Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95 vs Vox V847 Wah

The Cry Baby wins for ease of control and wide sweep — lighter spring tension gives more gradual control over the effect. The V847 wins for the more vocal, nasal peak that suits Hendrix-era and funk rhythm playing.

Wah

Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95

£79

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.

Best for

Any player who wants the standard classic wah tone — blues, rock, metal, funk. The universal starting point for wah pedals.

Wah

Vox V847 Wah

£79

The Vox V847 reissues the original Thomas Organ Vox wah circuit — the inductor-based design that defined the sound of the late 1960s. Slightly different character from the Cry Baby: more vocal, less harsh in the top end, with a narrower Q.

Best for

Classic rock and blues players who want a more refined, vocal wah sound than the Cry Baby — particularly those influenced by Eric Clapton or early Hendrix

Tone Character

gain
0
0
warmth
55
58
treble
65
62
bass
45
48
versatility
50
48
Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95Vox V847 Wah

Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95

Pros
  • 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
Cons
  • Volume drop when engaged without modification
  • Pot consistency can vary between units
  • No adjustable Q or boost — one sound only

Vox V847 Wah

Pros
  • More vocal, narrower Q sweep than Cry Baby
  • Original-circuit Vox tone
  • Preferred by many blues and classic rock players
  • Reasonably priced reissue
Cons
  • Narrower Q means less dramatic wah effect for some players
  • True bypass modification recommended
  • Less aftermarket support than Cry Baby

When To Choose Each

Choose Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95

Rock and blues players who want wide, controllable sweep — the Cry Baby is the most popular wah pedal for a reason.

Choose Vox V847 Wah

Hendrix fans and funk rhythm players who want the more vocal, nasal Vox wah character.

Final Verdict — Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95 vs Vox V847 Wah

Best for beginners

Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95

Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95 scores higher on versatility (50/100) and lower on gain (0/100) — a more forgiving starting point than Vox V847 Wah.

Best for metal tones

Vox V847 Wah

Vox V847 Wah leads on gain (0/100) and bass response (48/100) — the two tonal pillars of metal playing.

Best value

Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95

At £79 vs £79, Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95 delivers 0% cost savings. The tonal trade-off is minor.

Specification Summary

Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95Vox V847 Wah
Price£79£79
CategoryWahWah
Gain0/1000/100
Warmth55/10058/100
Treble65/10062/100
Bass45/10048/100
Versatility50/10048/100
Best forAny player who wants the standard classic wah toneClassic rock and blues players who want a more refined, vocal wah sound than the Cry Baby
Key artists using Dunlop Cry Baby GCB95
Jimi HendrixSlashKirk HammettEric Clapton
Key artists using Vox V847 Wah
Jimi HendrixEric ClaptonCarlos Santana

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Frequently Asked Questions

A Vox wah — specifically the Vox V846. The V847 is its modern reissue.

Cry Baby has a slightly broader sweep; V847 has a more vocal, nasal peak that many players prefer.

Cry Baby — the spring tension is lighter and the travel is longer, giving more gradual control.

V847 — its more pronounced vocal peak suits funk rhythm playing.

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