Vox V847 Wah Settings Guide
The Vox V847 reissues the original Thomas Organ/Vox wah circuit — the Clyde McCoy Wah that Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton used in 1967–68. Different character from the Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95: the V847 has a slightly lower resonant frequency peak (more vocal, less nasal), a quicker sweep travel, and a warmer overall tone. If the GCB95 is the industry-standard affordable wah, the V847 is the vintage-voiced alternative preferred by players chasing the original psychedelic rock wah sound.
Used by: Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana
The best Vox V847 Wah settings start with: Treadle at 5/10. Adjust from there based on your amp, guitar, and room volume. For Classic Rock: Treadle 7/10.
⚡ Start Here — Recommended Settings
| Control | Starting Position | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Treadle | 5/10 | Heel → Toe |
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 in the upper range for the classic "wah open" sound — the V847 with treadle pushed forward produces the high-resonance peak that gives wah its vocal character. The V847's peak frequency is slightly lower than the GCB95, producing a more nasal, vintage-voiced quality. Classic Hendrix and Clapton rock wah application.
Rhythmic treadle movement timed to the groove — funk wah is about timing the treadle sweep to the beat. The V847's slightly warmer, lower-peak character suits rhythm guitar funk where the wah needs to be present without cutting harshly over the mix. Move the treadle on 1 and 3 beats, with the peak at the 2 and 4 emphasis for classic funk wah rhythm.
Parked wah — holding the treadle at a fixed position creates a fixed-filter effect rather than a sweep. The V847 parked in the mid-sweep position (treadle 5) creates a mid-frequency emphasis that adds a distinctive tone character to guitar, used by psychedelic players for its filter quality even without treadle movement.
Slow, expressive treadle sweeps for blues lead playing — the V847's vocal quality suits single-note blues lead lines where the wah mimics a singer's vowel transitions. Slow sweeps add expression to bends and sustained notes without the rhythmic choppiness of fast funk wah movement.
Artist Settings
Documented settings used by professional guitarists on this unit.
Hendrix was one of the first to use a Vox wah pedal (the original Clyde McCoy model that the V847 reissues) in 1967. Voodoo Child, Still Raining Still Dreaming, and Burning of the Midnight Lamp all use wah — his approach ranged from rhythmic funk wah to parked-wah as a filter to expressive lead wah sweeps. The V847's character is the closest modern equivalent to the original circuit he used.
Santana has used Vox wah pedals as a fixed filter and an expressive lead tool. His wah application tends toward slower, more melodic sweeps rather than rhythmic funk wah — the wah adds vocal expression to his singing lead lines rather than rhythmic emphasis.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- V847 vs. GCB95: the V847's peak frequency is lower and the Q (resonance sharpness) is slightly less pronounced — producing a warmer, more vintage wah sweep. The GCB95 has a higher, more nasal peak that's more prominent in the mix. The choice between them is primarily a voicing preference.
- The V847 uses a standard Fasel inductor — the specific inductor type significantly affects wah character. Some vintage wah pedals used different inductors that produce different peak frequencies and Q values. Players can mod V847s with aftermarket inductors for different wah characters.
- Wah signal chain position matters: before distortion produces a more expressive, controllable effect where the wah filters the clean signal before it's distorted. After distortion produces a more harsh, pronounced effect where the wah filters already-distorted signal. Most players (and vintage rig references) use wah before distortion.
FAQ
Vox V847 Wah — Common Questions
Best starting settings for Vox V847 Wah: Treadle at 5/10. Adjust from there based on your guitar, room, and playing style.
For Classic Rock: Treadle 7/10. Treadle in the upper range for the classic "wah open" sound — the V847 with treadle pushed forward produces the high-resonance peak that gives wah its vocal character. The V847's peak frequency is slightly lower than the GCB95, producing a more nasal, vintage-voiced quality. Classic Hendrix and Clapton rock wah application.
For Funk Rhythm: Treadle 6/10. Rhythmic treadle movement timed to the groove — funk wah is about timing the treadle sweep to the beat. The V847's slightly warmer, lower-peak character suits rhythm guitar funk where the wah needs to be present without cutting harshly over the mix. Move the treadle on 1 and 3 beats, with the peak at the 2 and 4 emphasis for classic funk wah rhythm.
Treadle: Expression treadle position (Heel to Toe)
V847 vs. GCB95: the V847's peak frequency is lower and the Q (resonance sharpness) is slightly less pronounced — producing a warmer, more vintage wah sweep. The GCB95 has a higher, more nasal peak that's more prominent in the mix. The choice between them is primarily a voicing preference. The V847 uses a standard Fasel inductor — the specific inductor type significantly affects wah character. Some vintage wah pedals used different inductors that produce different peak frequencies and Q values. Players can mod V847s with aftermarket inductors for different wah characters. Wah signal chain position matters: before distortion produces a more expressive, controllable effect where the wah filters the clean signal before it's distorted. After distortion produces a more harsh, pronounced effect where the wah filters already-distorted signal. Most players (and vintage rig references) use wah before distortion.
Jimi Hendrix settings: Treadle 7/10. Hendrix was one of the first to use a Vox wah pedal (the original Clyde McCoy model that the V847 reissues) in 1967. Voodoo Child, Still Raining Still Dreaming, and Burning of the Midnight Lamp all use wah — his approach ranged from rhythmic funk wah to parked-wah as a filter to expressive lead wah sweeps. The V847's character is the closest modern equivalent to the original circuit he used.
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