The Dunlop MC404 CAE Wah is a wah-wah pedal developed by Bob Bradshaw of Custom Audio Electronics together with Dunlop's Cry Baby design team, with what Dunlop describes as "the goal of creating a highly versatile wah-wah of top-grade components"1. JHS Pedals' Josh has called it "the Bob Bradshaw's Wah that Dunlop builds, better known as the Dunlop CAE (Custom Audio Electronics) Wah"2.
What it does
The MC404's defining feature is its pair of Fasel inductors. MusicRadar's Michael Astley-Brown notes that it includes "both red and yellow Fasel inductors to change the resonance of the sweep", letting the player switch between two distinct wah voicings31. Premier Guitar's review likewise confirms that "The MC-404 CAE Wah pedal features dual Fasel inductors"4.
On top of the wah circuit sits "a built-in MXR MC401 Boost/LineDriver"3, which JHS describes as "a nice heavy boost"2. The boost can drive a solo or push an amp, and the LineDriver stage is designed to keep signal strength up through long pedalboard chains.
Controls
| Control | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Boost level | External | Sets the amount of the built-in MC401 boost3 |
| Boost kickswitch | External | Engages the boost from the pedal's side3 |
| Fasel kickswitch | External | Switches between the red and yellow Fasel inductors3 |
| Q | Internal | Shapes the wah's resonance53 |
| Gain | Internal | Sets internal gain3 |
The internal "Q" controls let the player tailor the sweep's bite without opening the pedal during a set, as documented by Custom Audio Electronics5.
Build and finish
Dunlop specifies "a long-life CTS potentiometer" for the treadle, the part most likely to wear on a heavily used wah1. Custom Audio Electronics notes the pedal carries a "Custom paint finish and CAE graphics"5.
Where it sits in the Cry Baby line
The MC404 is one of many wahs Dunlop builds around the Cry Baby platform, from the standard Dunlop Cry Baby GCB-95 to the multi-voiced Dunlop Cry Baby Multi-Wah. Its combination of switchable inductors and an integrated boost is what sets it apart within that range3.
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Sources (5)
- CAE WAH - Dunlop, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- 5 REASONS TO WAH, JHS Pedals
- Best wah pedals: Add extra expression to your sound, MusicRadar, 2020-09-20
- Dunlop MC-404 CAE Wah Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2009-04-09
- CAE News, Custom Audio Electronics, 2011-11-27
