the Macari wah?
The Macari wah is a vintage wah that Wilson Effects describes as legendary, known for its deep, throaty sweep and unmistakable tone. The Tunable Colorful Clone is modeled after it, and Wilson Effects tuned the pedal by setting it side by side with the maker's own Macari wah.
Where is the volume control on the Tunable Colorful Clone?
Inside the pedal. The internal volume control adjusts the pedal to unity gain or boosts the signal so it can cut through the mix, and the built-in fuzz buffer is included with this volume control.
Is the Wilson Tunable Colorful Clone made in the USA?
Yes. Wilson Effects states that the Tunable Colorful Clone ICAR Version is hand built in the U.S., and the pedal carries a one year warranty on parts and labor.
Sources (6)
- Tunable Colorful Clone ICAR Version, Wilson Effects
- Tunable Colorful Clone, Wilson Effects
- Brushed Aluminum Tunable Colorful Clone ICAR Version, Wilson Effects
- Tunable Colorful Clone Smooth Taper Version, Wilson Effects
- Tunable Colorful Clone Smooth Taper Deal, Wilson Effects
- Rippah Booster Wah Smooth Taper Version | Wilson Effects, Wilson Effects
