review
Dunlop Crybaby 95Q
I have owned a few wah-wah pedals over the years. My first was a Morley Wah/Volume. It was huge monster that actually had a built-in power supply with a heavy duty 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 pad on the bottom came off and the switch that turned the wah on and off went bad. Every time I rocked the pedal it would switch from wah to volume. Yikes! I decided it was time for a new pedal. I did a lot of research and decided on the Dunlop Crybaby 95Q. This is Dunlop’s top-of-the-line pedal, packed with all the latest features. Did it meet my expectations? Read on...
The Unit
Crybaby wahs are without a doubt the most popular wahs available. This is usually a good sign. The 95Q is essentially an “Original” Crybaby that has been hot-rodded with all the latest features. Its construction appears very solid, metal case with no loose parts or rough edges. However, only time will tell how durable it actually is. What sets this unit apart from an original crybaby are the addition of several extra features:
Battery Plate
First off, there is a plastic battery plate on the bottom — no unscrewing the bottom to change batteries. If you opt for the 9v adapter this won’t really matter. But suppose you forget the adapter and need to throw in a battery. The jack plate makes it a snap. Speaking of the adapter, the location of the adapter is very close to the output jack. You need to point the adapter plug toward yourself and then loop it back the other way to plug it in, or point it down and under your guitar cable. It fits, but just barely. Be careful when using the adapter.
Volume Boost
There is also a variable 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 if you don’t need it.
Variable Q Dial
The Q dial is of the most useful features of the 95Q. The Q dial lets you select the tonal range (bandwidth) 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. Another excellent use for the Q dial is to tailor the unit for different guitars and pickups. I tested the unit with a Les Paul Custom and a Japanese made Strat. Using the Q dial I was able to get the tone I wanted using either guitar. This is a very handy feature!
The Q dial on the 95Q is very small and smooth, as is the volume boost dial. When I first got the unit I thought the dials were push buttons. This may be a problem for some 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-Off Switching
The 95Q wah effect comes on as soon as you step on the pedal. No stomping down to turn the wah on. 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. When recording, you may want to punch in the wah solos if the change bothers you.
I like this feature, others may not. If you use your wah as a tone box 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 may want to check out Dunlop’s new QZ1 Crybaby Q-Zone.
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-off switch 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 a few minor hardware complaints (dial size and adapter jack placement), the 95Q has exceeded my expectations. While not cheap, the 95Q is a versatile wah that allows you to tweak your own personal sound. To the tone freak, the flexibility of the volume and Q controls definitely makes it worth the added expense.
Reader Comments
Better Guitar encourages your input. Agree with this review? Think I’m crazy? If you have used a Dunlop Crybaby 95Q, email me your comments and I’ll post them below. The more opinions we have available, the better our buying decisions will be.
Kai Kappelhoff
I totally agree that the 95Q is a great expression tool for guitarists who like to work with the original wah sound. It gives them the chance to play exactly the tone they (might) have in their minds. Bought it last week and can´t get enough of it. It´s worth any Dollar (or Euro in my case). Wanna talk by guitar? Get this!
Dan Bond
I got the 95Q 2 mounths ago and I think it’s amazing. The automatic on/off is great and this feature is the main reason why I wanted this new pedal. Great new features with the same quality and tone I had with my old regular Crybaby. The only negative comment I have is that the volume boost doesn’t give as much boost as I expected, but the regular wah hasn’t any at all.
stats
- • Heavy die cast construction
- • 100k ohm Hot Potz potentiometer that allows for quick wah sound
- • Silent “auto-off” switching automatically bypasses the effect when the foot is off the pedal
- • Adjustable volume boost for up to +15 dB
- • Adjustable “Q” control
Positives
- Variable Q dial allows you to alter wah tone; Auto-off switching; Battery plate.
Negatives
- Adapter plug too close to output jack; small dials.
Rating
- Performance: 9
- Sound Quality: 10
- Construction: 9
- Overall: 9.3
Ratings Key
- 0 = Worthless
- 10 = Excellent
Estimated Street Price
- $119
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Available At Guitar Center
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Dunlop 95Q Crybaby Wah Pedal Standard
Company
- Dunlop
Sound Samples
- Clean tone with the Q dial on full treble
- Clean tone with the Q dial on full bass
- Distorted tone with the Q dial on full treble
- Distorted tone with the Q dial on full bass