Godlyke Inc. | 3 years ago
To celebrate two decades of this clever contraption, MSD has released the Automagic Classic 20th Anniversary wah.
In addition to MSD’s patented pressure-button activator, the Automagic 20 also offers an alternate, plunger-style bypass switch that allows for “continuous on” operation. This mode allows the user to “park” the wah in the half-cocked position made famous by Michael Schenker.
The Automagic 20 offers two distinct wah voices, selectable by a top mounted mini-switch located safely beneath the treadle. The first mode replicates the sound of the vintage 1967 Vox wah, while the second emulates the tone of the 1970 Thomas Organ wah.
Further options include the ability to select buffered or non-buffered output, allowing the Automagic-20 to stack well with any other pedal type.
In addition, the Automagic’s bypass switching type can also be selected to further alter the pedal’s tone. The first option is standard true bypass while the second option, called “parallel input” keeps the input section of the pedal in-circuit to more accurately emulate the circuit loading of a vintage wah pedal.
The Automagic-20 is constructed to the highest standards that you would expect from a German manufacturer. Low-tolerance carbon-comp resistors and metal-film capacitors are used throughout the circuit, while the switching JFET’s are the same as those used in the legendary V676a microphone amplifier.
Likewise, the all-important inductor coil is hand-made in Germany to MSD’s specifications, accurately replicating the parts used in the original wah circuits that the Automagic-20 is designed to emulate.
Effect operation status is easily determined by a strategically top-mounted, bright-blue LED while the entire chassis has been refinished in an industrial-grade powder coating that is as visually appealing as it is robust.
MSD’s Automagic wah has taken an essential effect design and added well-conceived and masterfully implemented improvements that continue to stand the test of time – and of tone.
