The Electro-Harmonix Next Step Crying Bass is a wah pedal designed specifically for bass guitar, with a fuzz circuit built in. Electro-Harmonix classifies it as a Bass Wah / Fuzz, and the two effects work together: the maker describes a "specially tuned fuzz circuit adds extra harmonics for the wah filter to chew on," so the fuzz feeds the moving filter rather than acting as a separate stage.1
Electro-Harmonix lists the Crying Bass as DISCONTINUED 2020.1 It is no longer in production, so players looking for one are into the secondhand market.
What it does to a bass sound
Wah pedals are a hard sell for bass players, because a sweeping band-pass filter can hollow out the fundamental and leave the low end behind. Electro-Harmonix built the Crying Bass around that problem. Its fixed low-pass filter control adds bottom end to the wah effect, holding onto the fundamental while the filter sweeps above it.1 The maker sums up the character of the effect as going "From smooth funk to rude growl without losing any bottom."1 The fuzz circuit is tuned to serve the filter, adding the harmonic content that makes a wah sweep audible and aggressive on a bass signal.1
Where it came from
The Next Step family
The Next Step series shared a design approach and a power arrangement. The closest sibling for bass players is the Next Step Talking Pedal, a Vocal Formant Wah with Fuzz where you can "blend in the built-in fuzz for added growl."2 Like the Crying Bass, it was discontinued in 2020.2
| Pedal | Effect | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Next Step Crying Bass | Bass Wah / Fuzz | Discontinued 20201 |
| Next Step Talking Pedal | Vocal Formant Wah with Fuzz | Discontinued 20202 |
Power
The Crying Bass ships with a battery included, and a 9 Volt power supply is optional.1 That battery-plus-optional-supply arrangement is standard across the Next Step line, appearing on the Talking Pedal, the Expression Pedal and the Volume Pedal alike.2
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Questions
Is the Electro-Harmonix Next Step Crying Bass still made?
No. Electro-Harmonix lists the Crying Bass as discontinued in 2020 on its product page. It was part of the Next Step Effects series, several of which, including the Talking Pedal and the Expression Pedal, were also discontinued in 2020, with the Slammi following in 2023. Used units are the only way to find one now.
Does the Crying Bass come with a battery?
Yes. Electro-Harmonix states the Crying Bass ships with a battery included, and a 9 Volt power supply is optional. That arrangement is shared across the Next Step series, including the Talking Pedal, the Expression Pedal and the Volume Pedal.
Is the Crying Bass a wah, a fuzz, or both?
Both. Electro-Harmonix describes it as a Bass Wah / Fuzz: a wah pedal designed specifically for bass guitar with a specially tuned fuzz circuit that adds extra harmonics for the wah filter to chew on. The fuzz feeds the filter rather than sitting beside it as a separate effect.
Does the Crying Bass lose low end when the wah is engaged?
Low-end loss is the usual complaint about wah pedals on bass, and Electro-Harmonix addressed it directly. The Crying Bass has a fixed low-pass filter control that adds bottom end to the wah effect, and the maker describes its range as going from smooth funk to rude growl without losing any bottom.
Sources (2)
- Next Step Crying Bass, Electro-Harmonix
- Next Step Talking Pedal, Electro-Harmonix, 2020
