The Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter is a Carl Martin wah pedal, currently around $149.31. Close alternatives include the Carl Martin Ottawa and the Emma DiscomBOBulator. It pairs well with the Synergy SL2 Module and the Friedman BE-Mini Head.
Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter
Carl Martin · pedal
The Carl Martin Ottawa is an analog optical envelope filter pedal delivering vintage auto-wah and filter sweep effects triggered by picking attack. Three selectable filter modes (High Pass, Band Pass, Low Pass) provide distinct frequency response characters. Q control shapes resonance, while Attack and Tone controls adjust filter timing and high-frequency content. Approximately 14mA current draw. Danish boutique analog construction. Produces classic funky envelope filter tones for guitar and bass without a treadle.
- optical
- attack
- envelope filter
- auto wah
- filter
- sensitivity
- dynamic
- expressive
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter is commonly used in
- Funk
- Soul
- Reggae
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Experimental
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Warp 7's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone 2202H's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head
Hiwatt
tonal matchRun Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchRun Friedman Jose LTD into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Hughes & Kettner Coreblade gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman Phil X Signature
Friedman
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman Phil X Signature brings the high gain it's missing
Pedals that stack with the Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter
Suhr Rufus Reloaded
Suhr
20% matchRun Suhr Rufus Reloaded into that transparent platform and it finally gets some fuzzy
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
20% matchWren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath
EarthQuaker Devices
6% matchRun EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath after Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter in the signal chain, clear of Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Boss DD-2 Digital Delay
Boss
6% matchPut Boss DD-2 Digital Delay after Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter in the signal chain, clear of Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
tonal matchCarl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz wants
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter delivers it
MXR M249 Super Badass Dynamic O.D.
MXR
tonal matchMXR M249 Super Badass Dynamic O.D.'s own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter delivers it
Catalinbread MontaVillian
Catalinbread
tonal matchCarl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Catalinbread MontaVillian wants — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Cheaper alternatives
Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron Envelope Filter
Electro-Harmonix
72% similarityShared character: soul, overdrive_pedals, sensitivity
Behringer B-Tron III Envelope Filter
Behringer
65% similarityShared character: pedal, sensitivity, tight_tracking
Animals Pedal Double Spy Mission is Imp Filter
Animals Pedal
62% similarityShared character: soul, sensitivity, pedal
Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron
Electro-Harmonix
98% similaritysimilar tone character
Donner Dynamic wah
Donner
97% similaritysimilar tone character
DigiTech DOD Envelope Filter 440
Digitech
97% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Carl Martin Ottawa
Carl Martin
77% similarityShared character: tone_control, wide_range, soul
Emma DiscomBOBulator
pedal
75% similarityShared character: soul, sensitivity, tight_tracking
Guyatone Wah Rocker WR3
pedal
69% similarityShared character: wide_range, sensitivity, pedal
Ashdown Funk Faze
Ashdown
66% similarityShared character: sensitivity, pedal, wah
Musitronics Mu-Tron III
Musitronics
66% similarityShared character: filter, subtle
Aitone AT-08
Aitone
66% similarityShared character: overdrive_pedals, sensitivity, wah
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter?+
The closest matches in character are the Carl Martin Ottawa, the Emma DiscomBOBulator, the Guyatone Wah Rocker WR3. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron Envelope Filter, Behringer B-Tron III Envelope Filter, Animals Pedal Double Spy Mission is Imp Filter. Boutique upgrades: Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter, Ashdown Type 23 Three Band Filter, Death By Audio Deep Animation.
What pairs well with the Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Synergy SL2 Module, Friedman BE-Mini Head, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 — Synergy SL2 Module's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own.
How much does the Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter cost?+
Around $149.31 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).