The Dunlop Tom Morello Cry Baby Wah is a limited edition wah pedal from Dunlop, built around the circuit of the Cry Baby GCB95 that Tom Morello has played throughout his career. Dunlop describes it as featuring "the aggressive, modern sound of the GCB95, the exact pedal Tom has used on every album and every tour throughout his career," dressed in a custom finish with quotations Morello chose himself1.
The pedal was announced in September 2020 and is now discontinued: Dunlop lists it as a legacy product no longer in production1.
A GCB95-based wah with a custom finish
Under the finish, the Tom Morello Cry Baby is a Cry Baby Standard in all but looks. Guitar.com reported that "the pedal specs are identical to that of the stalwart Cry Baby GCB95"4, and MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley wrote that it "houses an identical circuit to his early-'80s GCB95 Cry Baby"5. For a player, that means the sweep, the frequency range and the overall character are those of the standard GCB95 rather than a modified or voiced signature circuit.
The GCB95 itself has a documented place in the Cry Baby line. Dunlop's own history of the wah explains that its engineers designed the GCB95 with a raised frequency range and a more pronounced wah effect, giving it a more up front and aggressive modern sound than earlier Cry Babies6. That aggressive character is what Morello built his playing around, and what this signature model reproduces.
Morello put it in his own words on Dunlop's artist page:
"This is based on the same wah pedal that I have used on every record and at every show that I have ever played."
The differences from a stock GCB95 are on the outside. The pedal wears a custom finish bearing quotations chosen by Morello, which Dunlop says highlight "the battle for justice that he's dedicated his career to"1. MusicRadar described the result as "a bright red Dunlop Cry Baby, with a red star on the rubber foot-grip"5. Gearnews also noted that the pedal uses the Hot Potz potentiometer, the same treadle pot Dunlop fits across the Cry Baby line, built to withstand touring use8.
Versions and availability of the TBM95
The Tom Morello Cry Baby was announced on September 16, 2020, with Guitar.com reporting it would be "available soon"4. At announcement it was not yet in stores but was available to pre-order, with GuitarPlayer noting a Sweetwater preorder listing9.
| Version | Model code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Morello Cry Baby Wah | TBM95 | Limited edition wah, announced September 2020143 |
| Tom Morello Cry Baby Wah Parts | TBM95-PARTS | Replacement parts for the TBM95 wah pedal1 |
The TBM95 is a legacy product and no longer in production. Dunlop continues to list TBM95-PARTS replacement parts for owners who need to service an existing pedal1.
At launch, Premier Guitar's press release gave the pedal a street price of $129.99 and an MSRP of $185.703. MusicRadar and GuitarPlayer both reported the $129.99 preorder price at Sweetwater59.
Where it sits among signature Cry Babies
The TBM95 is one of many artist Cry Babies in Dunlop's catalog, alongside models for players such as Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Bonamassa and Slash. What distinguishes it from most of them is that its circuit is unmodified: where some signature wahs add controls, different inductors or voiced sweeps, the Tom Morello model is a straight GCB95 circuit in a custom finish415. A player who wants that sound today can still get it from the current Cry Baby Standard; the TBM95's appeal was its finish and its limited run.
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Questions
Is the Dunlop Tom Morello Cry Baby still in production?
No. Dunlop lists the Tom Morello Cry Baby Wah as a legacy product that is no longer in production. It was announced in September 2020 as a limited edition and was available to pre-order at launch, but it has since been discontinued.
What is the model number of the Tom Morello Cry Baby?
The model number is TBM95. Dunlop also lists a replacement parts entry for the pedal under the code TBM95-PARTS, covering replacement parts for the TBM95 wah pedal.
What is the Tom Morello Cry Baby based on?
It is based on the Dunlop GCB95 Cry Baby. Dunlop says it features the aggressive, modern sound of the GCB95, the exact pedal Tom Morello has used on every album and every tour throughout his career, and MusicRadar reported that it houses an identical circuit to his early-'80s GCB95.
How much did the Tom Morello Cry Baby cost at launch?
At launch in September 2020 it carried an MSRP of $185.70, with a street price of $129.99. Sweetwater listed it for preorder at $129.99 before it reached stores.
What does the custom finish on the Tom Morello wah say?
The pedal wears a custom finish bearing quotations chosen by Tom Morello himself, which Dunlop says highlight the battle for justice that he has dedicated his career to. MusicRadar described the pedal as a bright red Cry Baby with a red star on the rubber foot-grip.
Was the Tom Morello Cry Baby a limited edition?
Yes. Guitar.com, MusicRadar, Premier Guitar and Gearnews all described it as a limited edition when Dunlop announced it in September 2020. It is no longer in production.
Sources (9)
- TOM MORELLO CRY BABY® WAH, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- MXR® TOM MORELLO POWER 50™ OVERDRIVE, Jim Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
- New Dunlop Tom Morello Cry Baby Wah & MXR FOD Drive, Premier Guitar, 2020-09-21
- Dunlop announces limited edition Tom Morello Cry Baby Wah, Guitar.com, 2020-09-16
- Dunlop unveils the Tom Morello signature wah, MusicRadar, 2020-09-17
- Evolution of the Cry Baby Wah at Dunlop, Dunlop (lifestyle.jimdunlop.com), 2017-04-27
- Artists - Tom Morello - Dunlop, Jim Dunlop (www.jimdunlop.com)
- Dunlop releases limited-edition Tom Morello Cry Baby Wah, gearnews.com, 2020-09-16
- Dunlop Unveils New Tom Morello Cry Baby Wah Pedal, GuitarPlayer, 2020-09-17
Tom Morello
