Flattley Guitar Pedals “The Wah” on test by Accordo.it

A modern Wah that looks to the past: the Flattley Guitar Pedals The Wah on test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM14aX8Np-E&t=2s

https://www.accordo.it/article/viewPub/108346

The Flattley Wah is a pedal that knows where it wants to go: in the heart of those who love vintage wahs, but with a splash of modernity. With a construction inspired by Twin T filters and an Oil Slick finish that stands out even when the lights are off, this effect promises to sound like a classic… but with a blue LED underfoot. We put him to the test together with Riccardo Gioggi for Accordo.it.

A classic revisited with criterion
The wah is not just an effect, it is almost an accent, a way of underlining phrases and riffs that few other instruments allow. With the Flattley Wah, the British company offers its own vision of this historic effect, with the ambition of restoring the sound paste of the most beloved vintage pedals, adding some modern gems that wink at the practicality of the contemporary guitarist.

The heart of the project is the Twin T Resonant Filter circuit, a type of passive filter already known to electronics enthusiasts, capable of generating that unmistakable “voice” that has made the most iconic wahs famous from the 60s onwards. Flattley reworks the principles, carefully calibrates inductors, resistors and capacitors, and closes everything in an aggressive-looking and distinctive chassis.

Design and construction: when the eye also wants its part
If on the one hand the circuit winks at tradition, the aesthetics of the Flattley Wah do everything but go unnoticed. The Oil Slick finish is the result of a hydro-dipping that returns iridescent reflections and unique designs on each unit. Added to this is a base illuminated by blue LEDs that lights up when the pedal is activated, mainly useful on stage in low light conditions.

Mechanically, the pedal action is smooth yet stable, with calibrated resistance to ensure control and precision even in the quickest passages. The 100K potentiometer, made to Flattley specifications, is designed to guarantee linear excursion and durability, avoiding the inaccuracies that often emerge in classic pots after months of intensive use.

The sound: from funk to flowing lead lines
The Flattley Wah impresses with its timbral consistency throughout the sweep. Even with high gain levels, the pedal retains its intelligibility, without muddying the mid-lows or making the highs excessively acidic. On the cleans, the effect is round and dynamic, with that typical vocal imprint that makes each phrasing more expressive.

The video-test made by Riccardo Gioggi highlights a remarkable responsiveness to playing, with a response curve that adapts both to soft and bluesy phrasing, and to more technical and complex passages. The articulation of frequencies remains well centered, and the transition between the registers is homogeneous and credible. No annoying peaks, no presence gaps.
Another plus point is the compatibility with different positions in the signal chain: the Flattley Wah works well both in the head, before distortions, and after a buffer. Even the combination with high output pickups, including active ones, does not put the circuit in difficulty.

Conclusions: handcrafted, but not anachronistic
The Flattley Wah is a pedal designed for those looking for the sound experience of a vintage wah, but with some more clever and practical gimmicks. The choice to focus on the Twin T Filter, the custom 100K potentiometer, the unique finish and the LED plate make it an object with attention to both sound and image. All this, however, comes at a price… and it cannot be defined as low.

€375.00 is a lot and this applies to any type of effect. The wah is often not among the main pedals in the construction of a pedalboard, so a similar price ends up weighing heavily on the purchase. It should be noted, however, that the quality offered in return by The Wah is certainly equal to the amount requested.