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Sound: | |
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Pros:
- Amazing tone
- Classic vintage tone
- Works great for achieving 1960s tones
Cons:
- Not very versatile
- Not for everyone
Those, who have witnessed the development of the first wah pedals or have at least read their history, must be really excited about this article. As you probably have guessed from the title, the subject of our discussion today is Vox – a renowned brand that have made their name with their amplifiers. But they have not stopped there. They were the main contributors to the development of the very first wah pedal back in 1960s. Since then the market has seen various manufacturers, but many musicians still come back to the pioneer company. Their Clyde McCoys are sought out till this day and many try to replicate their sonic capabilities. But we are not going to discuss one of those. Our star of the show is V845, a modern pedal that packs all of its vintage capabilities. It is as close to the first wah pedals as it can get and offers wonderful performance at a rather affordable price. If you are on a budget but still want to taste the savor of original sound of Vox units, then you are in the right place. Stay with me and let’s dive into juicy details together!
Features
Vox has never failed to provide its customers with outstanding quality. No matter what unit we are talking about, as soon as we see the label of this brand we assume that we are looking at a spectacular device. V845 is just like that. Though its feature set is not as diverse as with some other pedals out there, everything it packs works so well that you will hardly think of the things it lacks. This is a simple, straightforward wah pedal that accentuates all the great properties your signal possesses. It is quite affordable, but none of its components are cheap or clumsy. Rather, it is built with high quality material and the interior is protected with a sturdy shell. Though it is made out of aluminum, it is still lightweight, which is always a good think if you ask me. The chassis is coated in black and shows off the classic design of the original pedals. It proudly carries the label of the brand and catches your eye with each detail. V845 is very convenient to use, since it accommodates itself to your preferences and needs. I shall mention that it does not have a battery compartment. The battery is situated on the bottom, which can be exposed by removing the plate. If you do not want to deal with all that, then you can always employ power adapter and be done with it. This pedal has a hardwire circuit, which means it is not a true bypass. However, it still does not have any noticeable hum, but can suck tiny particles of your signal (nothing that cannot be changed with simple modifications). V845 is the perfect pedal for those who enjoy the music from ‘60s and ‘70s. But it can easily occupy the pedalboards of those who are into modern funk or rock. Though it might not seem like it, this bad boy is still pretty versatile for a wah pedal. It depends on how you look at it.
Controls
I am not sure if there is any need to have this section at all, but for the sake of the article, I will still tell you a bit about the controls of V845. First of all, it has none. Yeah, you heard me, it does not have any additional knobs or encoders. You cannot exactly tailor all of its capabilities to your own preferences. However, it has a treadle and a footswitch. As you press it hard enough, you activate the pedal. You stomp it the way your heart desires and emit wonderful pieces. Once you are done, you press it again and turn off the unit. Easy, isn’t it? Sometimes you have to take a simple pedal and see where it takes you. It might even become the only thing you will ever use. I guess we will find out once you try it.
Vox V845 Sound
You might be wondering, why would someone pick such a straightforward pedal over versatile and experimental units. The answer to this question has to do with the sonic capabilities of V845. This bad boy is closest to the music of ‘60s and ‘70s and the songs of legendary musicians. Most of them utilized the original version of this one and it can be said that their sound benefited from it a great deal. This particular model has enough range for most tastes and can add a distinctive tonal touch to your whole performance. Its lows and highs are equally defined and emitting different shades of the wah is not a difficult job either. It might get a bit thin in some regions of the sonic spectrum but generally, its body is pretty thick. V845 works wonderfully with clean channel and can really amp up your overdriven sounds. Depending on how you utilize it and where you place it in the chain, you will be able to receive diverse results. Just take your time and find the perfect spot, once you do, you can enjoy the journey with nothing to worry about.
Conclusion
On the whole, V845 is a perfect wah pedal for simpler musicians. It does not require advanced craftsmanship in order to create the desired results. You plug it in, step on it and that’s it. And in my opinion, that is the beauty of it. Loyal customers of Vox will appreciate yet another capable unit, but those who are not familiar with these pedals, might fall in love with the brand for good. V845 is not for everyone, but it is quite close to being a universal device. Give it a shot and maybe you will find your one true love. Good luck!
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