The Dunlop CBM535AR Cry Baby Mini 535Q Wah is a wah pedal in Dunlop's half-sized Cry Baby format, adding auto-return to the Mini 535Q design. GuitarPlayer described it as Dunlop adding Auto Return to its "hugely popular Cry Baby Mini 535Q wah pedal," and Guitar World announced the CBM535AR as a new version of the "half-sized wonder"12. Like the Mini 535Q it is based on, it carries an adjustable Q control, a four-position frequency range selector and a boost circuit, all packed into a pedal that takes up less board space than a full-size Cry Baby.
Controls
The CBM535AR keeps the Mini 535Q's control layout and adds the auto-return function that gives this version its AR suffix. The rocker works like a standard wah: the pedal is bypassed while your foot is off it, and switches in when you rock it3.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| VARIABLE Q knob | Adjusts wah intensity3 |
| VOLUME knob | Sets gain boost up to +16 dB3 |
| RANGE SELECTOR switch | Selects frequency range3 |
| BOOST switch | Increases output as set by the VOLUME knob3 |
| AUTO-RETURN DELAY control (internal) | Sets how long the effect rings out after being disengaged3 |
The Q knob is the heart of the 535Q concept. Dunlop's manual explains: "Rotate the Q knob clockwise for a narrower bandpass to emphasize higher end harmonics or counterclockwise for a wider bandpass that emphasizes lower end harmonics"3. At maximum clockwise the filter gain is 16 dB3. In practice that means one knob takes the wah from a broad, vocal sweep to a tight, peaked filter, depending on how aggressive you want the effect.
Range selector positions
The four-position RANGE SELECTOR switch shifts the whole sweep of the wah up or down in frequency, so the pedal can be tuned to sit where it works best with your rig3.
Position 1 keeps the sweep low and vocal, while position 4 pushes it up for brighter, more cutting sounds. Between the range selector and the Q knob, the CBM535AR covers a wide spread of wah voicings without changing pedals3.
Boost
The VOLUME knob sets a gain boost of up to +16 dB, and the BOOST switch brings that lift in as set by the knob3. Dunlop's manual lists the boost control range as 0.1 dB to 17 dB3, so the amount of extra output can be set finely. Used with the wah, this lets the effect push an amp or drive pedal harder when the rocker is down.
Power and connections
The CBM535AR runs on DC 9 volts and draws 3 mA3. Dunlop specifies the Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter, or the DC Brick, Iso-Brick and Mini Iso-Brick power supplies3. It can also run on one 9-volt battery, fitted by removing the bottom plate3.
Connections are the standard wah pair: run an instrument cable from your guitar to the INSTRUMENT jack, and another instrument cable from the CBM535AR's AMPLIFIER jack into your amplifier's input3.
The auto-return behavior is set by an internal control, not a top-panel knob. The AUTO-RETURN DELAY is inside the pedal and sets how long the effect rings out after being disengaged3, so changing it means opening the pedal up.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Filter gain | 16 dB3 |
| Boost control range | 0.1 dB to 17 dB3 |
| Input impedance | 1 MΩ3 |
| Output impedance | <1.5 kΩ3 |
| Noise floor, toe down | -97 dBV A-weighted3 |
| Noise floor, heel down | -90 dBV A-weighted3 |
| Current draw | 3 mA3 |
| Power supply | DC 9 volts3 |
Videos
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Questions
Does the Cry Baby Mini 535Q run on a battery?
Yes. According to Dunlop's manual, the CBM535AR is powered by one 9-volt battery, which is installed by removing the bottom plate. It can also run from the Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter or from Dunlop's DC Brick, Iso-Brick and Mini Iso-Brick power supplies. With a current draw of only 3 mA, it is light on any power supply.
What does the Q knob do on the Mini 535Q?
The VARIABLE Q knob adjusts wah intensity. Dunlop's manual explains that rotating it clockwise gives a narrower bandpass that emphasizes higher end harmonics, while turning it counterclockwise gives a wider bandpass that emphasizes lower end harmonics. At maximum clockwise the filter gain is 16 dB.
How much boost does the CBM535AR provide?
The VOLUME knob sets a gain boost of up to +16 dB, and the BOOST switch brings that increase in as set by the VOLUME knob. Dunlop's manual lists the boost control range as 0.1 dB to 17 dB, so the amount of lift can be dialed in finely rather than in fixed steps.
What is the auto-return delay on the Mini 535Q?
The CBM535AR adds an internal AUTO-RETURN DELAY control to the Mini 535Q design. It sets how long the effect rings out after being disengaged, so the wah tail fades naturally after your foot comes off the rocker instead of cutting off immediately.
How much current does the CBM535AR draw?
Dunlop's manual lists the current draw at 3 mA, which is very low by pedal standards. That makes it easy to power from a battery or from one output of a multi-output supply such as the DC Brick, Iso-Brick or Mini Iso-Brick.
What is the input impedance of the Mini 535Q?
Dunlop's manual lists the input impedance at 1 MΩ, with an output impedance of less than 1.5 kΩ. A 1 MΩ input is the usual figure for wah pedals, so it sits comfortably in a standard pedal chain.
Sources (3)
- Dunlop announces auto-return version of its feature-packed Cry Baby Mini 535Q wah, Guitar World, 2020-07-14
- Dunlop Adds Auto Return to Cry Baby Mini 535Q Wah, GuitarPlayer, 2020-07-14
- CBM535AR.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2020
