Dunlop and Bob Bradshaw Release a Multifaceted Wah Worth Exploring

By: Drew Amendola

Bob Bradshaw and Custom Audio Electronics are well renowned for their work providing multitudinous tonal shaping options for guitar gods ranging from Steve Vai to Eric Clapton.

Among Mr. Bradshaw’s prolific endeavors is a new collaboration with Dunlop Manufacturing in the creation of the MC404 CAE Wah Pedal.

The MC404, through its numerous options, offers significantly greater versatility than other wah pedals in any price range, and evinces a smooth, harmonically rich tone suitable for a wide range of musical applications.

The Specs

The MC404 immediately struck me as a sturdy, well-built pedal, with some heft.  It contains a true hardwire bypass, a valuable aspect for anyone who runs multiple pedals in their signal chain or detests the high-end frequency loss typically associated with pedals lacking the attribute.

Furthermore, the MC404 was designed with low noise class ‘A’ operational amplifiers to maintain pristine sound quality and reduce signal degradation.

Probably the most interesting feature of the MC404 is the fact that it contains two different Fasel inductors.  The “Red Fasel” provides the classic Crybaby tone (more high-end emphasis).

The “Yellow Fasel” provides a deeper wah tone with increased fundamental. A side-mounted kick switch enables you to switch between the two distinct voicings, and bright yellow or red LED lights indicate which inductor is selected.

Additionally, the MC404 features a boost/line driver, activated through another side-mounted kick switch (on the opposite side of the pedal from the inductor kick switch). A custom designed CTS extended life low noise volume pot located on the other side of the pedal controls the level of boost, and a bright blue LED light indicates operation status.

Inside the pedal, accessible through the removal of the bottom plate, two pots enable adjustment ‘Q’ level for each of the inductors, which varies the intensity of the wah effect by adjusting the effect’s bandpass shape.

The MC-404 can be powered via one 9-volt battery or AC power adaptor [not included].  A nice feature about the battery compartment is that it can be opened without having to remove the bottom plate, so battery changes can be accomplished quickly and without a screwdriver.

The Sound

Given the versatile configurations possible with the MC404, users might be hard-pressed to find a wah tone unavailable with this pedal. Switching the effect on or off produces minimal “click” or “pop,” a welcome indication of the quality components.

Also absent is the background hiss present in many wah pedals when the toe-side is depressed, another welcome feature.

I found the tone of the MC404 very smooth, and it easily cut through a band mix, even in loud live settings. The pedal takes well to distorted and clean tones alike, although I found the yellow fasel inductor better suited to clean funk passages.

On distorted tones, absent was the harsh, gritty sound that can often accompany high-register playing with the pedal toe-down.

The boost is quite effective, and can provide more than enough volume for solo boosts or to overdrive a clean amplifier. And because the volume knob is on the opposite side—and end—of the pedal, inadvertent movement of the pot is not a concern.

The internal controls were quite useful and easy to adjust, providing a very noticeable effect to the tone. This level of control over the wah tone really allows you to sculpt a sound ideal to your own playing idiosyncrasies.

The sweep of the MC404 is rather steep however when compared to other wahs, and some practice is necessary to effectively navigate its middle frequencies. I found it somewhat akin to the tone pots Danny Gatton often preferred; those that quickly span the range from closed to open in a minimal distance, with a short, highly sensitive control over the middle range.

Aside from necessitating some subtlety in maneuvering the sweep, I found the entire tonal spectrum of the pedal appealing and useful in a band setting.

One other issue to be taken into consideration is the MC404’s placement on your pedalboard.  Because the volume knob and kick switches for the fasel inductors and boost are located on the sides of the pedal, placement immediately adjacent to other pedals renders those features inaccessible.

You will need to allow for a couple inches on either side of the pedal to utilize the kick switches (should you choose to activate them with your foot). I didn’t find this to be much of an issue however, as I generally preferred the yellow inductor overall, and because I have a separate line boost pedal,

I didn’t use the boost function of the MC404.  Moreover, if I wanted to make any adjustments, I could always bend down in between songs and make the alterations.

Conclusion

Even considering the abrupt sweep of the unit, given the other effect-shaping options available, the solid build, true bypass, and boost switch, this pedal is well worth the reasonable price, and is a great addition to the pedalboard of anyone requiring more from their wah than a one-trick pony.

About Drew Amendola