Wah pedals and distortion pedals are two essential pedals for many guitarists. Wah pedals can sweep the frequency spectrum of a guitar signal, creating a wah-wah effect. Distortion pedals can add gain and distortion to a guitar signal, making it sound more aggressive and saturated.
There is no right or wrong answer to the question of whether to use wah before or after distortion. It depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Wah Before Distortion
Some guitarists prefer to use wah before distortion. This can help to ensure that the distortion pedal is getting a consistent signal, which can make it easier to get the desired sound. Additionally, the wah can help to add sustain to the distorted signal.
Here are some of the pros of using wah before distortion:
- The wah can help to even out the dynamic range of the guitar signal, making it sound more consistent. This can be helpful if you are using a distortion pedal with a lot of gain, as it can help to prevent the distortion from being too sensitive to your picking dynamics.
- The wah can help to add sustain to the guitar signal, which can be helpful if you are playing lead guitar.
- The wah can help to make the distorted signal sound more expressive. This can be a good choice for genres like rock and blues.
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to using wah before distortion:
- The wah can make the distortion pedal less responsive. This is because the wah will be compressing the signal before it reaches the distortion pedal, which can make it more difficult to get the desired sound.
- The wah can make the distortion pedal less transparent. This is because the wah will be adding its own tonal characteristics to the signal, which can make it more difficult to hear the original sound of the guitar.
Distortion Before Wah
Other guitarists prefer to use distortion before wah. This can help to ensure that the wah is only affecting the signal that has already been distorted by the distortion pedal. Additionally, the distortion can help to add sustain and even out the sound of the wah signal.
Here are some of the pros of using distortion before wah:
- The distortion can help to even out the dynamic range of the wah signal, making it sound more consistent. This can be helpful if you are using a wah pedal with a lot of sweep, as it can help to prevent the wah from being too sensitive to your picking dynamics.
- The distortion can help to add sustain to the wah signal, which can be helpful if you are playing lead guitar.
- The distortion can help to make the wah signal sound more aggressive and saturated. This can be a good choice for genres like metal and rock.
However, there are also some potential drawbacks to using distortion before wah:
- The distortion can make the wah pedal less responsive. This is because the distortion will be compressing the signal before it reaches the wah pedal, which can make it more difficult to get the desired sound.
- The distortion can make the wah pedal less transparent. This is because the distortion will be adding its own tonal characteristics to the signal, which can make it more difficult to hear the original sound of the guitar.
Which Approach is Best?
The best approach to using wah before or after distortion depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you are looking for a consistent signal and a more transparent sound, then you may want to consider using distortion before wah. However, if you are looking for a more expressive sound with added sustain, then you may want to consider using wah before distortion.
Ultimately, the best way to find out which approach is best for you is to experiment with both and see which one you prefer.
Here are some additional tips for using wah and distortion together:
- Use a high-quality wah and distortion pedal. A good wah and distortion pedal will give you more control over the sound of the pedals.
- Start with a small amount of wah and distortion. It is easy to overdo it with wah and distortion, so it is a good idea to start with a small amount and then adjust it as needed.
- Listen carefully to the results. As you are adding wah and distortion, listen carefully to the results and make sure that you are getting the desired sound.
- Don’t be afraid to experiment. The best way to find the right wah and distortion settings is to experiment with different settings and see what sounds good to you.