Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q vs Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95
The 535Q wins for players who want to customise their wah character and compensate for the volume drop with the built-in boost. The standard GCB95 wins for players who want classic simplicity and the most affordable Cry Baby.
Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q
The professional multi-purpose Cry Baby — six selectable Q settings, a built-in boost (+6dB), and adjustable Q bandwidth. The 535Q solves the standard Cry Baby's volume drop issue and adds the adjustable Q that professional players require.
Players who need more control over their wah character — particularly metal players who need a sharper peak and blues players who need volume compensation
Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95
The world's best-selling wah pedal — Fasel inductor, standard pot sweep, and the classic Cry Baby voicing that Jimi Hendrix, Slash, Kirk Hammett and countless others have used to define rock wah tone. The reference wah pedal.
Any player who wants the standard classic wah tone — blues, rock, metal, funk. The universal starting point for wah pedals.
Tone Character
Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q
- ✓ Six selectable Q settings for narrow to wide sweep
- ✓ Built-in boost eliminates volume drop
- ✓ Wide range of wah characters from subtle to dramatic
- ✓ Buffered bypass with active boost
- ✗ Controls are set with screwdriver — not live-adjustable
- ✗ More expensive than standard Cry Baby
- ✗ Buffered bypass (not true bypass)
Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95
- ✓ The classic wah sound used on thousands of recordings
- ✓ Durable and widely available
- ✓ Simple operation with no controls to adjust
- ✓ Huge aftermarket of mods and replacement components
- ✗ Volume drop when engaged without modification
- ✗ Pot consistency can vary between units
- ✗ No adjustable Q or boost — one sound only
When To Choose Each
Players who want adjustable Q, frequency range and boost compensation — more control over the wah character.
Players who want the classic simple Cry Baby wah at the lowest cost — plug in and play.
Final Verdict — Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q vs Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95
Best for beginners
Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q
Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q scores higher on versatility (72/100) and lower on gain (5/100) — a more forgiving starting point than Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95.
Best for metal tones
Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q
Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q leads on gain (5/100) and bass response (45/100) — the two tonal pillars of metal playing.
Best value
Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95
At £79 vs £139, Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95 delivers 43% cost savings. The tonal trade-off is meaningful.
Specification Summary
| Dunlop Cry Baby 535Q | Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £139 | £79 |
| Category | Wah | Wah |
| Gain | 5/100 | 0/100 |
| Warmth | 55/100 | 55/100 |
| Treble | 68/100 | 65/100 |
| Bass | 45/100 | 45/100 |
| Versatility | 72/100 | 50/100 |
| Best for | Players who need more control over their wah character | Any player who wants the standard classic wah tone |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Nothing inherently — it's a classic. But the inductor pot can vary in quality between units, and it lacks volume compensation.
535Q — its built-in +6dB boost prevents the volume drop common to the GCB95.
The extra controls are useful in the studio. Live, the simplicity of the GCB95 is actually appealing.
535Q — the adjustable Q lets them dial in a sharper, more aggressive vocal peak for lead work.