[nnieman]

I mean honestly, are they actually different?
Cry Baby - Electronics - Products  

Does the Kirk Hammet wah sound drastically different than the Buddy Guy or my plain old crybaby?

I have only ever played the one wah so I don't know.

I count 26 variations....I mean, I like some of the colours (I do like the buddy guy polka dots).
I always thought that wahs should be more psydelic coloured....

Nathan

 

[Guncho]

That would saying why is there more than one kind of jeans?

 

[vadsy]

That would saying why is there more than one kind of jeans?

For bigger butts?

 

[ezcomes]

its no different than fuzz pedals...change a component and its "new and inspirational while harkoning to days gone by"
most are just the inducter, some are the sweep...the CFH is nothing like the rest...
they are what they are...
i took the CGB95, changed the sweep, took the input buffer out, and put a momentary switch on the top so that i didn't have to click it on and off...as soon as my foot is on the pedal its on...or should i want to have it back to normal, theres a switch under the pedal to make the original switch work...

 

[nnieman]

its no different than fuzz pedals...change a component and its "new and inspirational while harkoning to days gone by"
most are just the inducter, some are the sweep...the CFH is nothing like the rest...
they are what they are...
i took the CGB95, changed the sweep, took the input buffer out, and put a momentary switch on the top so that i didn't have to click it on and off...as soon as my foot is on the pedal its on...or should i want to have it back to normal, theres a switch under the pedal to make the original switch work...

That's a great idea for a mod.

I've painted mine and played with the sweep so it didn't get shrill.

Nathan

 

[Scotty]

i took the CGB95, changed the sweep, took the input buffer out, and put a momentary switch on the top so that i didn't have to click it on and off...as soon as my foot is on the pedal its on...or should i want to have it back to normal, theres a switch under the pedal to make the original switch work...

This sounds like a great mod, would you mind expanding on the details or is there a thread on this somewhere?

 

[ezcomes]

I followed this instructable...and also did some of the stinkfoot mods too...
Foot-on-pedal / True Bypass Crybaby Wah Mod

I built two...ones on a shelf and ones on my board...the only trouble i had...i ended up mounting a 1/4" piece of plywood on top of the pedal to get the momentary switch higher...but then it was too high to step on comfortably...hence the plywood evened it out

I can post a pic if you want

 

[nnieman]

Yes please

Nathan

 

[ezcomes]

Yes please

Nathan

A little beat up...so its my backup...

 

[butterknucket]

For bigger butts?

 

[Hamstrung]

These, like all "signature" models of just about any type of gear are not what made their namesakes famous. Hendrix never used a Hendrix sig Wha. Any artist endorsing a "sig" model of anything made their biggest impact on the old standard issue stuff of their day (or maybe someone else's "sig" model if more recent. Not so say "sig" models of certain gear can't have nice or desirable appointments and be nice to own but to buy anything thinking you'll capture the namesake's essence is fantasy... but that's another topic that's been done to death. I'll shut up now.

 

[Dorian2]

Glad I caught this fairly new thread after a quick search. I have the Dunlop Original Whiner Babe (or something to that effect) GCB95. Had it for years but never seemed to take to it. I'm starting to think that it's possibly due to the LP mixed with the sweep issue that was mentioned in another Wah thread from the past. I'm gonna check it out today with the Squier CVC tele to see what happens. Is it fairly simple to MOD these puppies? I know there is a lot of info out there, so to cut down on the bullshit (for my situation anyway) I'll tell you my setup and idea.

1. I LOVE that mid "hump" SOUND half way down the pedal. Sort of 1/2 way between min and max sweep. So after checking it with the single coil in the CVC neck and the lil 59 (humbucker) in the bridge, there is an improvement with the sweep in the single coil. Not great but not bad in either neck or middle. But it still isn't there. Way to much sweep for my needs. And I'm really not into working on my right foot muscle memory to get it just where I need it every time.

Can anyone suggest a good MOD or 2 to cut the sweep rate down to a more controllable level? I'm not into purchaing a new pedal because I do love some specific sounds I get from this one.

Thanks in advance (Mr. Hammer haha, and of course you other serious MODers out there.)

 

[mhammer]

This is the benchmark article for reference purposes. The Technology of Wah Pedals Explains what every single component in the circuit does.

In principle, ANY wah could have a bunch of dipswitches and trimmers to tune the functioning. Unfortunately, that would require more technical chops than a greatmany wah users possess. So, as they do with a great many other products, manufacturers simply do all the tweaking for users, and package them as custom models. In some instances, they do have some adjustment pots at the side, but generally fewer than could be the case.

The width of the sweep (the distance from ooooo to wiiiii) can be adjusted in two ways: mechanical and electronic. In order to prevent the wiper of the pot being destroyed by 100PSI+ pushing it past its end-point, the rack and pinion system used by most wahs, only covers maybe 60-70% of the potential sweep. Veteran users will know that the gears can be moved a few teeth this way or that to alter where in its full range of adjustment, the pot can be made to cover. Just be sure to leave at least a few unused gear teeth at each end so you don't destroy the pot.

The electronic way would involve inserting series and parallel resistors in conjunction wih the pot so that it can be made to mimic a pot that only covers a select portion of the full (usually) 100k range of resistance change.

 

[Dorian2]

@mhammer , you basically just eloquently explained exactly the 1st step I took regarding the mechanical part. Thanks very much sir Hammer.

I saw this and just did it, basically moving the teeth back 2 or 3 steps. That at least took that really high edgy and annoying tone out of the mix:

I also happened to have a brief gander at this article, which more than likely has used what you posted above as a possible reference particular to the GCB-95 Crybaby, but they'll all relate in some way I'm sure:

ElectroSmash - Dunlop Crybaby GCB-95 Circuit Analysis.

The other main issue is with the heel section which has also been a PITA. This may end up being my first pedal MOD (s). I'm not worried about screwing anything over because I've rarely used the pedal anyways. Mostly because they didn't do it right in the first place (IMHO).

 

[Sam-i-am]

Like can't you get these sounds by putting other pedals before and after your wah, and fine tuning your tones until POW dime bag Darrel signature wah, but without the price tag

 

[Dorian2]

Like can't you get these sounds by putting other pedals before and after your wah, and fine tuning your tones until POW dime bag Darrel signature wah, but without the price tag

What "other" pedals are you talking? I use EQ for my overall guitar and amp tone. Not going to change that for a Wah. Can you expand your thoughts here?

 

[Sam-i-am]

What "other" pedals are you talking? I use EQ for my overall guitar and amp tone. Not going to change that for a Wah. Can you expand your thoughts here?

I'm saying aren't there other ways to achieve those tones from "signature" wahs, and in a more tweakable fashion

 

[Sam-i-am]

And it was meant to be a rhetorical question.

As in, you don't need the signature wah, its but a paint job and price tag

 

[Sam-i-am]

And in response to the "what pedals?"...

Well, literally anything you can use to achieve the tones in question.

 

[Dorian2]

I'm saying aren't there other ways to achieve those tones from "signature" wahs, and in a more tweakable fashion

Oh...ha ha. Thanks for expanding. Ya, I guess there is. I'm not so big on wah, so I'm just messing around with what I have.

And it was meant to be a rhetorical question.

As in, you don't need the signature wah, its but a paint job and price tag

Thanks for clarifying. In my brief experience with what I've tried out and read re: MODS on them, that certainly seems to be the case with a lot of gear..

Well, literally anything you can use to achieve the tones in question.

Makes sense to me. Thanks for the run down.