The Dunlop JC95FFS Jerry Cantrell Firefly Cry Baby Wah is a full-size rocker wah pedal in Dunlop's long-running Cry Baby line, carrying Jerry Cantrell's name alongside other signature models such as the JC95 Jerry Cantrell Signature Wah and the Jerry Cantrell I Want Blood Cry Baby Wah. Its distinguishing control is a Fine Tune knob that changes the tone of the toe-down position, letting you set where the filter peaks when the pedal is pressed forward1.
Power and connections
The JC95FFS runs on DC 9 volts and draws 1 mA. Dunlop specifies the ECB003 9-volt adapter or an MXR Brick Series power supply, and the pedal also runs on one 9-volt battery accessed through the underside1. With a 1 mA draw it places minimal demand on a shared supply.
Hooking it up takes two cables:
- Run a cable from your guitar to the pedal's INSTRUMENT jack.
- Run another cable from the JC95FFS's AMPLIFIER jack to your amplifier1.
There is no separate on/off footswitch. Push the toe of the pedal down until you feel a click to turn the pedal on or off, then rock your foot back and forth to sweep the filter. Dunlop describes the result as "the vocal, expressive tones that the Cry Baby Wah is famous for"1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rocker pedal | Sweeps the wah filter; push the toe down until it clicks to turn the pedal on or off |
| FINE TUNE knob | Adjusts tone of the toe-down rocker position |
Specs: frequency range, levels and noise
The filter's center frequency depends on pedal position and the Fine Tune setting. Heel down, the center sits between 320 Hz and 390 Hz. Toe down with Fine Tune at maximum, it reaches 1700 Hz to 2070 Hz; toe down with Fine Tune at minimum, the manual lists 1050 kHz to 1270 Hz1.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Input impedance | 1MΩ |
| Output impedance | 10KΩ |
| Max input level | -11.5 dBV |
| Max output level | +6 dBV |
| Max gain at center frequency, heel down | +18 dBV |
| Max gain at center frequency, toe down | +20 dBV |
| Noise floor, heel down | >97 dB |
| Noise floor, toe down | >89 dB |
The noise figures are measured with VREF=1VRMS, A-weighted1. The gain at the filter's center frequency, up to +20 dBV toe down, means the wah adds a noticeable peak to the selected band as you press forward, which is part of how a Cry Baby pushes a solo through a mix.
The JC95FFS uses Hardwire bypass rather than true bypass, so its bypassed signal path differs from pedals that switch the effect entirely out of the chain.
Questions
How do you turn the JC95FFS on and off?
There is no separate stomp switch. Push the toe of the rocker pedal down until you feel a click, which turns the effect on or off. Rocking your foot back and forth on the pedal while it is engaged sweeps the wah filter through its vocal, expressive range.
What does the Fine Tune knob do on the Jerry Cantrell Cry Baby?
The Fine Tune knob adjusts the tone of the toe-down rocker position. At its maximum setting the filter center sits between 1700 Hz and 2070 Hz, and at its minimum setting between 1050 kHz and 1270 Hz as the manual lists it, so it shifts where the wah peaks when you press the pedal forward.
Does the JC95FFS take a battery?
Yes. It runs on one 9-volt battery, accessed through the underside of the pedal. It can also be powered from a Dunlop ECB003 9-volt adapter or an MXR Brick Series power supply.
Is the JC95FFS true bypass?
No. The manual lists its bypass type as Hardwire rather than true bypass, so the signal path in bypass mode differs from a true bypass design.
What is the input impedance of the JC95FFS?
The input impedance is 1 megohm, and the output impedance is 10 kilohms, according to the specifications in Dunlop's manual.
Which power supply works with the JC95FFS?
The pedal takes DC 9 volts. Dunlop specifies the ECB003 9-volt adapter or an MXR Brick Series power supply. It draws only 1 mA, so it is easy on any supply, and it can also run from a single 9-volt battery.
Sources (1)
- JC95FFS.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2023
Jerry Cantrell
