The Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter is a Carl Martin wah pedal, currently around $143.54. Close alternatives include the Emma DiscomBOBulator and the Subdecay Proteus MKII Sample. It pairs well with the Bad Cat Cub and the Marshall JVM410H.
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.
What stands out
“Natural optical circuit response to picking dynamics produces musical, expressive auto-wah effects”
— from the reviews
“Its standout strength is the three-mode selection which allows the same picking attack to produce high-pass, band-pass, or low-pass sweep characters”
— from the community notes
“Independent Q, Attack, and Tone controls give comprehensive envelope filter shaping”
— from the reviews
“The Ottawa produces optical envelope filter sweeps that respond naturally to picking dynamics, covering the full range of auto-wah sounds from subtle funky wah through deep resonant filter sweeps depending on the mode selection”
— from the community notes
“the carl martin ottawa is an analog optical envelope filter pedal delivering vintage auto-wah and filter sweep effects triggered by picking attack”
— from the listing
- optical
- attack
- envelope filter
- auto wah
- filter
- low pass
- sensitivity
- high pass
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter is commonly used in
- Funk
- Soul
- Experimental
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Reggae
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
Bad Cat Cub
Bad Cat
19% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
What Bad Cat Cub brings here leans toward harmonically rich — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Marshall JVM410H
Marshall
19% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
Marshall JVM410H's own pristine character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a dynamic tone, Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head brings a pull toward compressed that's missing
Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a dynamic tone, Mesa/Boogie Stiletto Deuce Stage II brings a pull toward compressed that's missing
ENGL Special Edition E670
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a dynamic tone, ENGL Special Edition E670 brings a pull toward compressed that's missing
Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass
Vox
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass after Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter
Friedman PT-20
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a dynamic tone, Friedman PT-20 brings a pull toward compressed that's missing
Bogner Snorkler 50
Bogner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Bogner Snorkler 50 after Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter
Pedals that stack with the Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter
J. Rockett Archer Ikon
J Rockett
22% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
J. Rockett Archer Ikon leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
JAM Pedals Tubedreamer
Jam Pedals
20% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain. (dynamic → compressed)
JAM Pedals Tubedreamer leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
Comes later in the signal chain
JHS Lucky Cat Delay limited edition
JHS Pedals
8% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put JHS Lucky Cat Delay limited edition after Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay
Electro-Harmonix
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay's modulated voice goes after Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter's own dynamic character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dophix Dante
Dophix
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Dophix Dante leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
MXR Badass Variac
MXR
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
MXR Badass Variac leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
JHS Pedals JHS Pulp N Peel V4
JHS Pedals
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Into a dynamic tone, JHS Pedals JHS Pulp N Peel V4 brings a pull toward compressed that's missing
Ampeg F17-1
Ampeg
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Ampeg F17-1 leans this dynamic tone toward compressed, which it doesn't make on its own
Cheaper alternatives
Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron Envelope Filter
Electro-Harmonix
69% similarityShared character: soul, sensitivity, resonant
Behringer B-Tron III Envelope Filter
Behringer
61% similarityShared character: sensitivity, tight tracking, wah
Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron
Electro-Harmonix
61% similarityShared character: sensitivity, tight tracking, natural resonance
Electro-Harmonix Nano Q-Tron
Electro-Harmonix
56% similarityShared character: sensitivity, tight tracking, natural resonance
Behringer Meatball Restyled
Behringer
55% similarityShared character: sensitivity, resonant, tight tracking
Demon FX Pearl White Auto Wah
Demon Fx
50% similarityShared character: sensitivity, tight tracking, wah
Boutique & premium upgrades
Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter
Maxon
68% similarityShared character: soul, sensitivity, natural resonance
Fairfield Circuitry Long Life
Fairfield Circuitry
54% similarityShared character: resonant, natural resonance, filter
Ashdown Type 23 Three Band Filter
Ashdown
51% similarityShared character: soul, sensitivity, filter
Keeley Nova Wah
Keeley
50% similarityShared character: sensitivity, wah, filter
Death By Audio Deep Animation
Death By Audio
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Emma DiscomBOBulator
pedal
60% similarityShared character: soul, sensitivity, tight tracking
Subdecay Proteus MKII Sample
Subdecay
53% similarityShared character: natural resonance, filter, subtle
Guyatone Wah Rocker WR3
pedal
52% similarityShared character: wide range, sensitivity, wah
IVY Filter IV v2
Ivy
51% similarityShared character: resonant, wah, filter
Electro-Harmonix Riddle Q Balls
Electro-Harmonix
51% similarityShared character: soul, sensitivity, natural resonance
Ashdown Funk Faze
Ashdown
49% similarityShared character: sensitivity, wah, filter
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 Emma DiscomBOBulator, the Subdecay Proteus MKII Sample, the Guyatone Wah Rocker WR3. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Micro Q-Tron Envelope Filter, Behringer B-Tron III Envelope Filter, Electro-Harmonix XO Micro Q-Tron. Boutique upgrades: Maxon AF-9 Auto Filter, Fairfield Circuitry Long Life, Ashdown Type 23 Three Band Filter.
What pairs well with the Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Bad Cat Cub, Marshall JVM410H, Friedman Small Box 50W EL34 Amp Head — What Bad Cat Cub brings here leans toward harmonically rich — that's worth building a pairing around.
How much does the Carl Martin Ottawa Vintage Optical Envelope Auto-Wah/Envelope Filter cost?+
Around $143.54 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).