conundrum.
CLICKLESS,
NOISELESS,
AND VOWELLY
VERSATILE
and focusing on specific
Q points.
WHAT WE LIKE
The PW-3 is versatile,
affordable, forward
While Vintage mode is
thinking and makes for a
great for funky whackagreat middle ground when
whacka and clean quackattack goodness, I spent the compared to the multiple
There are a few things I
mini-wah options of today.
majority of my time in Rich
noticed immediately upon
mode for reasons described It isn’t too big or too small
engagement of the PW-3.
above. I tend to use the Wah and integrates perfectly
First and most obviously:
into rigs where pedalboard
there is no pop, click or any as a tonal focal point shifter
real estate is key. Speaking
other noise when the effect rather than a rhythmic
of keys, the action can be
device, so the syrupy hazy
is engaged—the switching
easily adjusted with the
lower-midrange juiciness
is seamless. Second, there
included Allen wrench. I
of the Rich mode had me
is no annoying hissing or
playing some dreamy-doom- also love the side lighting
crackling artifacts when
and all metal enclosure.
drone Dead Meadow-style
the treadle is in the toe-up
From a physical engineering
position. This is a revelation riffs right off the bat. Of
point of view, the PW-3 is a
course, The Stooges’s “TV
particularly in a recording
modern marvel. Luckily, the
Eye” riff reared its familiar
scenario. Even in Vintage
tone is there to match.
head when I was putting
mode with its higher
her through the paces as
CONCERNS
midrange peaks, the upper
well—always a good sign.
The switching can be a little
Q settings were noise-free
tough for light-footed folk,
in my setup. The travel from I also enjoyed attempting
heel to toe does take some some freestyle experimental but one can easily remedy
John McLaughlin-like
this by removing one or two
getting used to as it feels
pads from underneath the
like a smaller physical sweep meanderings in this mode
with my drummer. Rich
treadle.
than traditional wahs, but
tonally speaking it surpasses mode excels in this hazy,
horny On the Corner
most in range. Some will
have their prayers answered Sessions type of honk.
with a smaller-travel, widersweep setup and I imagine
some may be put off by this
deviation from the norm,
but I had no problems
whatsoever chiseling out
ToneReport.com
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