Rock the pedal backward and the unit produces a tone that has a deeper, muted sound. Though Vox was the first company to market such a device, its infinite tonal possibilities and electronic simplicity spawned armies of imitators. Players such as Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page initially popularized the effect during the late sixties, but it went on to become an indispensable part of nearly every self-respecting guitar player's setup. Then there's the wah-wah pedal.
Most people just touch it with their foot.
Jimi jumps on it with his full weight, so I carry about three extra wah wah pedals and ten extra fuzz boxes. According to its previous owner, this wah-wah pedal was stolen off the stage moments after Jimi had finished a gig in Spokane, Washington, on September 9, 1968. This model happens to be a Vox King Wah, which was much like the earlier, Italian-made V846 VOX Wah in styling and sound, but featured a TDK inductor that was made in Japan. The Vox King Wah was made in Italy for the Thomas Organ Company in Sepulveda, California. For those who'd like to try one out for themselves, Vox has recently re-issued their original wah pedal.