Morley Bad Horsie 2 Contour Wah Settings Guide
The Morley Bad Horsie 2 is Steve Vai's signature wah pedal — a switchless design that activates automatically when pressure is applied to the treadle and bypasses when the foot is removed. The Contour circuit provides internal adjustment of the wah's frequency sweep and peak character. Unlike the Vox V847 or Cry Baby GCB95, the Bad Horsie 2 uses electro-optical switching (no mechanical switch), making it more reliable for heavy gigging.
Used by: Steve Vai
The best Morley Bad Horsie 2 Contour Wah settings start with: Treadle at 5/10, Contour at 5/10. Adjust from there based on your amp, guitar, and room volume. For Rock Lead: Treadle 7/10, Contour 5/10.
⚡ Start Here — Recommended Settings
| Control | Starting Position | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Treadle | 5/10 | Heel → Toe |
| Contour | 5/10 | Low → High |
These are universal starting points. Adjust based on your amp, guitar, and room. Scroll down for genre-specific settings and artist-documented positions.
What Each Control Does
Recommended Starting Settings
Safe starting positions for any style. Adjust from here based on your amp and room.
All values on a 0–10 scale. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear.
Settings by Genre
Treadle toward toe position for lead wah — the Bad Horsie 2's frequency range is calibrated for lead playing with the extended, vocal sweep that Vai uses. The automatic switching means the wah engages the moment foot pressure is applied, with no extra click or step needed.
Rhythmic treadle movement for funk — the automatic switching is particularly useful in funk contexts where the wah needs to be engaged and disengaged quickly between chord stabs. Lower Contour setting produces a warmer, less prominent peak sweep that suits funk rhythm guitar.
High Contour for an exaggerated, prominent wah sweep. The Contour control at high settings produces a more nasal, quack-forward character. Experimental players can use this for a more vocal, pronounced wah effect that calls more attention to the wah sweep.
Artist Settings
Documented settings used by professional guitarists on this unit.
Vai designed the Bad Horsie to address the limitations he found with traditional wah pedals — specifically the need to click the footswitch while maintaining musical wah expression. The automatic optical switching allows uninterrupted wah playing without the mechanical click of a bypass switch.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- The electro-optical switching activates when a light sensor detects foot pressure — this means the Bad Horsie 2 can accidentally activate from light foot contact or deactivate if your foot isn't fully engaged. Getting used to the triggering threshold is part of learning the pedal.
- The Bad Horsie 2 is larger than most compact wah pedals — its heavier, more stable base is part of its design for players who move aggressively on stage and need a wah that doesn't shift position.
FAQ
Morley Bad Horsie 2 Contour Wah — Common Questions
Best starting settings for Morley Bad Horsie 2 Contour Wah: Treadle at 5/10, Contour at 5/10. Adjust from there based on your guitar, room, and playing style.
For Rock Lead: Treadle 7/10, Contour 5/10. Treadle toward toe position for lead wah — the Bad Horsie 2's frequency range is calibrated for lead playing with the extended, vocal sweep that Vai uses. The automatic switching means the wah engages the moment foot pressure is applied, with no extra click or step needed.
For Funk Rhythm: Treadle 6/10, Contour 4/10. Rhythmic treadle movement for funk — the automatic switching is particularly useful in funk contexts where the wah needs to be engaged and disengaged quickly between chord stabs. Lower Contour setting produces a warmer, less prominent peak sweep that suits funk rhythm guitar.
Treadle: Expression treadle — activates automatically when foot is placed (Heel to Toe). Contour: Internal contour trim — adjusts the wah's peak frequency emphasis (Low to High)
The electro-optical switching activates when a light sensor detects foot pressure — this means the Bad Horsie 2 can accidentally activate from light foot contact or deactivate if your foot isn't fully engaged. Getting used to the triggering threshold is part of learning the pedal. The Bad Horsie 2 is larger than most compact wah pedals — its heavier, more stable base is part of its design for players who move aggressively on stage and need a wah that doesn't shift position.
Steve Vai settings: Treadle 7/10, Contour 5/10. Vai designed the Bad Horsie to address the limitations he found with traditional wah pedals — specifically the need to click the footswitch while maintaining musical wah expression. The automatic optical switching allows uninterrupted wah playing without the mechanical click of a bypass switch.
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