The Dunlop Eric Clapton Cry Baby Wah is a limited edition wah pedal from Dunlop, built as a tribute to Eric Clapton's 60-year legacy in music. It carries the circuit of the GCB95 Cry Baby Standard Wah inside a gold-plated casting, and a portion of the proceeds from its sale goes to the Crossroads Center, which provides supportive addiction treatment and recovery12.
Dunlop describes the pedal in plain terms: "With this special limited edition Eric Clapton Cry Baby Wah, we're paying tribute to Mr. Clapton's 60-year legacy"1. For a player, that means the sound is the familiar Cry Baby sweep rather than a new Clapton-voiced circuit, with the signature element being the finish and the cause it supports.
The GCB95 Cry Baby sound in a gold-plated casting
The circuit inside is the one longtime Cry Baby players already know. Dunlop's product page says the pedal features "the benchmark sound of the GCB95 Cry Baby Standard Wah" in a gold-plated cast1, and MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley confirmed at launch that "the circuit is based on the GCB95 Cry Baby Standard Wah," adding that "longtime Cry Baby fans will recognise the sounds of this new Clapton signature model"3.
What sets it apart from a stock GCB95 is the enclosure. MusicRadar called it "a gold-plated signature Cry Baby wah pedal"3, and Dunlop's own copy says the casting is "befitting one of rock 'n' roll's living giants"1. Functionally, though, it behaves like the standard pedal: one rocker, one sweep, no voicing switches or mods.
"And longtime Cry Baby fans will recognise the sounds of this new Clapton signature model."
Controls and connections
Guitar World noted at launch that "Clapton's model doesn't feature any additional control dials"5. The rocker treadle is the only control, sweeping the wah filter from heel to toe. Setup follows the standard Cry Baby pattern from Dunlop's manual4:
- Run a cable from your guitar to the pedal's INSTRUMENT jack.
- Run another cable from the AMPLIFIER jack to your amplifier.
- Rock the treadle with your foot to sweep the filter.
Power and signal specs
The pedal runs on one 9-volt battery, accessed via the underside of the pedal, on the Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter, or on an MXR Brick Series power supply4. Dunlop's manual gives these electrical specifications4:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Max input level | -8.0 dBV |
| Max output level | +10 dBV |
| Gain, toe down | +19 dB |
| Gain, heel down | +19.5 dB |
| Input impedance | 800 kΩ |
| Output impedance | 10 kΩ |
| Signal-to-noise, toe down | 89 dBV |
| Signal-to-noise, heel down | 98 dBV |
| High pass filter | 1.5 kHz to 2.5 kHz |
| Low pass filter | 350 Hz to 450 Hz |
The filter ranges show the sweep in numbers: the low pass corner moves between 350 Hz and 450 Hz and the high pass corner between 1.5 kHz and 2.5 kHz as the treadle travels4.
A limited edition tied to Clapton's legacy and Crossroads
Dunlop frames the pedal as a tribute rather than a new design, marking six decades of Clapton's career1. Part of the purchase price supports his charity: Premier Guitar reported that a "portion of proceeds donated to Crossroads Centre for supportive addiction treatment and recovery"2, and MusicRadar's Horsley made the same point at launch, noting the pedal "supports Clapton's Crossroads addiction recovery centre"3.
The pedal sits in a wide field of Dunlop signature wahs, from the Kirk Hammett Cry Baby to the Joe Bonamassa Cry Baby and the Slash Cry Baby Classic. Against those, the Clapton model is the simplest proposition: the stock GCB95 sound, no extra controls, and a collector's finish351.
Price and availability
Premier Guitar reported the pedal available now at $299.99, sold "exclusively from Guitar Center in the United States and from select retailers worldwide"2. Guitar World's launch coverage said the same: "It is sold exclusively by Guitar Center for US customers, and selected retailers worldwide"5. MusicRadar listed it at $299 in the US and £349 in the UK at launch, remarking that "the Eric Clapton wah is not a cheap date at £349/$299"3.
As a limited edition, availability depends on remaining stock. In the US, Guitar Center is the exclusive retailer2.
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Questions
What power adapter does the Eric Clapton Cry Baby wah use?
Dunlop's manual specifies the Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter, or an MXR Brick Series power supply. The pedal can also run on one 9-volt battery, accessed through the underside of the casting. Plug your guitar into the INSTRUMENT jack and run a cable from the AMPLIFIER jack to your amp.
Does the Eric Clapton Cry Baby wah have any knobs?
No. Guitar World reports that Clapton's model doesn't feature any additional control dials. The only control is the rocker treadle itself, which sweeps the wah filter, so the sound is the standard GCB95 Cry Baby circuit with nothing to adjust.
Where can you buy the Dunlop Eric Clapton Cry Baby wah in the US?
In the United States it is sold exclusively through Guitar Center, with select retailers carrying it worldwide. Premier Guitar reported it available at $299.99. MusicRadar's launch coverage listed it at $299 in the US and £349 in the UK.
What is the model number of the Eric Clapton Cry Baby wah?
The model number is EC95G, as given in Dunlop's own manual for the pedal. It appears in the manual's title and specification section for the Eric Clapton Cry Baby Wah, the limited edition gold-plated version of the GCB95 circuit.
Sources (5)
- ERIC CLAPTON CRY BABY® WAH, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- Dunlop Honors Clapton with Cry Baby Wah, Premier Guitar, 2024-11-19
- “We are honoured that our company's relationship with the legendary guitar player continues to this day”: Dunlop salutes wah pedal pioneer Eric Clapton with a gold-plated signature Cry Baby, MusicRadar, 2024-11-19
- EC95G.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2024
- Eric Clapton awarded gold signature Cry Baby wah pedal, Guitar World, 2024-11-18
