From Les Paul forum:
Hey, guys. Just wanted to let everyone know that I just had my pre-ordered Bonamassa Crybaby delivered today and just had a chance to put it through its paces. I've been a wah aficionado for many years and have owned dozens of various makes and models, including original Clydes, Crybabies et al and newer production models, such as one of the prototype Teese Picture Wahs and more recently the Area 51. I have to say that Dunlop has outdone itself on this one. This is, without a doubt, one of the best out-of-the-box stock new production wahs I've ever heard.
The sweep is wide without making you feel as if you're going to strain your ankle. The notes are ballsy and the pedal really TWISTS the notes boldly, as a great wah should. Now, I have a test that I put every wah through. I use a distorted tone and rock the wah all the way back, then start picking an open G while rocking the pedal very slowly forward until I hear the first "notch," that point where you hear the first change in the note. Still picking, I advance to the next notch and so on. An average wah has three notches. Plenty of those around. A good wah has four notches, and a great one five. This one has not less the SIX notches, spread evenly through the sweep and when doing some Sixties style wah playing, a la Hendrix or Clapton, the Bonamassa Crybaby just plain kills.
Now, minor complaints. The pedal is a trifle noisy in both the heel down and toe up position. Now, to be fair you only really notice this if you're not playing. In the heel down position, it almost sounds like a low frequency thrumming. In the toe up, it's the normal transistor type noise you hear in a lot of even the best vintage pedals. I'm also wondering if some of this could be the inductor itself. If it's not potted, that could be contributing to the noise. And if that is the case, I'll live with it, as I think a potted inductor would lose something. Of course, it may very well be potted and not part of the problem.
Joe, if you get a chance to chime in here, I'd love to know more about the inductor, as well as any other comments you might have.
Overall, this wah is a joy to play and I hope the pot holds up. Is this one specially made to be more of an ICAR clone? I have no idea, as I've not owned a new Dunlop wah in ages, so I have nothing to compare it with. It definitely does not resemble the old Allen Bradley Hot Pot.
I have an Area 51 and while it's very good, it doesn't sound like the JB. Part of that darkness you're hearing is how JB likes his rig. He also kind of annoys me in that the only way he uses it is to gently sweep it back and forth while hammering on a note. This wah is very expressive and begs to be played and played with. As for quack? This wah can quack--big time. It also gets that cat's meow tone that Clydes are known for, at least the good ones. As for my Area 51, I'm actually thinking of selling it.