Is it a hoax? Is it a gimmick? Nah, it’s probably just the coolest fucking thing to ever be conceived. The new Converse All Wah sneakers feature built in Wah circuitry so that a guitarist can plug straight in an emulate that vocal-like expression made famous by the greats from Jimi Hendrix to Joe Bonamassa.
Converse have long been trailblazers of the fashion industry and have remained favourites of musicians for decades so, the All Wah just seems right
The design originated in 2013 when Critical Mass, a tech design company, unveiled it at a design event. In years to come, the company teamed up with fashion tech trailblazers, CuteCircuit to perfect the concept into a genuine, working Wah pedal.
Traditional wah circuitry is combined with Bluetooth technology in the shoe to provide a reaction to the player’s foot motion sans pedal. The prototype featured input jacks on either side of the show in which the player could plug their guitar, however, the most recent incarnation of the Converse All Wah is said to be completely wireless, allowing a player free use of the ultra-expressive device.
The video below shows the prototype demonstrated by Dinosaur Jr’s J Mascis.
What a time to be alive.
First seen at Consequence of Sound.
