The Wah-Wah hasn't changed very much in the past 30 years. You'll find most wahs are in the same standard steel housing, using the same switching system, and dishing out the same range of sounds. Not that we ever grow tired of the classic wah sound, but isn't it about time for a change? Thankfully, the last few years have seen a few wise wah makers addressing the long standing issues that have plagued the wah over its' short history. Additions like true bypass, Q knobs, boost dials, and switchless systems have all given the wah-wah a new lease on life. These small incremental advancements have been welcomed by players and manufacturers have had new features to boost sales. You would think everyone would be happy and content now. Right? Wrong! While all the various manufacturers have been patting themselves on the back for a job well done and all the players have been going on and on about their new found tone, Roger Mayer was holed up in his UK effects laboratory re-inventing the wah from the ground up.

The Vision Wah is the result, and the finished product is nothing short of amazing. From a design standpoint alone, the Vision wah is a mini-masterpiece. It's lo-profile housing is sleek, streamlined and very sexy. From the jet black finish to it's spacey sci-fi look, the Vision Wah retains that familiar rocketship theme that Roger Mayer is known for. Cool sidemounted thruster fins provide ample room for input and ouput jacks as well as two knobs for blend and output adjustments. The jacks are side mounted for hasslefree cable management with the knobs tucked away to avoid unwanted adjustments. Since the jacks are positioned toward the lower half of the unit, we would suggest using 90 degree patch cords to keep cables free from any foot contact. The LED status light is mounted on the top of the left thruster fin and highly visible while you are wah-wah-ing. When have you ever experienced that in a wah? The only other surface mounted controls on the Vision are the four matrix-like push buttons located on the heel edge of the unit. In and out combinations of the four simple buttons yield sixteen stunning wah combinations that give the Vision its' voicing control. While these buttons are somewhat tucked away, they still could fall victim to the rigors of the road. I'd mount this to a pedalboard or keep it in the original box for safe transport.

Lookwise, the Vision Wah can certainly take us into the 21st century. Thankfully, the looks also prove to be ergonomically viable. There is a nice marriage of design and function that completely works here. The low pro-file treadle is a real pleasure to pivot compared to the traditional Crybaby-type pedals. It's a nimble pedal that doesn't fight with your foot while you're expressing yourself. This is made possible, in part, to the fibre composite construction of the treadle. Its' ultra-light weight might take some getting used to especially if you're used to manhandling the clunk of other pedals. The magnetic-based switching system is another one of the Vision's highlights and makes for effortless engagement of the effect. You won't experience the audible click pop of a Crybaby but rather a quiet gentle tap. The sensitivity can be adjusted with a small screwdriver but we found the factory setting to be right on the money for our fickle feet.

Soundwise, the Vision Wah has no peers. Combine 16 different wah voicings along with custom tweaks to the internal Range and Bias knobs and you can call up everything from shrilly squawks to woofer-shaking wooliness. Although every setting has its' own charming personality, we gravitated towards some of the richer voicings and fell heel over heel in love. The sweep is ultra smooth and the transistion from low to high is balanced and very consistent. It's worth mentioning that the overall voice of the Vision is that of a "Wah," as opposed to a "Wow." This particular vowel-like voicing has more in common with that of a Crybaby than that of a vintage Vox or a boutique Budda wah. Some players have their own picky preferences and knowing this could either make you run to the music store or stay home. The blend knob is a genius move on Mayer's part as it expands the wah palette even more by allowing the user to dial in a more pronounced wah sound or a nearly absent one. The output knob provides a robust boost for solos, noisey spasms, and basic wah-freakouts. It's a welcome touch that saves you the stress of depeding on the soundman to push your parts in the mix. Add to all this true bypass and AC power and you can see why we haven't dished out a bad word for this wah. All these small details add up to a wah that really pushes the envelope of design, ease of use, and overall sound. You'll pay considerably more for this remarkable breakthrough in Wah design but then again, this isn't the usual Wah.