The Dunlop QZ1 Cry Baby Q-Zone is a fixed wah pedal from Dunlop. Instead of rocking a treadle back and forth, it holds a wah's resonant peak in one place, the sound players call a "cocked wah": a wah pedal parked at a fixed position, typically a resonant treble boost that adds harmonic content to the sound1. Dunlop's own buying guide pitches it as a way to "get the sound of a fixed wah without the rocker"2.
Guitar World's reviewer, Trevor Curwen, describes the effect as a pleasing tonal shift rather than a dramatic one1:
"Fixed position wah offers a pleasing tonal shift to your sound."
Guitar World review by Trevor Curwen1
What a fixed wah does
A conventional wah pedal sweeps a bandpass filter up and down as you rock the treadle. Many players instead park the treadle at one spot and leave it there, using the wah as a static filter that makes the guitar cut through with a vocal, honking quality. The QZ1 puts that sound in a compact stompbox: you set the frequency once with a knob and play, with no rocker to operate and no need to hold your foot still12.
Dunlop's buying guide notes that the pedal's simple control interface allows adjustment of boost, bandpass shape and frequency center, which are the three variables a player would otherwise juggle by holding a treadle in place2.
The controls: Volume, Peak and Q Zone
The QZ1 has three knobs and a bypass footswitch1. Each knob maps to one part of the fixed wah sound:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level of the effect3. Guitar World notes it has plenty of extra to drive your amp if you want to use the pedal as a boost1. |
| Peak | Sets the frequency center of the effect, from 380 to 2000 Hz3. |
| Q Zone | Adjusts the bandpass shape from wide to narrow3. |
| Bypass footswitch | Switches the effect in and out1. |
Dunlop describes the Peak control as acting like the rocker pot of a wah pedal: it sets the center frequency, essentially mimicking where the treadle would be sitting2. Guitar World's reviewer makes the same comparison, calling it the same function as the rocker pot, setting the center frequency and mimicking the treadle position1.
The Q Zone knob sets how intense the effect is. Guitar World describes it as setting the bandpass shape, broad or narrow, effectively dialing in more throatiness or quack1. A narrow bandpass makes the resonant peak more pronounced; a wide one is subtler.
The Volume knob gives the pedal a second use as a lead boost. Dunlop's manual lists a volume range of 0 dBV to 20 dBv and a maximum gain at the center frequency of +16 dBV with the Q Zone knob fully clockwise3.
Power and connections
The QZ1 runs on 9 volts DC and draws only 4 mA3. Power comes from one of two sources:
- A 9-volt battery, installed by removing the bottom plate3
- An AC adapter such as the Dunlop ECB003 or ECB003EU, or Dunlop's DC Brick and Iso-Brick power supplies3
Guitar World lists the power options as a 9V battery or a 9V DC adapter, noting the adapter is not supplied1.
Connections are standard: an instrument cable runs from your guitar to the QZ1's INSTRUMENT jack, and a second cable runs from the AMPLIFIER jack to your amplifier's input3. Guitar World describes these simply as a standard input and a standard output1. Input impedance is 1 MΩ and output impedance is less than 2.2 KΩ3. The manual lists a noise floor of -91 dBV, A-weighted, with all controls at their mid positions3.
The 4 mA current draw is low enough that the QZ1 is an easy pedal to power alongside others on a small power supply, but the 9V battery lives under the bottom plate, so a swap means opening the pedal up3.
Where the QZ1 sits in the Cry Baby line
The QZ1 is part of Dunlop's wide Cry Baby range, but it is the odd one out: nearly every other Cry Baby, from the Cry Baby Standard to the 95Q and the 535Q Multi-Wah, is a treadle wah you operate with your foot. The QZ1 instead takes the sound of a treadle wah held still and puts it behind three knobs213.
Guitar World notes the current QZ1 is back in its original three-knob guise after a four-knob CSP030 Custom Shop version1. So players comparing used or older listings may come across that four-knob variant.
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Questions
What is a fixed wah pedal?
A fixed wah pedal recreates the sound of a wah pedal held in one position, often called a cocked wah. Instead of rocking a treadle back and forth, you set the frequency once with a knob and leave it there. The result is a resonant treble boost that adds harmonic content to your tone.
What does the Q Zone knob do on the QZ1?
The Q Zone knob adjusts the bandpass shape from wide to narrow. A narrow setting makes the effect more intense, giving more throatiness or quack, while a wide setting is subtler. It effectively dials in how pronounced the fixed wah character is.
Does the QZ1 run on a battery?
Yes. The QZ1 is powered by one 9-volt battery, installed by removing the bottom plate. It can also run on a 9V DC adapter such as the Dunlop ECB003 or ECB003EU, or Dunlop's DC Brick and Iso-Brick power supplies. The adapter is not supplied with the pedal.
What frequency range does the Peak knob cover?
The Peak knob sets the frequency center of the effect, covering a range of 380 to 2000 Hz. It works like the rocker pot of a standard wah pedal, so each position of the knob corresponds to a treadle position you would otherwise hold in place.
Where is the battery on the QZ1?
The 9-volt battery sits inside the pedal, under the bottom plate. To install or replace it, you remove the bottom plate. The pedal can alternatively be powered by a 9V DC adapter, which is not included.
Sources (3)
- Dunlop Cry Baby QZ1 Q Zone review, Guitar World, 2020-07-14
- RANGE OF EXPRESSION: FIND YOUR CRY BABY® WAH, Dunlop (lifestyle.jimdunlop.com), 2021-10-08
- QZ1.pdf, Jim Dunlop, 2020
