Boss PW-3 vs Electro-Harmonix Crying Tone

The Boss PW-3 and the Electro-Harmonix Crying Tone are both pedals sharing smooth. The Boss PW-3 leans dynamic. The Electro-Harmonix Crying Tone leans transparent and mid-forward. Current prices: $156.99 vs $93.50.

Similarity
citedBlended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.

45% — somewhat different

Shared genres
citedGenres both listings are associated with.
  • Blues
  • Rock
Shared tone character
citedDerived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.
  • smooth
Citation fame
citedCitation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.
0%
0%
Price

$156.99via Reverb

$93.50via Reverb

Description

The Boss PW-3 is a compact, all analog wah pedal that delivers professional wah tones in a rugged, space saving die cast chassis far smaller than a traditional wah. A slider switch toggles two voices: Vintage, which scoops the low end for a classic, squawky Hendrix and 1970s wah sweep, and Rich, which retains low end fullness for a fatter, more modern wah voice. The pedal action is long, smooth and responsive, with status LEDs on both sides for stage visibility. It suits funk, rock, blues and lead players who want a reliable, pedalboard friendly wah with both old school squawk and a fuller contemporary option, built to Boss durability standards at an accessible price.

The Electro-Harmonix Crying Tone is a compact wah pedal built with no moving parts, replacing the traditional mechanical potentiometer and rocking treadle mechanism with an angle-sensing design housed in a solid, contoured bottom plate. Rocking the sealed pedal back and forth on the floor produces a wah sweep with more range than a standard CryBaby-style wah, sitting tonally between vintage growl and modern clarity. Because there's no pot or moving treadle to wear out, the sweep stays smooth and consistent over years of use with no scratchy or intermittent contact. Alternate voicings, including cocked-wah and square-wave modes, are accessed via a calibration switch held in different pedal positions, though switching between them mid-performance is slower than a standard mode toggle. It suits blues and rock players who want authentic, wide-range wah sweep in a nearly indestructible, low-maintenance format rather than a traditional treadle-and-pot design.

Genres
citedGenres this gear is documented as being used in.
  • Funk
—
Tonal lean
  • dynamic
  • transparent
  • mid-forward

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