Dunlop Crybaby 95Q Wah Review
I have owned a few wah-wah pedals over the years. My first was a Morley Wah/Volume. It was huge monster that had a built-in power supply with a heavy duty power chord coming out of the unit. It also had a “feature” (at least that’s what Morley called it) that allowed it to be used with keyboards. So when you rocked it back all the way, it was out of the tonal range of the guitar and the volume dropped off. Some feature! Next up was a DOD FX-17 wah/volume pedal. It served me well for a number of years until the switch that turned the wah on and off went bad. Every time I rocked the pedal it would switch from wah to volume. It was time for a new pedal. I did a lot of research and decided on the Dunlop Crybaby 95Q.
The Unit
The Crybaby 95Q is essentially an “Original” Crybaby wah with some extra features in a road worthy, metal case. There is a plastic battery plate on the bottom — no unscrewing the bottom to change batteries. If you opt for the 9v adapter or use a pedalboard power supply, this won’t really matter. But if you need or want to put in a battery, the jack plate makes it a snap. Batteries last a very long time if you unplug your guitar cable when not in use.
Volume Boost
One of the extra features on the 95q is a volume boost knob that give you up to a +15 dB boost in volume. You can add just a touch to make the wah effect more pronounced, or max it out to make your wah solos scream. There is a push button to turn volume boost off or on. Always check the wah before a gig because the boost can easily be turned on in transit.
Variable Q Dial
The Q dial lets you select the tonal range of wah’s sweep. You can go from a wah tone that is bass heavy to a biting, treble tone. The Q dial first appeared on the 535Q crybaby, however it has been modified for the 95Q. Instead of just the four Q settings on the 535Q, the 95Q dial is variable. You can select just the right tonal range for your tastes and tailor the unit for different guitars and pickups. This is a very handy feature.
The Q dial on the 95Q is very small and smooth, as is the volume boost dial. This could be a hassle for players with big fingers. Although you will probably just set it and forget it, I would have liked to have seen something easier to grip.
Auto Engage
One of the most important factor for me in choosing the 95Q is the auto engage (on and off) feature. The 95Q wah effect comes on as soon as you step on the pedal. No stomping down on the toe of the pedal to turn the wah on and off. When you take your foot off, the unit returns to the bass position and the wah effect turns off after a slight delay. The delay allows you to rock the pedal without it shutting off automatically in the bass position. The switching is silent, but there is a noticeable “change” in tone when you go from bass wah to regular guitar tone. Some may find this irritating, but it is very subtle and I doubt if it will be noticed when playing live.
I like this feature, others may not. If you like to use your wah as a tone pedal by leaving the wah in different positions, you will need to keep your foot on the unit to accomplish this effect — not the best solution. You would probably prefer a standard wah for tone effects.
Final Thoughts
Guitar players can be very opinionated about wah tones. The 95Q recognizes that and give you the opportunity to dial up the tone you prefer. It also makes it possible to get the same tone with different guitars and pickups. The auto engage feature is very handy for live playing — you can’t accidentally leave the wah effect on. Volume boost is there if you want it, you can switch it off if you don’t. Aside from the tiny Q and volume dial size, the 95Q has exceeded my expectations.
Audio Examples
Company
Dunlop
