New FX gear - MXR Custom Audio Electronics MC-404 wah

It's a bit amazing/overwhelming how many wah pedals are available on the market today... everything from classic to modern, from simplistic to infinitely tweakable. Having tried a lot of them over the years, there are some features that (IMO) are must-haves when it comes to wah pedals... 1) switchable voicings - to handle everything from super-clean funk to 7-string riffs, 2) true bypass - to prevent tone suck, 3) indicator light - to remind me when it's on. So the new Dunlop MXR CAE MC-404 wah pedal caught my attention as soon as it arrived on the scene.

From a specs standpoint, the MC-404 has switchable inductors (red is more subdued while yellow is more biting), adjustable/switchable boost, true bypass operation, and four indicator LED's to show the status (red/yellow lights to show which inductor is selected, green/blue lights to show when wah & boost are engaged). For tweakers, there are internal pots to adjust the "Q" of the two modes. My only wish is that it would be cool if the boost could be independently engaged from the wah (e.g., give me 10db of full range boost when the wah is off). Like most Dunlop pedals, it's solid from a construction standpoint. One thing that's kinda irrelevant but not obvious from any of the pictures on the website/brochure is the finish... it's got a brushed metal look that is unique and classy, and there's a large CAE logo on the treadle which adds to the unique look.

To put the wah through its paces, check out the following video of me working through Joe Satriani's "Summer Song" with a PRS Standard 24 and Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Ace:



More reviews & videos coming soon...

--B