The Dunlop Geezer Butler Cry Baby Bass Wah is a signature bass wah built with Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler, and Dunlop calls it the first ever signature Cry Baby Bass Wah. It takes the aggressive Cry Baby 95Q Wah circuit, modifies the sweep, and adds custom circuitry that mixes dry signal back in from the heel-down position, so the low end does not vanish as the filter sweeps. Dunlop describes the result as massive low end power with a midrange that cuts through the mix12.
Dunlop lists the Geezer Butler Cry Baby Wah as a legacy product that is no longer in production1.
What it does to a bass signal
The core idea is the heel-down dry blend. Dunlop took the Cry Baby 95Q and modified its sweep so that, from the heel-down position, custom circuitry mixes in an amount of dry signal, and pressing toward the toe-down position smoothly removes that dry signal to let the aggressive part of the wah range come through12. For a bass player that matters: a full wah sweep can thin out the fundamentals, and the dry blend keeps low end under the effect as you rock the pedal.
The pedal is voiced to Butler's specs, with auto-return switching so he can step in and out of the effect with ease12. Dunlop's buying guide notes it was designed in collaboration with what the company calls the first bass player to record with a wah3.
Controls
There is little on the outside to adjust, which is typical of a Cry Baby: the rocking treadle is the main control, and the depth of the effect lives inside.
| Control | What it does | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Treadle | Sweeps the wah filter; dry signal is mixed in at heel-down and smoothly removed toward toe-down | Foot operated12 |
| Auto-return switch | Steps the effect in and out as the pedal rocks and returns | Built into the treadle action1 |
| Q trim pot | Adjusts the shape of the frequency bandpass, effectively the wah's intensity or bandwidth | Internal, under the bottom plate145 |
The Q control is factory-set to Geezer's preferred setting as shipped4. To reach it, remove the bottom plate, which Premier Guitar's reviewer notes is attached via four screws; adjustments can be made there for Q, also known as bandwidth4. gearnews describes it as the only controller for the Q factor inside the pedal5.
How it compares
Against the standard Dunlop Cry Baby Bass Wah, Premier Guitar's reviewer found the Geezer much more aggressive and, well, "wah" like, whereas the original sounds more filter-like and leaves more low end intact through the sweep4. In other words, the two sit at different points: the standard model leans toward a subtle envelope filter character, while the Geezer leans toward an outspoken vocal wah.
"the Geezer is much more aggressive and, well, "wah" like, whereas the original sounds more filter-like and leaves more low end intact through the sweep"
Dunlop also builds other bass wahs in the line, including the 105Q Cry Baby Bass Wah and the compact Cry Baby CBM105Q Mini Bass Wah, and later added the Justin Chancellor signature wah to the bass range.
Price and availability
Premier Guitar's press coverage listed a street price of $169.99 and an MSRP of $242.842. gearnews reported a European RRP of EUR 209, with availability mid to end of October 20175. When Premier Guitar reviewed it in August 2021, the street price still stood at $1694.
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Questions
Is the Dunlop Geezer Butler Cry Baby Bass Wah still made?
No. Dunlop lists the Geezer Butler Cry Baby Wah as a legacy product that is no longer in production. It was unveiled in August 2017 as the company's first signature Cry Baby Bass Wah, and units remain available secondhand or from remaining dealer stock, but Dunlop no longer builds it.
What did the Geezer Butler wah cost at launch?
At its August 2017 unveiling, Premier Guitar's press coverage listed a street price of $169.99 and an MSRP of $242.84. gearnews reported a European RRP of EUR 209 around the same time. When Premier Guitar reviewed the pedal in August 2021, it still listed a street price of $169.
What is auto-return switching on a wah?
Auto-return means the pedal switches the effect on when you rock it forward and off when it returns to the heel-down position, so there is no separate stomp switch to press. Dunlop describes it as convenient stepping in and out of the effect, which suits fast passages where you only dip into the wah briefly.
How do I get to the Q control on the Geezer Butler wah?
The Q control is internal. Remove the bottom plate, which is held on by four screws, and the trim pot is there. It adjusts the shape of the frequency bandpass, effectively the intensity of the wah, and the pedal ships factory-set to Geezer Butler's preferred setting.
How does it differ from the standard Cry Baby Bass Wah?
Premier Guitar's reviewer found the Geezer version much more aggressive and more recognizably wah-like, while the standard Cry Baby Bass Wah sounds more filter-like and leaves more low end intact through the sweep. The Geezer also adds the heel-down dry-signal mixing and the internal Q control.
What is the model number of the Geezer Butler wah?
Dunlop's buying guide gives the model as the GZR95 Geezer Butler Cry Baby Wah, designed in collaboration with what the company calls the first bass player to record with a wah.
Sources (5)
- GEEZER BUTLER CRY BABY® WAH, Dunlop (www.jimdunlop.com)
- Dunlop Unveils the Geezer Butler Cry Baby Wah, Premier Guitar, 2017-08-25
- RANGE OF EXPRESSION: FIND YOUR CRY BABY® WAH, Dunlop (lifestyle.jimdunlop.com), 2021-10-08
- Dunlop Geezer Butler Cry Baby Review, Premier Guitar, 2018-02-12
- Dunlop with Black Sabbath Signature Bass Wah for Geezer Butler, gearnews.com, 2017-08-28
