Zvex Wah Probe

Zvex's Wah Probe is a unique wah wah pedal that can be used for any electronic instrument. The pedal is unique because the effect is controlled via a theremin type of controller rather than by your foot, although you could use your foot to engage the motion sensor. The pedal has 1/4" connections on the sides, and a button to engage the effect as well. It isn't rack mountable since it's a foot controlled effect.

UTILIZATION

There really aren't any parameters to work with on the Zvex Wah Probe, which for me is not ideal at all. The only knob that it has is for setting the amount of boost you;d like for the effect. You can get different types of sounds depending on how you move your hand or foot, but nothing more definitive than that. A manual isn't necessary at all...

SOUND QUALITY

The sound of the Zvex Wah Probe is not exactly what I was expecting from it. It quite a dirty sounding wah effect and can be very bright at times. I've used the pedal with a Fender Stratocaster and '76 Fender Twin Reverb for a recent recording session, so I was definitely getting a good idea of what the pedal truly sounds like and I can't say I'm a huge fan of it. It almost sounds like a fuzz at times, which I guess would be cool if that's what I was going for at the time, but I wasn't at all. Perhaps another time I'm at the studio I'll try it again and it will work better for me...

OVERALL OPINION

While a very cool pedal in theory, I'm afraid that I can't endorse the Zvex Wah Probe. It's definitely cool that you can control the effect without actually touching the pedal, but it seems pretty gimmicky to me, especially when you get a look at the price. I actually like the sound of my Dunlop Crybaby more than this one, and it costs about 15% on what this one does. Perhaps I'd give this pedal more of a chance if it wasn't so expensive...

(Originally written by poufinou/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
The Wah Probe is a wah pedal combined with a Super Hard On (SHO). If you don't know Zack pedals, the SHO is a preamp pedal, which means it boosts the guitar's signal without coloring and altering it...

The pedal doesn't use a foot plate but an "antenna" in the form of a copper plate that captures foot, hand and head movements.

It's totally ZVex: vintage and modern. The device is heavy with a metal bottom side and a plexiglas cover containing the copper "antenna". The pedal is hand-painted and has a sturdy construction.

It obviously has an on/off switch and an input/output. On the rear panel you have a drive control that allows you to adjust the gain of the SHO. The pedal requires a 9-volt battery and has no PSU operation (except via an optional ZVex socket). Luckily this product has a very low power consumption like all ZVex pedals! The bottom side must be unscrewed to access the battery compartment. It's not very pracical but it allows you to admire the handcrafted construction of the beast!! Stunning!!

You can also adjust the sensitivity and the frequency response using two trim controls in the pedal!!!

Each pedal is a custom product because it's handmade. You might even find one with a custom finish! The pedal is signed by the painter (Jason Mylord) and Zack Vex, who engraves his signature on the bottom side and on the copper antenna.

The pedal is sold in an original cardboard box and cloth bag.

That's right it's a high-class, handcrafted pedal whose quality and originality make it a work of art.

UTILIZATION

Plug and play.

The user's manual is also atypical and very funny. ZVex pedals are a totally different species.

Access to the battery is not easy, the lack of PSU operation is a turnoff, and the sensitivity and frequency response controls are not practical (you need a screw driver).

But it's the typical ZVex style. It's handcrafted!!

Using the "antenna" is easy, responsive and effective. Better than a rocker pedal! And you can use your hand to play with the wah. The effect response is very accurate even when you make fast moves!

I give it 9/10 due to the small annoying details (which actually add to the personality of the product).

SOUND QUALITY

The sound of the Wah Probe makes it a high-class product.

No emulation effect but a real wah with its own personality.

The SHO circuitry is very interesting. It gives more punch to the sound, which gets thinner due to the wah effect (normal for a pass-band filter!!), but it also allows you to add saturation, sharpness and aggressiveness to the sound with the drive control. When the drive is maxed the wah effect becomes spectacular.

In short, it's a wah pedal providing modern and vintage sounds thanks to the SHO circuitry.

OVERALL OPINION

Once again ZVex delivers a vintage concept with a very modern sound processing.

It's a high-class product with a finish that almost makes it a work of art.

Original and handcrafted like every other ZVex pedal, it's a totally new sound experience.

i know, the price... do we really have to talk about it?