Two voicings: Deep and BG
The BG95's central idea is that one treadle covers two wah characters. Dunlop's own buying guide describes the pedal as offering "Two switchable voices: big, throaty growl or warm, bell-like tone."4 The Deep setting is the fuller of the two: MusicRadar's reviewer, Simon Bradley, called it "baby's bottom smooth and is perfect for very subtle 'oohs' and 'aahs'." The BG setting is slightly thinner, which he found leaves more headroom at the treble end of the sweep, and it sits close to Guy's own particular tone.2
Switching between them is done with a small kick-switch sited on the bottom right corner of the chassis, which Bradley described as small yet perfectly useable. Dunlop's manual calls it the side-mounted red kickswitch and says it selects between the two distinct wah voices.23
LEDs and indicators
Keeping track of where you are is handled by LEDs on the side of the pedal423:
- Side-mounted LEDs in blue or red show which mode, Deep or BG, is in use24
- A separate LED shows the effect's on/off status4
- Per Dunlop's manual, an illuminated blue LED indicates the effect is off, while the red LED indicates either BG or DEEP mode3
Build and finish
The chassis is finished in Buddy Guy's trademark polka dot, and Bradley judged it up to Dunlop's customary tank-like standards. The manual lists a custom Buddy Guy signature tread on the pedal's top surface alongside the polka dot paint.23 The battery cavity is accessed via a sliding and sturdy plastic lid, so the pedal can run on an internal battery.2
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review is warm on the pedal overall. Bradley's verdict on the sweep2:
"This is easily one of the most satisfying wahs we've used in terms of the range and tone of the frequency sweep."
He framed the pedal as a tool for expression, noting that Guy uses a wah to add expression to his already emotive lines and that the BG95 offers a pair of user-friendly voices to that end.2
Where it sits in the Cry Baby range
Dunlop's signature Cry Baby line runs alongside the standard Cry Baby GCB-95 and other artist models such as the Mick Ronson Cry Baby and the Iron Maiden Killers Cry Baby Wah. The BG95's two-voice approach is its distinguishing feature among them: where most signature wahs carry a single voicing, the BG95 switches between a deep, smooth sweep and a thinner, brighter one aimed at Guy's own tone.23
Videos
Pedal Sessions
ADD Yoga
Clickz4
Questions
What is the difference between the Deep and BG settings on the BG95?
The Deep setting is described by MusicRadar's reviewer as very smooth, suited to subtle 'oohs' and 'aahs'. The BG setting is slightly thinner, which leaves more headroom at the treble end of the treadle's sweep, and sits close to Buddy Guy's own tone. Dunlop describes the two voices as a big, throaty growl or a warm, bell-like tone.
How do you switch between Deep and BG on the Buddy Guy CryBaby?
A small kick-switch mounted on the bottom right corner of the chassis selects between the Deep and BG voices. Dunlop's manual calls it the side-mounted red kickswitch. Side-mounted LEDs show which mode is active, and a separate LED shows whether the effect is on or off.
What do the blue and red LEDs mean on the BG95?
The LEDs indicate which setting you are using at any time, in blue or red. According to Dunlop's manual, an illuminated blue LED indicates the effect is off, while the red LED indicates either BG or DEEP mode. A separate LED tracks the effect's on and off status.
Does the Buddy Guy CryBaby run on a battery?
Yes. MusicRadar's review notes that the battery cavity is accessed via a sliding and sturdy plastic lid, so the pedal can run on an internal battery as well as external power.
Does the BG95 have a polka dot finish?
Yes. Dunlop's manual describes a signature polka dot pattern paint job, and MusicRadar's reviewer found the chassis finished in Buddy Guy's trademark polka dot, built to what he called Dunlop's customary tank-like standards.
Sources (4)
- “There's nothing that over-washes the natural sound of the guitar and amp, Guitar World, 2024-07-23
- Jim Dunlop BG95 BuddyGuy Signature CryBaby review, MusicRadar, 2007-12-13
- Untitled-4, Jim Dunlop, 2022
- RANGE OF EXPRESSION: FIND YOUR CRY BABY® WAH, Dunlop (lifestyle.jimdunlop.com), 2021-10-08
Eric Gales
