The Chase Tone Italian Crybaby Wah Replica is a wah pedal built to reproduce the original 1969 to 1970s Italian Vox Crybaby wahs. Chase Tone describes its sweep as balanced between a Vox Clyde McCoy style Vox and an Italian Crybaby, and the pedal carries period details such as custom made BC109A transistors, a replica 1969 V846 circuit board and a 1969 era spec rocker and feet. It is a limited production item, listed at $389, and the first run is completely sold out1.
Chase Tone states it is completely sold out of the Italian Crybaby Wah Replica, and the first run in the limited edition Italian green with hexavalent chrome rocker top is sold out as well. The company points players to a wait list for its Scripture Wah1.
Where the Italian Crybaby comes from
The Crybaby name has a specific history in the wah world. Vintage Guitar magazine's history of wah pedals explains that Vox "solved this by slapping the Crybaby name on the same model for the American market," the name having come from a distributor describing the wah's sound as a baby crying2. The Italian built models from 1969 into the 1970s are the ones Chase Tone set out to copy.
Eric Kraft, Geoffrey Teese and Mike of Analog Man Vintage guitar effects compared the Italian built models directly: "The VOX Crybaby made in Italy sounded almost identical to my VOX V846 Italy but with slightly less treble"3. That slightly darker Italian character is the target Chase Tone aimed at, and the maker's own description of the sweep sits deliberately between the two camps: "The custom tuned sweep is balanced perfectly in between a Vox Clyde McCoy and Italian Crybaby Wah- make the notes sing w"1.
How it is built
Chase Tone specifies the pedal in period terms, from the board to the hardware:
- Wah pot with a unique taper spreading the Mid-Treble region out for a sweep balanced in between a Vox and a Crybaby wah1
- Wah output buffer, which the maker says "Ensures impedance matching with various distortion devices for uncompromising wah sweep"1
- Carling DPDT true bypass footswitch1
The output buffer is worth noting for players who run fuzz or overdrive ahead of a wah: Chase Tone positions it as the fix for the impedance mismatches that make a wah sweep sound thin or dull with distortion devices in front of it1.
Finish and limited edition
The first run was finished in a limited edition Italian green, which Chase Tone calls its EPIC Hammer Green with hexavalent chrome rocker top, and that run is completely sold out1. The pedal otherwise wears a vintage black texture base over an ultra-lightweight aluminum casing, with the hot rod chrome rocker on top1.
Buying, shipping and returns
- Price: $389, described by Chase Tone as a limited production item1
- Shipping: free anywhere in the world via USPS Priority Mail with tracking; insurance is dependent upon the country1
- Returns: 30 day return policy for USA buyers1
- Veterans: a 5 percent discount for United States Veterans1
Players interested in Chase Tone's other wah designs can look at the Gypsy Wah, Picture Wah and Golden Scripture Wah, or browse the site's wah-wah pedal type page for the wider field.
Videos
Antonin Vanneyre
Antonin Vanneyre
Questions
Is the Chase Tone Italian Crybaby Wah Replica true bypass?
Yes. Chase Tone fits the pedal with a Carling DPDT true bypass footswitch, so the wah circuit is completely out of the signal path when the pedal is off. The pedal also carries a Wah Output Buffer, which the maker says ensures impedance matching with various distortion devices for an uncompromising wah sweep when the effect is engaged.
What transistors does the Chase Tone Italian Crybaby use?
Chase Tone uses BC109A custom made vintage accurate transistors, which the maker describes as being for an authentically original Italian era Vox Wahs. The circuit board itself is a replica of the 1969 V846 wah board, built in military grade fiberglass with plated-through-holes for secure connections.
Is the Chase Tone Italian Crybaby Wah Replica still available?
No. As of October 2026, Chase Tone states it is completely sold out of the Italian Crybaby Wah Replica, describing it as a limited production item. The first run in the limited edition Italian green with hexavalent chrome rocker top is also sold out. Chase Tone invites players to contact the company about its Scripture Wah instead.
Does Chase Tone ship outside the United States?
Yes. Chase Tone offers free shipping anywhere in the world via USPS Priority Mail with tracking, with insurance dependent upon the country. United States buyers also get a 30 day return policy on the pedal.
What is the return policy on Chase Tone pedals?
Chase Tone offers a 30 day return policy for USA buyers on the Italian Crybaby Wah Replica. Shipping is free anywhere in the world via USPS Priority Mail with tracking, and the company also extends a 5 percent discount to United States Veterans.
Sources (3)
- Chase Tone Italian Crybaby Wah Replica, Chase Tone
- Wah-Wah Pedals, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2001-06-05
- Wah Wah Pedal article, Analog Man Vintage guitar effects (analogman.com), 2015
