Wah-wah pedal inventor Del Casher dies at 88

Guitarist and wah-wah pedal inventor Del Casher has died at 88, with his death reported as occurring October 1. The date and age were attributed to TMZ in reports, while a GoFundMe page set up for his widow, Eiko, also said he died that day. The cause of death has not been established in the reports. The fundraising page said Casher had battled cancer over the preceding year.

Casher was known for developing the wah-wah pedal, which changes a guitar’s tone as a player moves a foot-operated control. He worked with the Thomas Organ Company and Vox during the 1960s, when the device was developed. A 1966 account of its origins describes Casher hearing an amplifier control produce a wah-like sound and pursuing a way to create that effect on guitar. The pedal was on the market by 1967, according to one account.

Casher’s career also included session work, performing and composing. He played with Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention and worked with artists including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and The Monkees. He appeared with Presley in the 1964 film Roustabout. Casher’s guitar playing was also featured on the NBC Nightly News theme, according to a report on his career.