School Me On Dunlop Crybaby Wahs (Or Other Wahs)

[colchar]

I am thinking of grabbing a wah pedal, not because I need one or anything, but just as a toy to play with. The vast majority of wahs in the local classifieds are Dunlop Crybaby wahs and, although I know everyone and their brother uses (or used) one, I don't know squat about them myself (I've never used a wah before) so I am looking for info from the experts here.

Are they all pretty much the same or are there certain models that should be avoided? Keep in mind that I am buying one purely for ****s and giggles so I don't need the top of the line model or anything - but I don't want to grab a crappy model either (if there are crappy ones). What is a reasonable price for a used Crybaby?

Are there any other brands I should be considering?

Any, and all, info that anyone can give me on these is appreciated.

[ludashoeless]

get a v847a or crybaby classic. don't get the crybaby original but if you do they pop up on Cl anywhere from 20 to 50. I would just spend a little more and get the v847a

[bossking7]

If you got an original crybaby, I wouldnt spend more than $40 used. I have no problem with mine, been using it for 3 years.

[artdecade]

I had the Vox. Now, I have the Original Crybaby. Personally, I think the the Vox sounds more vocal, but it has a more limited sweep. The Original Crybaby is more "rawk." It has a crazier sweep that can get very trebly. It cuts through a band like a hot knife through butter.

As far as the million and two different Crybabys out there... Some have the ability to focus the Q, add gain, etc, but they are all apples on the same tree.

[GearHund]

Well, I've used a Crybaby and Vox King wah. Now I use a Bad Horsie II. They all sound like wah pedals with minor differences in tone. The problem I've always had with most wahs is that you can never be 100% sure that they'll turn on or off the first time you hit the switch. So, you wind up having to stomp on them more than once while trying to switch. Usually while trying to frantically go from a lead wah sound back to a rhythm tone. That's why I really like the Bad Horsie, put your foot on it and it turns on, take your foot off, it turns off - every time. Plus, it has controls to allow you to customize your wah sound if you don't like the default Bad Horsie sound. If you prefer the Dunlap brand wahs, I do believe they make a switchless one too.

[dngrsdave]

I have the Dunlop CryBaby Wah for the same reason you want one. To play around with. To me, it was a bit too "Trebbly" at the top end so I opened it up and skipped a tooth on the little gear and rack. Now it sounds Great without that ice pick highs.

They are Loads of Fun whichever one you choose.

[mal paso]

+1 for Artdecade



Check GC. They always have used wah pedals. $40 sounds about right for the CB

[Paul in Colorado]

I got one for free. It just needed to have the battery clip leads reversed and new rubber feet and screws (Dunlop sent them to me). All I have in it is the cost of the batteries. Look around. I see them regularly for around $40 in pawn shops. CL is good too.

[basher]

I use a Crybaby Classic and I like it just fine. It's like a toaster: it does exactly what it's supposed to, and I don't really think too much about it beyond that. Step on it and it goes "wah." Easy.

[colchar]

Thanks for the info. I contacted a couple of the sellers but have not heard back yet.

[JoeNeri]

If you're looking at Crybaby's, get the Crybaby Classic - fasel inductor and mechanical true bypass - sounds great and no tone suck.

[Lazloryder]

There's no way to get a better wah for the price of the original crybaby. 70$ brand new. I would get a new one though. These pedals take a lot of abuse just by the nature of their use.

[telerocker1988]

Crybaby Classic would be my pick as well. For a more fancier choice, the CAE Dunlop would be my pick.

[spankdplank]

Regular old Crybaby's are not true bypass and can tone suck a bit. That said, I have a couple of stock CB's from the 80's, back before they had all the different flavors, and they are still going strong. The pot will wear out eventually but that is a $10 fix. Built like tanks. Toe all the way down they are too trebly, but so what, use the middle of the sweep, which is the sweet spot, or the heel end. It isn't fancy or high end, but it gets the job done, they last forever and they are cheap. I only use mine for a couple of songs per gig, but I love it and wouldn't gig without it.

[' burn 08]

I have the gcb95. I like it mostly. I've though about opening it up and tinkering. The middle is the sweet spot. The reason it is trebley with the toe all the way down is because that's where the treble boost is, lol. The 535Q I think is pretty cool because it is adjustable. On of my friends had a Bad Horsie but decided he didn't like an optical wah.

[Tuto103]

I used both the original vox and original crybaby and personally the vox had too much ear peicing treble...also the crybaby has a little distortion with it

[jguitarman]

Originally Posted by spankdplank

Regular old Crybaby's are not true bypass and can tone suck a bit. That said, I have a couple of stock CB's from the 80's, back before they had all the different flavors, and they are still going strong. The pot will wear out eventually but that is a $10 fix. Built like tanks. Toe all the way down they are too trebly, but so what, use the middle of the sweep, which is the sweet spot, or the heel end. It isn't fancy or high end, but it gets the job done, they last forever and they are cheap. I only use mine for a couple of songs per gig, but I love it and wouldn't gig without it.

I was playing a gig recently and was running through my pedalboard which has a crybaby wah. A cable went bad in the middle of a song so I just plugged my guitar straight into the amp. Wow, did it sound good. i discovered then that crybabys are big tone suckers. I am now looking for a wah with true bypass. In the meantime I have the crybaby in a loop so it doesn't suck tone unless I want to use it.

[Burnt Gerbil]

For some reason, I seem to have an affinity for artist signature Crybabies (which is weird because I don't own any other signature models aside from a Gary Moore Les Paul). I've had a Zakk Wylde for years, not really my preference, but I got it for free so I'm not complaining. The other day, I picked up the new Slash Crybaby Classic.

Now, assuming the same observations carry over to the non-artist varieties:

The Zakk Wylde is very treble oriented at the toe-down position. So much so that it can sound kind of shrill, but would be a good thing for primary uses in solos (this part seems consistent to what people are saying about the Original). However, in the ZW, the heel-down position is completely unusable to me, I try not to go more than 2/3 of the way down with it, which takes far more of my limited concentration abilities than i would prefer.

Enter the Slash CB Classic; more narrow sweep, but it is all usable. Not as shrill of a high end, very pleasant to the ears. Would be great for rhythmic fills and such a la Voodoo Child (feel free to call the record books and let them know that someone has finally used this song as an example for a wah pedal... I'm certain I'm the first).

If the standard Classic is anything like the new Slash version, I'd very much recommend it. Unless you're Kirk Hammet and really, REALLY like using a wah for solos... all of them. Then get the Original for the high-end.