Vox V863-CA Semi-Auto Wah

Featuring three modes and manual and automatic control, Vox has put together a versatile wah to help get the funk out

- PETE EMERY

AFTER SPENDING 60 years as a go-to name for wah thrills, Vox now has a triple-threat - a pedal that combines an envelope generator, envelope follower and manual control. Versatility seems to be key.

The V863's metal chassis and solid-feeling foot pedal certainly give the impression that it's built to last, and the deep red textured finish is classy. But its base plate needs to be completely removed in order to place a battery inside the enclosure, which is a little annoying. Speaking of power, the Vox V863 is listed as drawing a surprisingly high 600mA in the manual, which isn't something every pedalboard power supply can handle without doubling up a couple of outputs, so it's worth keeping that in mind.