Xotic Wah XW-2

The Xotic Wah XW-2 is a wah pedal whose circuit Xotic describes as reminiscent of the Italian-made Clyde McCoy models of the late 1960s¹². It is an updated, streamlined version of the Xotic XW-1, and Xotic publishes its manual online¹.

What sets the standard XW-2 apart from most wahs on the market is its face: there are no knobs. Xotic's custom-designed circuit automatically optimizes the tone, eliminating external adjustments, and the pedal relies on a custom wound inductor, pot and circuit for its sound²¹. RockBoard describes the result as a warm, expressive and versatile wah-wah tone, equally suited to throaty rock solos or funky muted rhythms².

A wah with no knobs

The XW-2's defining feature is its knob-less design. Where the XW-1 put bias, wah-Q, treble and bass controls on the side panel, the XW-2 removes them entirely: the circuit sets the tone, and the player works the treadle³². Guitar World's reviewer Paul Riario, reviewing the red limited edition, summed up the experience plainly:

Paul Riario, Guitar World⁴

Not everything is fixed. The treadle itself is user-adjustable: Xotic lists fully adjustable rocker pedal torsion, set by turning a hex nut on the treadle, so a player can set how stiff the pedal feels underfoot¹. The switching is relay-based true bypass, rated by Xotic for a minimum of one million life cycles, and the pivot uses a self-lubricating nylon bushing, so there is no internal grease to dry out or leak¹⁴.

One limited edition complicates the no-knobs picture. The XW-2LE manual lists a WAH Q CONTROL knob, which Xotic describes as adjusting the Q, the width of the filter peak, and in basic terms the amount of the wah effect, for precise filter shaping toward vocal-like effects⁵. Players comparing versions should check which circuit they are buying.

Under the hood, the pedal uses an Xotic proprietary wah potentiometer with ICAR's unique curve characteristics, which Xotic credits with expressive sensitivity and durability⁶. Premier Guitar's buying guide characterizes the XW-2 as a high-quality, versatile stomp that creates a '70s-style "throaty" wah sound⁷.

Power: 9V DC, 5mA

The XW-2 runs on 9VDC and draws only 5mA, one of the lighter current draws among wah pedals, so it is easy to power from almost any pedalboard supply¹. The DC jack is the standard 2.1mm x 5.5mm barrel wired negative center¹. Xotic also lists an optional regulated AC adapter range of 9VDC to 18VDC with negative tips for players who want to run it at higher voltage¹.

A 9V battery is supported: Xotic specifies a 9VDC (006P) type, the common rectangular 9V battery¹. At 5mA, a fresh battery lasts a long time, though the relay-based switching and always-available jack mean most board builders will power it from a supply.

Versions and limited editions

The XW-2 has shipped in limited editions alongside the standard version. Xotic has offered a Candy Apple Red Limited Edition of the XW-2⁸, and a limited edition metallic red version of the XW-2 was still available via some retailers⁹. A model listed as the XW-2LE also carries a limited edition designation⁵.

The Metallic Blue version, listed in the Xotic online shop under mode number XW-2 MB, is a color finish variant: the wah circuit and controls remain those of the standard pedal¹⁰.

How it differs from the XW-1

The Xotic Wah XW-1 is Xotic's earlier wah, and the XW-2 follows the same family lineage, with a circuit Xotic describes as reminiscent of the Italian-made Clyde McCoy models of the late 1960s¹¹². Where the XW-1 put its emphasis on adjustability, the XW-2 takes a more streamlined approach, and Xotic documents both pedals in its online manuals³².

The XW-2 takes the opposite approach: it drops the external knobs, lets the circuit set the tone, and shrinks the enclosure. Delicious Audio measured the difference in size, reporting the XW-2 is about one fifth smaller than its sibling¹². Both pedals share the nylon bushing pivot that does away with grease, a feature Guitar.com's reviewer praised on the XW-1 back in 2016¹¹.

For a player who wants to dial in a specific wah voice, the XW-1's knob set is the draw. For a player who wants to plug in and play, the XW-2 removes the decisions, which is exactly how Guitar World's reviewer framed it⁴.

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