Reading the title, you’re automatically thinking about all the classic Kirk Hammett wah pedal jokes. Say what you will, but Metallica’s lead guitar player popularized the use of this effect. Not to mention that he’s very accepting of all the jokes, as you can see in this Instagram photo.
Speaking of Kirk and wah pedals, Dunlop has just unleashed his new signature wah pedal. Bearing the designated model name KH95X, it comes with a special purple sparkle finish, reports Music Radar. The idea behind this color option is to match the pedal with Kirk’s signature Ouija ESP KH model. The guitarist said:
“I always feel a great energy when I play my purple sparkle Ouija guitar. I thought it would make a killer, sonically spiritual connection to have a pedal with that same outwards vibe.”
As far as its tone (and most likely the circuitry) goes, it’s pretty much identical to his KH95 model. The same goes for all of the practical and functional features, including Dunlop’s regular rugged Cry Baby casing.
However, the main differences come down to the design. Instead of the skeleton foot, the treadle features a unique-looking golden skeleton guitar. Other than that, it has the same slip-resistant design that Dunlop is known for. Although that doesn’t always help.
It’s also worth mentioning that Kirk’s wah, both as KH95 and KH95X, was done according to his demands. Of course, Kirk himself uses Dunlop’s Cry Baby Rack Module, the incredibly versatile DCR-2SR. However, these two pedals have Kirk’s exact preferred settings from the rack module, giving you some pretty genuine-sounding results.
Overall, the KH95X variant is for true admirers of Kirk’s guitar tone and life’s work. The pedal is available through all your regular retailers and the price is $199. As far as the tone goes, you can check out what KH95 sounds like in the player below.
Photos: Jim Dunlop, Wikimedia Commons (Ralph Arvesen, Kirk Hammett 2017)
