Converse All Wah are a new pair of Chuck Taylors with a Wah and a couple of jack slots in so you can shred like Hendrix just by putting on a pair of shoes.

Except for Fashion Killa’s like A$AP Rocky, shoes have never really been an important part of a music artists repertoire. Converse are changing that up with their new All Wah shoes, a pair of Chuck Taylors that you can plug into and wah with.

The design was introduced back in 2013 by design company Critical Mass at a Chuck Hack event. It seemed the high-topped hybrid shoe-pedal had been forgotten until fashion and tech brand CuteCircuit took the innovative design under their wing to transform it into a fully realised product. The full name given is Converse Chet Atkins All Wah – after legendary guitarist Chet Atkins, the first to use a wah pedal.

The shoes use “cutting-edge micro-sensor technology” in the sole of the All Stars to analyse foot movement, and transforming that movement into a wah effect. It works the same as a wah pedal would; lift the front of your foot to boost the bass, lift the back for treble, and go back and forth for some sick Jimi Hendrix sounds (note: the effect alone won’t make you play like the god of guitar – sorry).

The shoes feature multiple connection options allowing you to connect normally through a jack input and output, and also connect to Macs and iPhones. It even works wirelessly using Bluetooth to connect to the Wah Box that provides the shoes with the effect.

Converse wah pedal effects guitar shoes Chuck Taylor

In February and March of this year CuteCircuit selected 13 guitarists to take the All Wah shoes on stage with them, “merging the iconic sneaker with music through technology and style.” CuteCircuit say: “Pushing musicians to unleash their creativity, Converse’s Chuck Taylor All Wah is the next step to limitless imagination.”

There isn’t currently any info on when or if we might see a public release, or how much they might cost but fingers crossed for soon + affordable.

Until then watch J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr try them out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkF7Mq1ZUR0