Jim Dunlop has expanded its iconic Cry Baby wah pedal lineup with a new signature model dedicated to the late Mick Ronson. To ensure authenticity, the company enlisted the help of legendary producer Bob Rock, a close friend of Ronson and owner of the guitarist’s original Italian-made wah.
Mick Ronson Signature Cry Baby
Ronson, renowned for his pioneering use of the wah as a filter, popularized the “cocked wah” technique, where the pedal is engaged and left in a fixed position, shaping the overall tone. This approach, crucial to his work with David Bowie and others, has become a staple for guitarists like Michael Schenker.
“Cocked Wah” – Ronno Tone?
Dunlop’s engineers meticulously reverse-engineered his original pedal to capture the essence of Ronson’s unique sound. “We created a custom inductor that replicates the higher frequency response and subtler peak of the original,” says Dunlop. “The result is a bright, clear sound with musically smooth peaks.”
Bob Rock Cry Baby
The Mick Ronson Cry Baby maintains the classic Cry Baby design, featuring no bells and whistles. It’s all about finding the sweet spot and leaving it there, or alternatively, rocking it back and forth for more expressive playing.
“You place the wah, and leave it there, and that’s the tone,” says Rock. “It’s all over every record he ever made, and I’ve used it on every record since I got it. Dunlop’s engineers spent the time and sent me the prototypes, and we nailed that sound.”
Price & Availability
The Mick Ronson Cry Baby boasts period-accurate low-gain transistors and meticulous component selection to replicate the original’s EQ curve. It will be available in April for £249.
For more information, visit the Jim Dunlop website.
More Information
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