Dunlop Crybaby 535

Wahs are straightforward to use, but this one has a major droppoff in tone on the low-end, so it's very touchy. i like the LED -- lets you know w/o having to test it out loud -- and it has a gain boost on the side, which is pretty cool (you can adjust how much by turning the dial underneath).

With a Mex strat -> 535CB -> mxr 100 -> akai headrush -> vox cambridge 15, it's pretty cool overall. Not too much noise, but the damn thing drops out so much tone that it sounds like it's got a splinter in the middle of the range. like a waaAAaaaah. i wish i could take a big piece of sandpaper to that mid section.

i returned the pedal to Dunlop, and they were cool about checking it out, but they said it tests out prefect per their spec sheet. "just the nature of the beast," they said.

i've tried all six settings, and it still gives what i'd call a very unsatisfactory performance. maybe using the piece of wood like one guy suggested would do it, but it's got a short enough sweep as it is. sheesh.

i've heard of problems with wahs (pots, batteries, etc), but this one's in good shape -- except for that little issue of "low frequency dropoff." of course, it eats 9v's pretty well, so i'd bring a spare (not as bad as the 535Q with 2 9vs -- my friend's went out in a gig, and he'd forgotten there were 2, so he couldn't figure out how to get it going again mid-set. ooooops.)

still, since i can't get the right sound from it, i might just sell it and look for something that's smoother. maybe a buddah wah?

after about 3 months of e-mails trying to figure out the problem, I finally sent the wah back to Dunlop, and the tech support guy was very cool, and helpful. but in the end, i'm stuck with a $170 pedal that i don't like at all anymore.

i asked if i could trade it for a 535Q (even w/o the LED, it still "fixes" some of the main complaints I have with the 535-CB), but he said "their company doesn't do trades." he suggested I try checking H-Central to see if someone else would like to trade. so instead, I'm writing this review.

(Of course, if anyone wants to trade a perfect-condition "factory-tested" 535CB [the chrome model] for a voodoo labs analog chorus, i'm totally open to it.)

i play reggae, blues, psychedelic jams, and a little thrash. i like the gain boost on the 535 for a little extra fuzz, and i even like the basic tone it makes. it's got almost everything i could ask for. i just wish Dunlop would add all the best parts together to make one good product instead of 3 or 4 average ones. maybe i'll look into a buddah wah instead.

easy...it's a fuckin wah, man

i use with a lot of shit......mostly for treblely distorted intros to heavy song......and over cousre solos and funky clean shit........love that funky clean shit, bro.......

the first effects pedal i ever bought....i've been playing about 4 years......bought it USED still works perfect......NEVER had a problem....

n/a

i play the hip-hop/metal crossover thing with a band called dysrhythm.......i use it often....love it to death....very practical effect for beginners...you can always find some use for it, you know?......if this one had to be replaced i would get a fucking white crybaby (yes they make them white for guitar too, not just the bass crybaby).....i never use the stupid wah selections anyways on this one...i just keep it at the normal mode......don't use the volume boost either......i give it a nine cuz of those two things.....

A switch, a button and a rocker pedal. Umm... play the kazoo if that confuses you.

My Gear: Fender American Standard Strat through a BOSS HR-2 Harmonist, BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver, Univibe, and the old 535 into a Fender Deluxe 112 Plus. The lower settings are a bit useless, but the middle ones simply rule. There is too much sound drop-off when it is all the way back, but one of these reviewers that the idea to put a peice of wood there, and that solved it. Sounds awesome after my BD-2, but my setup needs the boost on and up to cut through the band.

The switch has been known to fall off, but a simple screw tightening fixes that. The pots got dirty quickly, and I eventually had to replace them, but have had no problems since.

Never needed it.

The best wah pedal out there. I usually "set and forget" the tone setting in the middle position, but the versatility is nice to have. That's what's important kids, tone and versatility.

It is very basic in its use. The only complaint I have is that you have to press down hard to turn it on and off. Other than that, no complaints.

I use a Fender American Standard into a Fender Princeton. It makes the exact sound that I bought it for. The only problem is that it is a bit noisy when trying to play a little quiter with it. No problem, I just play loud! Problem solved.

My only problem here is that the batteries run down often and they are a pain to change because I have to unscrew the bottom and open it up to change the battery. You can get an AC adapter for it though.

I've never dealt with the company.

I play mostly blues and rock, and it works beautifully for both of these. It could fit into just about any style of music I can think of, though. It works great for spicing up a guitar solo or for a funky rythm. I highly recommend this pedal.

'Piece of piss' if you cant use this, you probably cant play guitar, or feed yourself etc.

This thing sounds great alright!

Okay, here I go, I had it one month & the thing stopped switching off, I bought it in the USA, so dealers here (europe) wont touch it unless I pay major bucks, I had it looked at & the switch isnt broken -so now i've got to fork out an amount approximate to the price of the pedal itself to fix a very simple probem...Remember Neil Young said it best -''I brought it home It was a Piece OF CRAP''

Thanks guys: 200 dollars for a pedal & another 20: postage back & forth & 5 for a schematic! what a buch of pricks! They might like helping me but like Peavey if you live on a small Island there is no need to respond -just ignore me its the best way to deal with customers...

I know this is a fantastic piece of gear, eventhough the footpedal travel is too short...but it looks robust, well it isnt thats the bottom line! If you cant use it live it aint worth a dam! REALLY...but what can one do...I guess its bad bloody luck!