The Electro-Harmonix Crying Bass is a wah and fuzz pedal designed specifically for bass guitar, part of Electro-Harmonix's Next Step Effects line1. It is based on the circuit of the Crying Tone, the company's motion-sensor wah with no treadle and no moving parts, and adds a fuzz circuit and a low-pass filter tuned to keep a bass player's low end intact2. Electro-Harmonix discontinued it in 20201.
A wah made for bass
The Crying Bass was announced in October 2013 as a wah designed specifically for bass guitarists, built on the Crying Tone wah circuit2. Where a standard wah sweeps a filter with a rocking treadle, the Next Step design has no moving parts at all: the pedal is engaged by tilting it, and the wah is controlled by rocking the whole unit with your foot. Electro-Harmonix pitched this as a design with nothing to wear out or break2.
Because a wah's swept filter can thin out a bass signal, the Crying Bass adds a specially tuned resonance intended to enhance the wah effect across the entire harmonic spectrum of the bass guitar2. Electro-Harmonix describes the result as going "from smooth funk to rude growl without losing any bottom"1.
Premier Guitar's 2021 review found the wah voice itself convincing, particularly at moderate tempos: the reviewer wrote that "if it's Shaft-style wacka-wacka wah effects you crave, this pedal serves up a pretty juicy version of that particular delicacy," and that it was tastiest at slower speeds, where it produced a phaser-like swirl3. The same review flagged the flip side of the motion-sensor design: small movements, like those from an undulating stage surface, can affect the effect in unexpected ways, and the sweep sensitivity requires cautious control with your foot3.
The controls: fuzz and a fixed low-pass filter
Alongside the wah, the Crying Bass carries two controls on the side of the pedal32.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fuzz knob | Dials up a fuzz effect that can be kicked on and left stationary3 |
| LPF control | Sets the amount of a low-pass filter fixed at 194 Hz; cranking it creates a bass boost and preserves low-end presence23 |
The fuzz is a full circuit in its own right. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that dialing up the fuzz knob, kicking it on and leaving it stationary made "a pretty sick-sounding little fuzz box," though the same reviewer cautioned that "those looking for a kick-ass bass fuzz might do better elsewhere in the massive line of effects from EHX"3. In other words, the fuzz is a strong bonus rather than the pedal's main event.
The low-pass filter is the piece aimed squarely at bass. Fixed at 194 Hz, it can be cranked to create a bass boost, and Premier Guitar's reviewer concluded that "the low-pass filter definitely does the trick in helping preserve a low-end presence when using the effect"3. For a bass player who has lost low end to a wah before, that is the control that matters most.
On value, the reviewer was direct: "On its own, the pedal's wah has a depth of expression that makes the pedal's modest price a total bargain," with the fuzz and low-pass filter together making it an exceptional value at its $98.25 street price3.
From the Crying Tone circuit to the Next Step line
The Crying Bass is a bass-specific member of Electro-Harmonix's Next Step Effects, a series introduced in 2012 with the Crying Tone wah12. The Crying Tone was the first of the line: a wah wah pedal with no treadle, using a motion sensor to read the tilt of the pedal, and it shipped from June 20124. Like the Crying Bass, it ran on a 9V battery, with the option of an external power supply5.
The Next Step design drew attention for its build as much as its concept. MusicRadar reported on a demonstration of the Crying Tone's rock-solid construction involving a car and a strong throwing arm, and the pedal survived6. Guitar World's reviewer called the Crying Tone "unlike any other wah you've ever played," a whole lot of fun to rock with your foot, though one that takes some finesse to control5. Vintage Guitar noted its instantaneous switching from bypass to effect7.
The Crying Bass brought that design to bass players in 2013, and it stayed in the line until 202012. Players looking for a current Electro-Harmonix wah have alternatives in the Wailer Wah and the Wailer Wah Pro, and the filter-plus-fuzz idea carried on in pedals like the Cock Fight and Cock Fight Plus, which put a foot-controlled filter and fuzz in a more traditional wah enclosure.
The Crying Bass is discontinued, so it is available only on the used market. It uses buffered-bypass switching rather than true bypass, and it runs on the included 9V battery or an optional 9V supply, so there is no special power requirement to plan around13.
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Questions
Does the Electro-Harmonix Crying Bass take a battery?
Yes. The pedal ships with a 9V battery included, and it can also be powered by an optional 9V power supply. Premier Guitar's review describes it as powered by either a 9V battery or a Boss-style AC adapter, so a standard adapter works if you would rather not rely on the battery.
Is the Crying Bass true bypass?
No. Premier Guitar's review reports that the Crying Bass uses buffered-bypass switching rather than true bypass. A buffer keeps the signal consistent through the pedal when it is off, which some players prefer on longer cable runs, though it is not the same as a hard-wired true bypass.
Is the Electro-Harmonix Crying Bass discontinued?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix marks the Crying Bass as discontinued in 2020 on its product page. It was introduced in 2013 with a U.S. list price of $129.36, and Premier Guitar's 2021 review listed it at a street price of $98.25, but it is no longer in production.
Does the Crying Bass have a fuzz?
Yes. A fuzz knob on the side of the pedal dials in a fuzz effect alongside the wah. Premier Guitar's reviewer found it a good-sounding standalone fuzz box, though players chasing a dedicated bass fuzz might prefer other pedals in the Electro-Harmonix line.
Can a guitarist use the Crying Bass?
The pedal was designed specifically for bass, with a specially tuned resonance meant to enhance the wah effect across the bass guitar's harmonic spectrum, and a low-pass filter fixed at 194 Hz to preserve low end. Nothing in the design prevents a guitarist from using it, but its voicing is aimed at bass frequencies.
Sources (7)
- Next Step Crying Bass, Electro-Harmonix
- Electro-Harmonix Introduces the Crying Bass, Premier Guitar, 2013-10-21
- Electro-Harmonix Crying Bass Review, Premier Guitar, 2014-09-01
- New Crying Tone Wah Pedal by Electro-Harmonix, Premier Guitar, 2012-06-13
- Footloose: Electro-Harmonix Crying Tone Wah, Guitar World, 2012-09-10
- VIDEO: Electro-Harmonix wah tested to destruction, MusicRadar, 2012-08-16
- Electro-Harmonix Intros Crying Tone, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2012-05-10
