 |
Download Example 1
Mega Mode: Gain 11:00, Resonance 3:00, Sensitivity 1:00
|
|
Download Example 2
Auto Mode: Gain 10:00, Resonance 9:00, Sensitivity 2:00
|
| Clips recorded with a 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom into a Fender reissue Twin Reverb.
|
Often credited as the inventor of “talking
guitar,” Peter Frampton captured
the attention of guitar nuts with his blistering
axe work as a member of Humble
Pie—most notably on the band’s incredible
Performance—Rockin’ the Fillmore. By the
time he released Frampton Comes Alive in
1976, he was one of the premier rock acts
of the day. With his trusty Gibson Les Paul
Custom Black Beauty, a 100-watt Marshall,
and a few effects—most notably, his highly
recognizable talk box—he helped set the
standard for the high-octane arena rock
that would define the era. Now Gig-FX,
which established its own precedents for
sweet tone with the popular MegaWah and
Chopper pedals, has released a signature
variation on their all-analog MegaWah for
the illustrious guitarist, dubbed the Peter
Frampton MegaWah.
Show me the Way
The aluminum Frampton MegaWah is a
stout, sturdy device. And Gig-FX’s practical
design sensibility is very much intact in this
signature model, which is laid out with two
sets of knobs on either side of a compact
(9" x 4"), I-shaped pedal. The design is
among the most distinctive on the market,
and it serves the two-fold purpose of making
the controls more accessible and visible
while keeping them out of harm’s way on
the sides of the enclosure. The improved
access and readability is vital on the
Frampton MegaWah, which is essentially
four wah effects in one—each with its own
unique voice and character.
The four wah modes are selected from a
4-way knob on the left side of the pedal and
include Classic Wah, MegaWah, Triggered
Wah, and Auto Wah modes. As I cycled
through each mode, I felt a satisfying, solid
click in each position of the selector knob—
a sure sign that the moving components in
the pedal are just as robust as the enclosure
itself. The five other knobs—which controlled
Auto Wah Rate, Gain, Sensitivity,
and Resonance—felt just as sturdy.
I wasn’t too keen on having to use a
screwdriver to remove the battery-compartment
door. This is a small detail perhaps, but
one that has proven to be a source of pain to
road warriors when power supplies go on the
fritz. It was a great feeling to know that there
was nothing flimsy about the construction
of the Frampton MegaWah. It was even better
to discover that there was nothing flimsy
about its tone, either.
Doobie Wah
Frampton’s playing has always been synonymous
with tonal expressiveness. His
style can have an almost seasick quality
to it, swaying back and forth from one
tonal extreme to another. The Frampton
MegaWah captured this sound exceptionally
well. I explored the many shades of wah
within the Frampton MegaWah using a
trusty 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom and
a 1981 JCM800 2204 head with matching
4x12 cabinet.
After I flipped to the Classic Wah mode
and stepped on the pedal, the amp roared
with a thick, syrupy bite that coated every
’70s rock lick I threw its way. There’s a lot
of headroom, thanks in part to circuitry that
doubles the voltage. And a Gain knob helps
you use the extra headroom to make the wah
more or less cutting for solos or rhythm work.
The Frampton MegaWah also has a superwide
range—much more than most wah
pedals I’ve encountered. Many players have a
problem with the relatively small amount of
sweep on most wahs. But this is not likely to
be a point of contention on the MegaWah,
which has a pedal sweep that was enormous
enough to literally throw me off balance in
more expressive moments! The Frampton
also includes Gig-FX’s super-sensitive silent
switchless bypass that not only detects the
slightest movements almost instantly, but that
won’t wear out like conventional wah pots.
The Mega Wah mode, which was voiced
especially for Frampton himself—was the
most striking of the four. With the Gain
control cranked all the way, I was able
to coax some really cool synth-like tones
that I could tailor by using the pedal’s
Resonance control to dial in just the right
amount of peak-signal amplification (up
to 15 dB). Essentially, it adjusts the pedal’s
intensity, making the effect more or less
pronounced. This feature also helps make
the Frampton one of the more unique-sounding
wahs around.
Auto Wah is one of the most surprisingly
cool modes. Ordinarily, it’s an effect
that can make a song when used sparingly
or break it when used to excess. The
Frampton’s Auto Wah mode is particularly
pleasing and smooth, however, with a nice,
natural ramp from each end of the pedal’s
frequency spectrum. Unfortunately, you can
only change the rate (which is indicated by
a red flashing LED), and not the intensity
of the mode’s ramp. It’s a limitation that
makes it a little harder to tailor the effect
in a live setting. This is offset somewhat by
the mode’s rounded and less peaky tone.
The funky Trig Wah mode, which
responds dynamically to pick attack, does
have a useful Sensitivity control that helps
keep the effect in subtler realms, if need
be. Conversely, if you want a taste of
Frampton’s “Show Me the Way” talk-box
tone, the Sensitivity control lets you dive
deeply into this realm.
The Verdict
Peter Frampton’s searing, vocal-like guitar
tones are known the world over, and the new
Gig-FX Peter Frampton MegaWah is capable
of delivering those signature sounds, along
with a world of additional tones. About
as feature-packed and versatile as a wah
gets, the MegaWah’s smooth, natural tones
encourage you to explore the outer limits
of wah textures, yet also enable you to dial
up subtler variations that will keep your less
wah-enthused bandmates from casting the
evil eye your way. Not having the ability to
change the ramp rate in the Trig and Auto
modes is a minor quibble. On the whole,
this is a wah of unusual flexibility and toneshaping
power, and it’s a remarkable value
too. So whether you’re after Frampton’s
classic colors or looking to spice up your
funk, rock, or experimental playing with a
wider range of wah-ness, the Peter Frampton
MegaWah may well be the ticket.
Watch the video review:
Buy if...
you want a versatile wah with smooth action and extreme range.
Skip if...
your wah needs are satisfied with a single classic wah tone.
Rating...
