The Dunlop Akira Takasaki Cry Baby Fuzz Wah, model code AT95, is a Cry Baby wah pedal with a switchable fuzz circuit built in, made by Dunlop. It was designed for Akira Takasaki, guitarist with the Japanese metal band Loudness, and announced in August 202312. Where a standard Cry Baby gives you a filter sweep alone, this one lets you stomp a side button and add a high-gain fuzz on top of the wah, all in the familiar Cry Baby rocker format2.
Dunlop describes the pedal as putting "the perfect blend of high-gain saturation and sweeping expression right at your feet"1. MusicRadar's launch report quoted the maker's pitch in blunter terms:
"From the moment you step on the pedal, this badass effect simultaneously roars out fuzz along with the traditional Cry Baby Wah sound!"
What it is and how it works
The AT95 combines a traditional wah pedal circuit with an adjustable low-frequency sweep and an onboard fuzz circuit2. The pedal keeps the traditional Cry Baby rocker format, with Takasaki's signature logo on the rubber tread and his signature on the bottom plate2. You rock the tread with your foot as on any wah; the fuzz is a separate circuit you switch in when you want it.
The wah sweep itself is the signature detail. Dunlop gave this Cry Baby a lower frequency sweep than the standard range1, and the manual's figures show where it sits: the resonant frequency runs from 480 Hz with the tread heel down to 2.2 kHz toe down3. For a player, that means the filter's peak lands lower in the spectrum than on a typical wah, which pairs naturally with the high-gain fuzz and with distorted lead tones generally.
Controls
The control set is small, and one knob lives inside the housing:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| FUZZ ON/OFF switch | Side-mounted, foot-reachable button that toggles the fuzz on and off; a green LED indicates ON32 |
| FUZZ SENSITIVITY knob | Adjusts the intensity of the fuzz effect3 |
| FUZZ VOLUME knob (internal) | Adjusts pedal volume when fuzz mode is engaged; accessed by removing the bottom plate3 |
The FUZZ VOLUME control is internal. To adjust it you have to remove the bottom plate of the pedal3, so it is a set-and-forget level trim rather than something you tweak between songs.
The side placement of the fuzz switch is deliberate: MusicRadar noted it is "easily reachable by foot"2, so you can bring the fuzz in and out mid-performance without breaking your footing on the tread.
Specifications
The manual gives full measured specs for both modes, wah only and fuzz-wah together, which is useful when comparing the pedal against other fuzz wahs:
| Specification | Wah mode | Fuzz-wah mode |
|---|---|---|
| Input impedance (at 1 kHz) | 1.1 MΩ | 480 kΩ3 |
| Output impedance (at 1 kHz) | 4.3 kΩ | 3.8 kΩ3 |
| Max gain | +22 dB | +60 dB3 |
| Max output level | +8.7 dBu | +5.0 dBu3 |
| Noise floor, heel down | -98 dBu | -72 dBu3 |
| Noise floor, toe down | -91 dBu | -60 dBu3 |
| Noise floor, effect off | -105 dBu | -105 dBu3 |
The +60 dB maximum gain in fuzz-wah mode against +22 dB in wah mode shows how much extra level the fuzz circuit adds3. The noise floor figures also rise with the fuzz engaged, from -98 dBu heel down in wah mode to -72 dBu in fuzz-wah mode, which is what you would expect from a high-gain circuit3.
Power
The AT95M runs on 9V DC and draws only 7 mA3, light enough for any pedalboard supply. Dunlop specifies the Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter or an MXR Brick Series power supply3, and the pedal can also be operated by a 9-volt battery or a pedalboard power supply3. The battery sits under the pedal and is accessed via the underside of the housing3.
Where it came from and what it costs
Jim Dunlop built the Takasaki Cry Baby as a signature wah for Akira Takasaki of Loudness2. It sits alongside Dunlop's other wah-based releases for high-gain players, including the Dunlop DD95FW Daredevil Cry Baby Fuzz Wah, another pedal in the line that pairs wah with fuzz in a single rocker2. The Takasaki model gives players a wah voiced around his playing style rather than a standard Cry Baby circuit12.
At launch, MusicRadar reported a price of $229 street in the US and £285 street in the UK, with the pedal available to order but not yet widely stocked by all the usual retailers2.
Who is Akira Takasaki?
Akira Takasaki is the guitarist of Loudness, the Japanese metal band that MusicRadar calls legends of the genre2. Dunlop describes him as a Japanese guitar legend and built the AT95 specially for him1. His signature appears on the bottom plate of the pedal, and his logo on the rubber tread2.
Videos
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Tech Perception
Questions
What is the Dunlop AT95 Cry Baby Fuzz Wah?
It is a signature Cry Baby wah pedal made by Dunlop for Akira Takasaki, guitarist with the Japanese metal band Loudness. It combines a traditional Cry Baby wah circuit with a lower-frequency sweep and a switchable onboard fuzz circuit, so one rocker pedal delivers both effects. It was announced in August 2023 at $229 street in the US.
Can you use the fuzz and the wah separately on the AT95?
Yes. A side-mounted FUZZ ON/OFF switch, reachable by foot, toggles the fuzz circuit on and off, with a green LED showing when it is engaged. With the fuzz off, the pedal works as a Cry Baby wah on its own; with it on, both effects run together.
How much current does the AT95M draw?
The manual lists a current draw of 7 mA at 9V DC. That is low enough that the pedal runs comfortably on most pedalboard power supplies, and it can also run on a single 9-volt battery accessed through the underside of the housing.
What is different about the wah sweep on the Takasaki model?
Dunlop gave it a custom low-frequency sweep rather than a standard Cry Baby range. The manual puts the resonant frequency at 480 Hz heel down and 2.2 kHz toe down, so the sweep sits lower than a typical wah, which suits high-gain playing.
How much does the Akira Takasaki Cry Baby Fuzz Wah cost in the US?
At its August 2023 launch, MusicRadar reported a US street price of $229, with a UK street price of £285. It was available to order at launch, though not yet stocked by every usual retailer.
Who is Akira Takasaki?
Akira Takasaki is the guitarist of Loudness, the Japanese metal band, described by Dunlop as a Japanese guitar legend. He partnered with Jim Dunlop on this signature Cry Baby, and his signature appears on the pedal's bottom plate.
Sources (3)
- AKIRA TAKASAKI CRY BABY® FUZZ WAH, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- Jim Dunlop combines fuzz and a low-frequency wah sweep on Japanese shred legend Akira Takasaki's signature Cry Baby, MusicRadar, 2023-08-15
- AT95.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2023
