NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

ErikH

Well-known member
Little backstory. Fall 2017, I left the band I had been in since 2006. Other priorities. I had sold all my pedals (except the few boosters and buffers I built), sold all my amps but one (don't worry, no guitars were sold) and didn't do much for a while. Then I began playing bass earlier this year and joined a band in April. I hadn't picked up a guitar for more than an hour since last October (until a week ago). A few weeks ago our guitar player collapsed on stage. He's alive and recouping after getting a defibrillator. So, while he's recouping, I was asked if I could play guitar for an upcoming gig (maybe more) and we have the bass player I replaced sitting in (he had to leave because of tinnitus). Sure, no problem. Then I realized, all I have is my Vox AV30 amp. Ok, so Angus style it is at first rehearsal this way. Went well. BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I needed a Cry Baby. I sold my heavily modded and battered GCB95 from 1990-91 so the hunt was on. So many choices. After I sold all my pedals and started playing bass, I hardly looked at guitar gear. After checking out a few, I was about to pull the trigger on a Dunlop Crybaby Classic GCB95F, until I got a nice bonus at work. That quickly made me change my mind and went after the one I wanted since it was released, the Jerry Cantrell JC95. And I'm glad I got it.

The adjustable toe frequency is great. The mid-point seems to be the sweet spot and is Jerry's favorite according to a product video I came across. There's no volume drop when engaged. In fact, there's actually a little bit of boost. The bybass is great, no tone-suck I can hear. I even pulled the battery and signal still passed through with the circuit disengaged. The finish on it is really cool. They did a great job on it. My old Cry Baby didn't have a battery access door so this is a welcome feature for me since I'll be running on battery only (I know, it's been on other models for years, I never had one with it). The tone is pretty much perfect for what I was looking for. Nice and sweet on clean tones, still cuts through on high gain tones. Some Cry Baby's don't cut as well with high gain but this one does it wonderfully. Nice and smooth feel on the treadle, easy to turn on/off too.

With so many models out there now (I was a bit overwhelmed having not looked at guitar gear that long), I was wondering if I would get the right one so I went with my gut and sure enough, it steered me right.

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Re: NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

A lot of people think a wah is a wah, but that market actually has a lot of options. Some are designed for classic tones and font hand high gain well at all, others thrive there.

My favourites are a Crybaby From Hell (Dimebag model) and a Vox 487.

Both seem to do well under high gain but the Vox is meant more for a classic sounding wah while the CBFH is designed specifically for use in high gain territory. I've had the CBFH for about 8 years now.
 
Re: NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

I looked at the Vox too. Since my tone goes from high gain to more classic sound, I needed one that could go between both. The 535Q was another option with its adjustments but I prefer the sound of the Cantrell. It works anywhere with a twist of the frequency adjustment. I've been playing with it quite a bit today and it's been really comfortable to get used to. I've borrowed a few wahs before and I felt like I was fighting with them to work and sound the way I was wanting or expecting. Not with this one. The heel down even cuts through great and doesn't get lost. I have a feeling I'll keep this for a long time.
 
Re: NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

My CBFH is adjustable too. It's basically a modified 535Q. I like how it sounds thicker than the Vox, but I love that vintage wah sound too.
 
NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

Congrats!
Is this particular pedal a “hard wired bypass” or only buffered?

A few months ago I was having some tone suck issues with my switchless crybaby(95Q?) and ended up buying the crybaby classic which has worked perfectly for me.
I remember looking at the Cantrell model too, as he is one of my favorite players. But I don’t recall if it was hard wire bypass or not.
I’m not a fan of the buffers that Dunlop uses....at least it wasn’t ideal for my particular setup.
 
Re: NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

It is hard wired bypass. Signal still goes from input to output with the battery pulled and the pedal disengaged. I'm not a fan of their buffer's either but there may be one while it is engaged. Pretty much all of the modern Cry Baby's do.
 
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Re: NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

The buffer in the modern crybabies is not that bad. It’s the half-bypass that causes the tone suck. I really don’t know why they don’t upgrade all of them to Hardwire Bypass.

Cantrell is a great sounding wah, nice grab!
 
Re: NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

They look very cool.

I had a Cry Baby years ago, but wasn’t crazy about it, so I sold it.

I’ve been playing bass in bands, but recently started playing guitar. So I needed a wah.

I picked up a used Vox. It’s one of the Dunlop manufactured models. My plans were to mod it, but it sounded great. And very much sounds like that Cantrell tone.

Doesn’t have true bypass though. It’s that 60s version. So I’ll be changing that soon.


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Re: NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

Congrats!

I've got one of those too, along with a 535Q that I got cheap because it needs a new pot, and a standard CryBaby. The 535 sounds good when it decides to work, but there's something about that Cantrell. It sounds great.
 
Re: NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

I used the JC95 at rehearsal last week for the first time. It's definitely what I've been looking for. Great cut, easy to control, even the heel down comes through where on others I'd fade in to the mix. There's definitely a little boost when engaged. Not a lot, just enough. Works great for me.
 
Re: NPD: Jerry Cantrell JC95 Cry Baby

Dammit....now I want one. [emoji37]

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