“A very versatile wah pedal that has you covered for…

“A very versatile wah pedal that has you covered for whatever style of music you play”: Dunlop Cry Baby BB535 Reissue review

What is it?

The Cry Baby has to be the most well-known wah pedal in existence, and a perusal of current manufacturer Jim Dunlop’s website reveals no less than 37 different variations in the roster, including signature models for a whole host of players.

Now, while there’s nothing wrong with buying, say, the Jimi Hendrix edition if that provides exactly the sound you want, that model has one basic voice with a sweep that covers one specific frequency range – great if you want to bash out your version of Voodoo Chile but possibly not so great if you want to get wacka-wacka funky with Theme From Shaft.

If you like to play a wide variety of musical styles, a better fit for your rig might be the newly released Cry Baby BB535 Reissue, which is based on a long-discontinued model from 1994 known for its throaty growl and sports a choice of six frequency ranges for the sweep, plus a variable boost.

Specs

PRICE: $229 | £229 | €269
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Wah pedal
FEATURES: Buffered bypass, up to 12dB of boost, 6x freq ranges: 444-2,117Hz, 385-1,888Hz, 300-1,468Hz, 248-1,217Hz, 214-1,050Hz & 173-847Hz
CONTROLS: Boost switch, Boost volume, Wah Range selector, treadle, Activate footswitch
CONNECTIONS: Standard input, standard output
POWER: 9V battery or 9V DC adaptor (not supplied) 12mA
DIMENSIONS: 115 (w) x 251 (d) x 75mm (h)
CONTACT: Jim Dunlop

Build quality, usability and sounds

With the solid, weighty construction seen in all Cry Baby units, this model features controls on its right-hand side that can be adjusted by foot if needed.

A rotary switch with a hard rubber covering selects the frequency range, while a tiny red mushroom-shaped switch can be pushed in to engage a boost of up to 12dB, set by an adjacent knob. The boost (which only works if the wah treadle is engaged) is based on the MXR micro amp and has plenty of poke to take things up a level as needed.

Treadle action is smooth but firm, with enough stiffness to leave it in a fixed position for cocked wah sounds. There’s a reduction of top-end at the toe position as you work through the six frequencies, coupled with an increase of low-end at the heel, so each basically offers a different midrange sweep.

Switch position 1 is the brightest and will let you ‘wacka wacka’ back to the ’70s, while switch position 6 provides the darkest tone and a pronounced vocal ‘wow’. In between those two you’ll find equally valid variations on the expressive vocal quality in which the pedal excels – try them all and find which feels best for you underfoot.

Verdict

Verdict: ★★★★½

Guitar World verdict: Six range options and a boost to lift things when needed makes the Cry Baby BB535 Reissue a very versatile wah pedal that has you covered for whatever style of music you play.