Shin-Ei/Companion Wah-Wah Pedal

Really, how hard can it be?

Actually 9.5! It's not 'True Bypass', but it isn't as tone sucking as a Crybaby. I choose this one over the other because it has a better low end, and it's not as harsh sounding as a Crybaby. The more gain and distortion, the more obvious that the WT-1 outshines the famous Crybaby. But, in the end - Its a matter of taste, right?

I probably wouldn't use it without a backup if my playing depends on it. Still - It has not failed me after 28 years under my foot. I'm a bit worried about the day when the pot dies. Will replacing change the tone? I rest my case...

I bet they're not in business anymore?

No clue when it's manufactured, but it looks real vintage inside. I bought it 'used' back in '83 at a local shop, but it might be way older than that. Afterall - Shin-Ei made the famous Uni-Vibe used by Hendrix etc. in the 60's!!! I've been playing in 30 years. I own a Crybaby as well, but prefers the WT-1 in most situations. It was alot cheaper than other wah's at the time. I was a poor musician as most of us are, but I've never regretted my purchase and will certainly not sell it...

Its very easy to use! just plug in and press the pedal down and off you go!
no manual- second hand but there is a circuit doagram printed on the inside of the casing!
no serial number anywere

i think it sound cool! it sounds better than my danelectro trip"L"wah
but not quite as good as a crybaby! the pot has become a little scratchy but it is old!
it dosnt mud the sound at all , it just deos what it should do!
i find it good for pearl jam stuff and alos for the odd bit of hendrix when its coupled up to my vox ac30.
if it is too close to the amp it makes the amp buzz a little but thats not a problem, its just the circuit interference.
It sounds good when bypassed i.e i dont think it is true bypass but it turns completely off and has no effect on the sound at all.It was cheap!! and it still kicks ass

when i got it , it was broken, the rubber stops which stop you from turning the thing on and off whenever you press the pedal had long since been lost.a little bit of love and it was in fine condition.The battery lasts for ober a year when its used every day!

do they exist anymore? lol

i play queen, led zep, pearl jam, hendrix etc. Been playing for 5 years but im now past grades and am about to turn pro.
i couldnt get this pedal again but i would want one!
for a free gift its great and its not too far off from a crybaby!

This is one of the first guitar effects units I have bought - and one of the cheapest.
This must have been some 25 years ago. I bought it in a small shop which was specialized in selling cheap and second hand musical instruments.

I probably bought it together with a Shin-ei Fuzz box, which I sold together with a old secondhand GEM amp as a bonus a few years later. Stupid! The fuzz box was a wig shaped black box with two knobs on front and sounded really ugly: a lot of fuzz and no guitar (still: If you own a Shin-ei fuzz box and want to sell it, let me know the price!).

The wah pedal is very easy to use: you can only turn it on and off with the pedal. BTW: this is a wah-wah unit without fuzz or distortion. I don't have a manual and I don't recall that I have ever owned one. The unit has no revision number and has never been altered or upgraded.

Yes, it is noisy and I have heard much better sounding wah's. You are definitely not going to sound as Jimi if you use this pedal. Nevertheless, I have used it for some 25 years now, so it really can't be that bad, can it?

Hey, it's doing its job already for about 25 years. What more can you say? The construction is cheap and simple, but maybe that's the secret of it's succes???

Customer support? Does the company still exist? Who made the pedal in the first place, I mean what/where/who is "Shin-ei Companion"? E-mail me at ronaldk@ieahv.nl is you now more about this guitar effects manufacturer!

I play all kinds of music (rock, jazz etc.) and use the Shin-ei wah quite often as a wah-wah or just to boost high or mid frequencies.
I like it because it looks (and is) a really cheap guitar effect pedal, but it has a sound which has become a part of my guitar playing over the years (which is maybe also "cheap" sounding :->).
I am looking for a better quality wah pedal to be honest, but will no doubt contiunue to use this one. It can sound good it if you boost it with an overdrive pedal (I usually use a Marshall Bluesbreaker for this).