Jim Dunlop GCB65 Custom Badass Cry Baby Wah-Wah Pedal

Wah pedals work by sweeping a filter's resonant peak back and forwards, this creates the distinctive 'wah wah' sound. Inductors are the critical component in making this happen. They work together with a capacitor to move this cutoff frequency. Due to the fact that inductors release their charge slowly, they also produce a smooth and natural-sounding sweep and impart subtle sonic properties to add a sweetness to the pedal's tone. Dunlop have combined the two most iconic inductors into a single wah pedal, and put the power in your hands to dial in and fine-tune your perfect wah sound. These 2 inductors are: Halo and red Fasel.

Halo

Named after its shape (round with a hole in the centre), the Halo inductor was first introduced in 1966. It produces a remarkably smooth, vocal-like tone, but the early models could add undesirable microphonic squeal. Dunlop created their own trademarked Halo inductor that improves upon the original’s microphonic deficits and delivers all the robust tonal character of the vintage originals, while removing unwanted noise and improving overall clarity.

Fasel

The Italian-made Fasel inductors are among the most popular today. Spectrum analysis shows that they generate ear-pleasing second and third-order harmonic distortion, thickening and elevating your tone. Available in red and yellow varieties, the red version tends to have a deeper tone and stronger emphasis of the fundamental frequency. Generally, red Fasels sound more modern. Bear in mind, however, that the tolerances of Fasels will vary so no two of either variety will sound exactly alike.

Wonderous Wah

The ability to toggle between the 2 inductors gives you unparalleled versatility for a wah pedal and you'll likely use both for different applications. It could be said that Halo= more vintage, while red Fasel is more modern, but that's general and the only way to find your preferences is to get hands on and get experimenting. The usual robust construction and design you expect from Dunlop is apparent as soon as you pick the pedal up, with its shellproof chassis and sturdy controls making this tour-ready straight out the box. The deluxe features just elevate this wah above the rest. Go all-out with this Custom Cry Baby.

Specifications

• Input Impedance: 1 MΩ
• Output Impedance: less than 10 kΩ
• Noise Floor:
  • Heel Down: less than -99 dBV
  • Toe Down: less than -90 dBV
• Centre Frequency (Fasel Inductor):
  • Heel Down: 550 Hz
  • Toe Down: 1.2 to 1.8 kHz
• Centre Frequency (Halo Inductor:
  • Heel Down: 380 Hz
  • Toe Down: 1.1 to 1.5 kHz
• Maximum Gain: + 18 dB
• Bypass: True Hardwire
• Current Draw: 3 mA
• Power Supply: 9 volts DC