I love your demos man!!! Whenever I'm looking at old stuff on Reverb, I always go to UA-cam to find a demo. When I hear your theme song come up I know it's going to be a good demo!!! Thanks for all the good videos!!!!
I have an original Colorsound Swell pedal (bought new from Hamiltons in Middlesbrough!) and in 2009 I built a VOX 847 wah circuit and turned it into a very nice wah pedal. Recently I wanted to add in a swell option and modified my VOX circuit to the Colorsound circuit (the circuit diagrams are readily available on line) - the problem was the wah and swell direction are different - I adjusted it so that the wah was bright toe down, but the volume was off at that point - I couldn't understand where I had gone wrong. Your video explains that this is actually how the original worked and that made me feel better. The US made Maestro Boomer 2 had both wah and volume working in the same direction, but the wah is not as gutsy as the VOX. I'd like to have both effects work in the same direction - I need to go back to the drawing board!
That is not the original pot in there. The originals had an extra tap half way around which caused a sudden change in volume. When mine wore out I tried to get another but it proved impossible. I also swapped the leads on the pot around so that the wah worked the 'correct' way and this didn't alter the swell effect! Nice to see one again
I had two Colorsounds but they were yellow and they also had a fuzz, not very good .... Swell, wha and fuzz. It was the best wha wha tone I ever had. Clear and sweet. My favorites are, the Colorsound and in second the Vox .... the Cry Baby I really don't like.
It's looks an made cheap but it don't joke. I had the tone bender fuzz too . The function seems to be in reverse for the wah but the sweep an the Q will get it.
Hey Man. That wah pot is incorrectly connected. From what I can see in the video the outside lugs need to be reversed. Not only is it working backwards but the wah taper is reversed as well which makes most of the treadle travel sound muddy. Until that is changed it won't really sound much like a Colorsound wah at all. The correct taper is really important as you're missing a great portion of the treble zone.
Creepy Fingers Hi man! Yes, the wah does indeed work backwards. I believe this is to facilitate the volume pedal function, which works in bypass mode. I have considered changing the pedal to a regular true bypass wah, but decided to leave it as it was made back in the day. I do actually have another Colorsound wah wah that sounds great, so I have access to that sound if I need it. I know you are quite knowledgeable about wahs. I'm asuming (and I think I read some online info) that I'm correct about the Wah Swell being originally wired this way. Am I right?
blondegraemey Oh weird! It seems to just be the early Wah Swells that do this. I wasn't aware! Their method of changing from wah to volume is the reason. Really strange choice as it has such a negative effect on the sweep of the wah. More like a woo-woo pedal. Love your demos by the way and thanks for wearing shoes haha!
i have a carlsbro branded colorsound made wah swell that i attempted to reverse the wah and bypass the vol function it kinda worked but i found in bypass it sucked the top treble end out of the bypass signal was awesome wah tho i am in process of returning it to either stock as intended or just have it as a regular sweep direction wah. thanks for posting this vid tho gives my tech a point of reference to work from i guess haha so much better than dunlops tho in my opinion. hopefully can sort the issues out.
I have one that looks just like that but someone adapted it so it has a wall wart cord instead of battery. I have had it for 20 years or so and used it on recordings I made with a 4 track years ago. Now its needs some work as it makes noise but nothing else...
In my opinion the tone of your wah is not well adjusted. I seems the low tones eat the high strings making them sound damp and making the "wah" sound incomplete. I would turn the screw of the pot to balance that but it is just an opinion. If you listen to other soundcolor wahs in the utube you will hear a more rotund "wah"sound and that is due to a well balanced high-low tones. You will loose a little of the swell feature but after all it is mainly a wah, right? Cheers. Good playin though! I have the same pedal btw
I love your demos man!!! Whenever I'm looking at old stuff on Reverb, I always go to UA-cam to find a demo. When I hear your theme song come up I know it's going to be a good demo!!! Thanks for all the good videos!!!!
