Gear Hunter

Morley - PWO

Description

The Morley name came to the fore in the effects arena of the '70s, adorning super-sized, chrome-cased treadle pedals that governed functions such as volume, wah-wah, phasing and fuzz. The designs pioneered the use of electro-optical technology to control effect parameters, where treadle operation regulated the illumination from an onboard bulb reaching a light-dependent resistor. This meant that there was no pot to wear out and noise was kept to a minimum.

The following decade saw the range updated and redesigned. One major change was a switch from built-in AC power to 9V DC, provided via a battery or external wall-wart. Dimensions were scaled down on the appropriately titled Slimline series and another obvious amendment was the subsequent switch from chrome cladding to a more conventional, all-black livery.

Regardless of the various alterations made over the years, operation has always remained reliant on light, although this is now supplied by LED, rather than being bulb-based.

Morley was started during the '60s by Californian company Tel-Ray Electronics, but in 1989 the brand was acquired by the present owners, Sound Enhancement Products Inc, based in Illinois. The line now encompasses variations on the original Morley designs, some all-new ideas and a number of artist signature effects, endorsed by famous players such as Steve Vai, George Lynch and Mark Tremonti.

There are currently around eight wah-based models and the Power Wah is one of the most recent additions to the range. Measurements may be minimal compared to those early Morley monsters, but this is still a pretty substantial pedal. As with most of its stablemates, the Power Wah maintains many of the Slimline series features from almost a quarter of a century ago.

Construction comprises two main components, namely a large, slope-sided treadle mounted on a slim-depth but sizeable base section. Under an all-over, lightly textured black finish, construction is metal throughout and comfortingly solid. The treadle top is surfaced with a super-grippy synthetic material, while the beefy metal baseplate sports a set of stuck-on, small rubber feet plus an easy-access battery compartment.

The standard jack connections are side-mounted, with input to the right and output over on the left, the former being partnered by a mini socket for an appropriate external power supply. A separate footswitch engages the wah function and, along with an accompanying indicator LED, is located on the top of the casing, adjacent to the heel section of the treadle. To the left of the latter comes a rotary control labelled Boost and this governs the overall effect level.

Like other Morley models, the Power Wah employs the company's HQ2 inductor, a component designed to yield an appropriately vintage wah tone. It also features True Tone Bypass, which apparently improves on normal true-bypass operation by ensuring no volume loss and maintaining instrument identity in both on and off modes.