The Dunlop BD95 Billy Duffy Signature Cry Baby is a limited edition signature wah pedal built around The Cult guitarist's classic tones. Its central idea is two wah voices in one enclosure: a modern mode based on the Dunlop 95Q Cry Baby, and a Vintage mode drawn from Duffy's favorite old Cry Baby pedals. MusicRadar reported it available at launch for £199 GBP in the UK1, with gearnews.com listing an RRP of £209 GBP2.
Two wah voices in one Cry Baby
The pedal's two core sounds are selected on the fly. MusicRadar described the pair as modern and classic wah modes, selectable via a kickswitch on the side of the pedal, with an LED indicator to show which is active1. gearnews.com's reviewer described the same control as a small red side switch near the rear of the wah pedal2.
The two modes are not the same circuit voiced differently, but two different inductors12:
| Mode | What it uses | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 95Q (modern) | Same inductor as the 95Q Cry Baby, plus its volume and Q controls | The modern 95Q wah tone21 |
| Vintage | A warm, low Q inductor based on Duffy's favorite vintage Cry Baby pedals | The more classic wah tone21 |
"The wah has two core sounds: the modern 95Q wah tone with a Volume, Q control and a more classic wah tone."
Auto-return switching and internal controls
The BD95 packs auto-return switching: take your foot off and the wah switches off, so the effect is engaged only while you are rocking the treadle1. gearnews.com described the same feature as an "auto wah off" function which disengages the effect once you remove your foot2.
Two sets of internal controls give the pedal adjustability beyond the external controls1:
- Internal controls adjust the toe-down frequency of both wah modes1
- An internal control adjusts the bypass delay1
Appearance and availability
The BD95 is housed in a wah case featuring a silhouette of Billy Duffy on the main foot pedal, finished in the same colors as his signature Gretsch guitar: a white finish with chrome foot pedal and matching knobs2. MusicRadar added that the man's silhouetted logo also adorns the wah's rubber tread, and that the pedal was designed to visually complement the Gretsch guitars with which Duffy is synonymous1.
gearnews.com's reviewer summed up the look this way:
"The white finish looks clean and the chrome foot pedal and matching knobs add to the vibe."
The BD95 was billed at launch as a limited edition with supposedly only 500 units available worldwide2. As a 2016 release, it sits among Dunlop's many signature Cry Baby wahs, a line that also includes the Tom Morello, Kirk Hammett and Jerry Cantrell models. For the wider family, see the wah pedal type page.
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Questions
How many BD95 Billy Duffy wahs were made?
The BD95 was billed as a limited edition, and gearnews.com reported that there were supposedly only 500 units available worldwide. The word supposedly matters: that figure came from the pedal's billing at launch rather than from a documented production count, so it is best read as the announced run size rather than a verified total.
What is the difference between the 95Q and Vintage modes on the BD95?
The 95Q mode uses the same inductor as the Dunlop 95Q Cry Baby, along with its volume and Q controls, giving the more modern of the pedal's two voices. Vintage mode brings in a warm, low Q inductor based on Billy Duffy's favourite vintage Cry Baby pedals, which is the more classic of the two tones.
What does the auto-return feature do?
Auto-return switching means the wah is only on while your foot is on the pedal. Take your foot off and the wah switches off, disengaging the effect automatically. MusicRadar noted that the bypass delay can be adjusted via an internal control, so you can tune how the switch-out behaves.
How do you switch modes on the BD95?
The two wah modes are selected with a kickswitch on the side of the pedal, described by MusicRadar as a small red side switch near the rear of the wah. An LED indicator shows which mode is active.
Can you adjust the toe-down frequency on the BD95?
Yes. Internal controls are available to adjust the toe-down frequency of both wah modes, so the top of the sweep can be set to taste without opening up a soldering iron.
Sources (2)
- Dunlop's Billy Duffy Signature Cry Baby is two wah pedals in one, MusicRadar, 2016-05-18
- Dunlop BD95 Billy Duffy signature wah pedal: An Electric Sonic Temple?, gearnews.com, 2016-05-19
Billy Duffy