I have an original Colorsound Swell pedal (bought new from Hamiltons in Middlesbrough!) and in 2009 I built a VOX 847 wah circuit and turned it into a very nice wah pedal. Recently I wanted to add in a swell option and modified my VOX circuit to the Colorsound circuit (the circuit diagrams are readily available on line) - the problem was the wah and swell direction are different - I adjusted it so that the wah was bright toe down, but the volume was off at that point - I couldn't understand where I had gone wrong. Your video explains that this is actually how the original worked and that made me feel better. The US made Maestro Boomer 2 had both wah and volume working in the same direction, but the wah is not as gutsy as the VOX. I'd like to have both effects work in the same direction - I need to go back to the drawing board!
Your pedal collection is absolutely magnificent
with the pot for the wah part working in reverse, i feel like we have to call this an “ow” pedal
That is not the original pot in there. The originals had an extra tap half way around which caused a sudden change in volume. When mine wore out I tried to get another but it proved impossible. I also swapped the leads on the pot around so that the wah worked the 'correct' way and this didn't alter the swell effect! Nice to see one again
I nearly heard "Width Of A Circle"!
I had two Colorsounds but they were yellow and they also had a fuzz, not very good .... Swell, wha and fuzz. It was the best wha wha tone I ever had. Clear and sweet.
My favorites are, the Colorsound and in second the Vox .... the Cry Baby I really don't like.
Hi. Whats the year of your pedals? Thanks
Is there anything similar to this pedal that is made today? Ive been looking for a while for a wah-swell pedal but I haven't found anything
I need a volume pedal and a wah pedal but only have room for one on my board!
It's looks an made cheap but it don't joke. I had the tone bender fuzz too . The function seems to be in reverse for the wah but the sweep an the Q will get it.
Hey Man. That wah pot is incorrectly connected. From what I can see in the video the outside lugs need to be reversed. Not only is it working backwards but the wah taper is reversed as well which makes most of the treadle travel sound muddy. Until that is changed it won't really sound much like a Colorsound wah at all. The correct taper is really important as you're missing a great portion of the treble zone.
Creepy Fingers Hi man! Yes, the wah does indeed work backwards. I believe this is to facilitate the volume pedal function, which works in bypass mode. I have considered changing the pedal to a regular true bypass wah, but decided to leave it as it was made back in the day. I do actually have another Colorsound wah wah that sounds great, so I have access to that sound if I need it. I know you are quite knowledgeable about wahs. I'm asuming (and I think I read some online info) that I'm correct about the Wah Swell being originally wired this way. Am I right?
blondegraemey Oh weird! It seems to just be the early Wah Swells that do this. I wasn't aware! Their method of changing from wah to volume is the reason. Really strange choice as it has such a negative effect on the sweep of the wah. More like a woo-woo pedal. Love your demos by the way and thanks for wearing shoes haha!
Creepy Fingers Thanks mate, and yes! shoes are essential for good quality wah work haha! G
Agree with the shoes comment. But really, why so many wah/volume pedal demos without shoes? Why? Anyone?
i have a carlsbro branded colorsound made wah swell that i attempted to reverse the wah and bypass the vol function it kinda worked but i found in bypass it sucked the top treble end out of the bypass signal was awesome wah tho i am in process of returning it to either stock as intended or just have it as a regular sweep direction wah. thanks for posting this vid tho gives my tech a point of reference to work from i guess haha so much better than dunlops tho in my opinion. hopefully can sort the issues out.
I use to have one of these in 1974! This was the best.....Are you selling any?
I have one that looks just like that but someone adapted it so it has a wall wart cord instead of battery. I have had it for 20 years or so and used it on recordings I made with a 4 track years ago. Now its needs some work as it makes noise but nothing else...
What's the intro music you use? It seems familiar somehow...
In my opinion the tone of your wah is not well adjusted. I seems the low tones eat the high strings making them sound damp and making the "wah" sound incomplete. I would turn the screw of the pot to balance that but it is just an opinion. If you listen to other soundcolor wahs in the utube you will hear a more rotund "wah"sound and that is due to a well balanced high-low tones. You will loose a little of the swell feature but after all it is mainly a wah, right? Cheers. Good playin though! I have the same pedal btw
hi can u tell which gear u used on intro? sounds badass
Hi, It was recorded in the early 90's with a Digitech GSP-21 using a 1979 Gibson Explorer and a 1964 Vox AC30. Thanks! G
Got one! buy? pm me