Boss Tok Wa

Boss just dropped a new pedal called the Tok Wa.

I can’t believe Boss actually went out and copied Mooer’s Red Kid which as far as I know is the first ever Talk Wah. I might be wrong though.

If you don’t know what it sounds like, it sits somewhere between a wah wah and a talk box.

No rubber hoses, no mics, no fuss.

You just plug it into your chain like any other pedal.

And it replicates tonal qualities of the human voice.

Two different TALK modes, each with its own vocal sound.

Operated like a traditional wah with Mooer’s unique pressure sensing footswitch.

Here are the key features:

• Talk wah that replicates the tonal qualities of the human voice
• 2 different TALK modes, each with a different vocal sound
• Equipped with Mooer’s unique pressure sensing footswitch
• True Bypass switching (your tone is clean when the effect is off)
• 3 different types of switching modes for flexible stage use

About those 3 switching modes, because they are actually clever:

Mode	How It Works
1	Touch the pressure sensing pad with your foot to turn on. Lift foot = effect off. Simple.
2	Double tap to turn on. Double tap again to turn off. Hands free latching mode.
3	Use both techniques above interchangeably. Total flexibillity onstage.

Technical Specs (Because Yes, This Is A Real Pedal With Real Specs)

Spec	Value
Input	1/4″ mono audio jack (Impedance: 1M Ohms)
Output	1/4″ mono audio jack (Impedance: 100 Ohms)
Power	9V DC, center negative (AC adapter)
Current Draw	130mA
Dimensions	128mm (D) x 55mm (W) x 48mm (H)
Weight	460g (heavier than the tok wa itself, lighter than the baboy)

What Does The Tok Wa Sound Like, Actually

Okay so this is the part I love.

The Mooer Red Kid… its signature sound is a kind of wet, vowel-like squelching.

Vocal.

Rubbery.

Expressive.

And when you hear it, if you are from Davao, from anywhere in the Philippines really, your brain will go directly to one place.

Tok wa. Specifically, tokwa’t baboy. The sound of tokwa (that’s firm tofu for the uninitiated) frying in oil.

That sizzle.

That squelch.

That SOUND.

Press the pedal… and your guitar basically does that. Sssswwweeaak. Bwwwwaaah. Totally onomatopoeic (that’s a fancy word but it’s the right one). Your guitar literally sounds like tokwa hitting a hot pan.

Tok Wa’t Baboy is, for those who need the full context… a classic Filipino dish.

Fried tofu and boiled pork belly (usually ears and snout too, if you are brave), served with a vinegar-soy dipping sauce with garlic and a little chili. It is cheap. It is delicious. It is deeply, deeply Davao.

You will find it in almost every carenderia and pulutan spot in the city. And it is precisely the kind of food you eat after a long gig, when your fingers hurt and you need something hot and salty and extremely satisfying.

So. The Boss Tok Wa sounds exactly like its namesake. Squelchy, vocal, wet, a little chaotic, and honestly… kind of amazing.

Pros and Cons (Of The Tok Wa Pedal, Not The Dish)

Pros:

• The talk wah effect is genuinely expressive and vocal sounding
• True Bypass means your clean tone stays intact when pedal is off
• 3 switching modes gives you real flexibility depending on how you play
• No rubber hoses or mics required unlike a traditional talk box
• Compact and lightweight… easy to throw in a gig bag
• The name Tok Wa is hilarious and I stand by it

Cons:

• It is not actually made by Boss (April Fools disclaimer, in case that was unclear)
• 130mA current draw means it might hog power on a crowded pedalboard
• Only 2 TALK modes… I want 3 or 4 honestly
• You will be hungry for actual tokwa after playing with it for 20 minutes
• Your bandmates will not understand why you named it this and you will have to explain it and honestly, explaining a joke is exhausting

Final Thoughts

Look. Boss is one of the greatest guitar pedal brands in history. Since 1973, from Osaka Japan, they have been building things that guitarists have relied on for decades.

From the CE-1 to the DS-1 to the DD-2… these pedals are woven into the sound of modern music. Here in Davao, on every pedalboard in every bar and venue and garage rehearsal space, there is almost certainly at least one Boss pedal. Probably a DS-1 or a BD-2 or a tuner. They are everywhere because they work. Simple as that.

And while the Boss Tok Wa is not a real product… the sentiment behind it is real. We need more Filipino guitar culture. We need more local bands experimenting with weird and expressive effects. And we absolutely need more reasons to eat tokwa’t baboy after a gig.

Happy April Fools.

Rak on.

And go eat some tokwa.