Akai Variwah
Four wah pedals
offer users the ability to
use a wah filter as an LFO-powered modulator: the Voodoo
Lab Wahzoo, Korg Mr. Multi, Sonuus Wahoo and this, the Akai
Variwah. On each of those pedals, the controls to drive this
one sound are pretty limited, save for the Variwah. There are
four expression-controllable knobs as well as a traditional wah
setting for you sticklers out there. The footswitch is located on
the side of the pedal rather than directly under the treadle, so
this means that dialing in the “Money for Nothing” cocked-wah
tone takes about 10 seconds, since players can position the
wah where they like and then engage it with the footswitch.
Fortunately for those traditionalists, the Variwah’s sweep is
enormous and extremely expressive, and best of all it takes
pedals like a champ. For some reason, it seems like some oldschool Akai effect shouldn’t have a bunch of headroom, but
here we are. And the thing costs like $60—a steal if enclosure
size isn’t a huge dealbreaker.
ToneReport.com
27