How to Mount a Wah Pedal to Your Pedalboard

Mounting a wah pedal to your pedalboard is a fast, cost-effective way to increase rig stability (and musical precision). When you fasten a Dunlop GCB95F Cry Baby Classic wah pedal, a Morley 20/20 Classic wah pedal, or an Xotic XW-1 wah pedal to your board, your foot control gets more precise — free of “wah-ble,” if you will — which leaves you free to wah away without a pedal that’s slipping.

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Step #1: Evaluate Your GearStep #2: Defeat the FeetStep #3: Test & AssessStep #4: Adhesives & FastenersStep #5: Mounting Time!

Step #1: Evaluate Your Gear 

First, you’ll need to examine relevant gear and make some notes. Mounting a wah pedal doesn’t require great cunning or strength; rather, it requires some initial planning.

Examine your wah pedal’s bottom plate to check for any attached rubber feet. Rubber feet are a factory addition to most wah pedals and vary in size. Rubber feet also support accurate control by keeping your pedal level on the floor. Feet are important when placing your wah on flat or glossy floors.

But rubber feet can also reduce the wah’s stability when mounted to a pedalboard. These feet provide elevation, which weakens contact points between the bottom plate and your pedalboard and makes it difficult for hook-and-loop adhesives to adhere.

Step #2: Defeat the Feet

Removing rubber feet requires just one or two common tools you likely own already. For feet attached with screws (Dunlop pedals are built this way), a Phillips-head screwdriver will get the job done. You can always pick up a MusicNomad The Octopus 17-in-1 tech tool or similar screwdriver from Sweetwater. Make sure to store the feet in a safe place in case you want to install them again.

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Feet not fastened with screws are typically attached with adhesives, and most adhesive feet easily peel off. Try applying slight fingernail pressure at each foot’s base to separate adhesives from the pedal.

If the feet resist fingernail pressure or that manicure isn’t worth risking, then try using a flat-edged metal object instead. A butter knife or a spoon often does the trick. Apply smooth, gentle pressure with the object’s thinnest edge, but never use scissors, utility knives, or other sharp things that might scar your pedal. If you’re set on keeping your pedal pristine, then try wrapping a butterknife in a thin textile or garment like a kitchen towel — this is also a perfect excuse to pick up a bandana (like this PRS Bird Swarm bandana) or a polishing cloth pack (like this 3-pack of MusicNomad super-soft microfiber suede polishing cloths) from Sweetwater.

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Players who own Mission Engineering wah pedals can skip foot removal entirely by purchasing the Mission Engineering Pedal Riser Kit for wah pedals. This convenient kit slips over Mission Engineering footpedal bottom plates to create a level surface — eliminating the need to remove rubber feet entirely — and the cover has built-in mounting adhesives for easy mounting.

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Step #3: Test & Assess

It’s easy to rush tedious pedalboard maintenance, but setting up gear for natural, seamless play can prevent hassle, headaches, and the need for future adjustments down the line.

Try adopting the carpenter’s creed: “Measure twice, cut once.” For wah mounting purposes, putting this creed into practice means you want to plan a test run before applying adhesives or fasteners. Test wah pedal placement on your board to see if the feel is right. Be sure to test-drive your rig using the same energy and tempos you use when gigging or recording.

Some manufacturers offer risers and modules tailored for wah pedal mounting that make your life easier! These accessories offer space-saving convenience and ergonomic improvements, but they are often proprietary designs meant for specific brands of pedals and/or pedalboards. Check out our favorite options below, but be sure to check the compatibility!

The Friedman Tour Pro Single Riser for wah or volume pedal lets you mount wah-style pedals on a sloped surface, which promotes good balance and easy access when reaching for your wah.

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The adjustable Holeyboard Pedalboards 123 Complete pedalboard conveniently includes a Holeyboard Pedalboards Base Module 3 — a sidecar for your pedalboard that accommodates wah, volume, and expression pedals. Moreover, Holeyboard users can connect multiple Module 3s side by side to accommodate more foot pedals. Each piece of the 123 Complete can be purchased separately, though the bundled kit reflects significant savings we highly recommend!

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Step #4: Adhesives & Fasteners

Almost done! Choosing your fastener or adhesive is the last decision. Most players will opt for classic hook-and-loop fasteners. Since wah pedals are long and heavy, it’s best to choose heavy-duty hook-and-loop strips, like these Emerson Custom 3M Dual Lock strips. As the name suggests, Dual Lock material boasts double the tiny fasteners, which creates a safer, more secure bond that’s trustworthy when traveling and using your board.

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No matter the hook-and-loop brand you choose, we recommend using wide strips, like this pair of On-Stage Hook and Loop adhesive strips. Thin strips may suffice for regular stompboxes, but wah pedals generally call for more heavy-duty contact when mounting.

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Zip ties, like those found in this 30-pack of Holeyboard Pedalboards cable ties, are another popular pedal mounting method. Select pedalboards, such as those from Holeyboard Pedalboards and Vertex Effects, are tailored for zip-tie mounts. Temple Audio and Emerson Custom pedalboards also have perforations that make them amenable to zip-tie usage in some instances. Still, results may vary depending on your pedals and power supply.

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Zip ties offer two advantages: they won’t leave goopy residue on your wah pedal, and they won’t collect dust and grime the way hook-and-loop strips do over time. Zip ties do, however, have a minor disadvantage: it takes more time to reorganize zip-tied pedals. Removal requires a knife, wire cutters, or heavy-duty scissors, and you’ll need to be patient and accurate to avoid damaging cables or gear with sharp objects.

Lastly, Temple Audio board users can use two or more large-sized adhesive plates — like the Temple Audio Quick Release pedal plate — for a secure mount that releases quickly for rapid adjustments.

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Step #5: Mounting Time!

You’ve removed rubber feet, tested positioning, and settled on a mounting method — all that’s left to do is seal the deal by joining your wah and pedalboard. Take your time when placing adhesives, zip ties, or plates to ensure a tidy fit. Crooked mounts — big or small — can limit pedalboard real estate and make cable management more tedious. If you’ve prepared wisely, then mounting should be the easiest part of this process. Don’t forget: “Measure twice, cut once.”

The Wah Doctor Is in — Call Sweetwater Anytime! 

Sweetwater.com offers more than 50 wah pedal options from more than a dozen different manufacturers. We’ll be the first to admit that there’s no one best way to mount a wah pedal. But our seasoned team of Sweetwater Sales Engineers and our support staff are here to help with any questions or concerns. Make sure to call them at (800) 222-4700 — your rig will thank you!
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