The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

papersoul

New member
What do you guys think of this wah? I played it briefly in a store but I would need to use it with my amp and guitars. Seems really nice and has a wide sweep....

Right now I have been using a Dunlop 95Q for years because it is simple and I prefer the optical wah because it is auto on, don't have to switch it on. But I am afraid that is limiting me from having a nicer wah? I used to have a Budda wah and loved it too. Also tried a Dunlop Cantrell wah but the sweep was real narrow and didn't like it. I had a modded Vox for a while but always come back to Dunlop.

So now I am really considering this Bonamassa wah, but it is a lot of money to spend on a wah when my 95Q has been getting the job done for years!

Anyone have or spent time with it???

Thanks!
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

I'm thinking of picking one up too....waiting for a 15% off coupon from Musicians Friend or something......I have a Dunlop I modded the crap out of and it sounds pretty good but I'm still intrigued by the Bonamassa.........I may save the $$$ and just stick a Halo inductor in my Dunlop.......
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

Sometimes I think Dunlop just slaps a new case on the same wah!
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

Sometimes I think Dunlop just slaps a new case on the same wah!


Not this time......just look inside!

dunlop-crybaby_bonamassa_006.jpg
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

Does that make it "better"?

Meh, I dunno....
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

The one Dunlop wah that stood out to me was the Classic and it is cheap! It seems thicker and louoder than others wahs I have tried. But, I have to admit I am used to having a wah now that is auto on/off....no switching!

I want a thicker wah, a juicier wah, not harsh and not extreme highs like a lot of wahs!
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

why dont you keep your auto wah and do some mods before blowing cash on another wah that is basically the same? You can change inductors and resistor/cap values and customize it your hearts content.
Otherwise, rather than the latest flavour of the month signature wah...check out the CAE/MXR wah from dunlop. Its like having two tweakable wahs in one. Two inductors with an internal gain trimmer - so if you want thicker or louder its there.
Both inductors have their own 'q' trimmer too so you can voice them how you like. ON the outside there are two kick switches allowing you to swap between the circuits and kick on the inbuilt boost circuit (that has a knob on the outside to adjust). Essentially it can do anything that any other of the wahs from dunlop can do.
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

I would like to hear the Bonammasa wah next to the Jerry Cantrell wah which was another I liked because it has a wide, darker tone!

I was told the 95Q is nearly impossible to modify.

I tried the CAE/MXR wah but did not like it. Also too tweakable. I like simple, I find I don't like options with many pedals...I want plug n play.
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

The one Dunlop wah that stood out to me was the Classic and it is cheap! It seems thicker and louoder than others wahs I have tried. But, I have to admit I am used to having a wah now that is auto on/off....no switching!

Let me echo this. I have Dunlop Crybab Classic. I have no idea what difference a Fasel inductor makes, but this wah is very sinewy.

I have two wahs, not counting a Digitech Jimi Hendrix emulator -- the Crybaby Classic and the Vox 847.

The Vox is bright, piercing, transparent. The Classic is darker, but it cuts through with a thicker sound. I'm keeping them both, but right now, the Vox is back in its plastic case.
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

I do love the Classic but I have to realize in a band setting, I need a wah that does not need to be switched on. :)
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

I liked the Cantrell wah I tried too......but so far for the money...the best I tried is the Classic! And cheap! But for convenience, you can't beat the 95Q.
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

What do you guys think of this wah? I played it briefly in a store but I would need to use it with my amp and guitars. Seems really nice and has a wide sweep....

Right now I have been using a Dunlop 95Q for years because it is simple and I prefer the optical wah because it is auto on, don't have to switch it on. But I am afraid that is limiting me from having a nicer wah? I used to have a Budda wah and loved it too. Also tried a Dunlop Cantrell wah but the sweep was real narrow and didn't like it. I had a modded Vox for a while but always come back to Dunlop.

So now I am really considering this Bonamassa wah, but it is a lot of money to spend on a wah when my 95Q has been getting the job done for years!

Anyone have or spent time with it???

Thanks!

Sooo... do you like or not like the Cantrell? You say in beginning of thread you didn't, now at end you do?
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

Sooo... do you like or not like the Cantrell? You say in beginning of thread you didn't, now at end you do?

Sorry...I like the dark nature of the Cantrell a lot....but the sweep was hard for me to use. A traditional crybaby sweep is what I am used to. I preferred the Classic Crybaby or my 95Q. The Bonamassa is tempting witht he wide sweep, but not for $170.
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

Man I miss my Crybaby. I have my Fulltone Clyde Deluxe which has served me really well for years, but for some reason, I'm getting a little bored of it. I haven't heard a better clean wah sound than the Fulltone, but overdriven, I really like the unperfected nature of a stock crybaby.
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

I have three wahs. Nothing has been able to remove my original c. 1971 Thomas Organ Crybaby from my Furman pedal board. It has a throaty, slightly distorted rock sound ala Terry Kath of Chicago.

The newish Dunlop Crybaby Classic I have sounds....newer. Cleaner. A good rock wah. I take this one to jams when I don't want to take my whole board.

The newish VOX Clyde McCoy pedal is PERFECT! For Shaft-type funky wah parts,...a little brighter, thinner, cleaner--perhaps too thin for a good classic rock tone. It still sounds great, though. Brings out my inner James Brown!

My choice would be based on the song. I could use the Classic on my board, but the T. O. wah, powered by a battery clip adaptor from the Furman's oiwer supply, is my fav. I've had it for forty years--why change now? LOL!

I think if I was going to go wah shopping, I would check out the Bonamassa, and the BBE wah. I know a couple of guys who have the BBE and rave about them, but I've never tried one in my rig.

Bill
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

I may end up just getting a Zakk Wylde wah, it is an amazing wah for clean, funk or rock -very thick, fat and full......like more of everything I love in a wah!
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

I think it's voiced really nice like the old Crybaby/Vox's, only it's got a switch to choose between regular treble shaving or true bypass. Bonamassa apparently likes non true bypass, but I've kept mine in TB mode.

I loved the look of it when I saw the pre release pics, then demoed the first one I saw at an LA music store, and realized it sounds as good as it looks. Mine is #21 of the first shipment.

I've had a few wahs, like the original old Crybaby, Mr. Crybaby Super which doubles as a volume pedal, Vox 847, Budda Bud Wah, and then the Fulltone Clyde Deluxe I've used for years.
That's a tough wah to knock off the pedalboard because of it's 3 modes and rotary volume knob. But the Joe Bonamassa wah has a nice vowel sweep and is voiced really good, so I'll use that for awhile. As a matter of fact, I figured there's not many opportunities to own the copper set, so I sold a guitar I didn't play enough and pulled the trigger.

2012pv227.jpg

2012pv230.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

Interesting....I don't hear much old Vox voicing at all in the JB wah.

The sweep is far too wide and there is way too much low end for it to sound like a Clyde or an 846...
 
Re: The Joe Bonamassa Signature Cry Baby Wah thread!

Fulltone Clyde Deluxe I hated, did not like at all. Much prefer a Crybaby.

The Cantrell was nice but the sweep was really narrow.

The JB seems really nice but for the price? I'd rather wait a year or so for a used one to pop up. Right now, I use my 95Q because it is switchless and that is important to me. But, I am also picking up a used, mint condition Dunlop Zakk Wylde wah. It is one of the fatest sounding wahs I have ever heard. When I kick in a wah, I don't like to also have to kick in my solo boost and the Zakk way takes care of everything. The single notes are much thicker, more pronounced with the Zakk wah and it sounds just as good for clean playing as it does with gain! And for $60 used, I could not resist!
 
Back
Top