The Arbiter Cry Baby wah pedal, introduced in the late 1960s, is a lesser-known but significant variation of the iconic Cry Baby wah. Produced by Dallas Arbiter, this model was part of the early wave of wah pedals inspired by the original Vox Clyde McCoy and Thomas Organ Cry Baby designs. Like its contemporaries, the Arbiter Cry Baby featured a band-pass filter circuit controlled by a foot pedal, creating the expressive "wah" effect. It used similar components to other Cry Baby models of the time, including inductors that contributed to its warm and vocal-like tone. Though it never achieved the widespread recognition of Vox or Dunlop versions, it remains a sought-after piece of vintage gear for collectors and tone purists.
Specific players associated with the Arbiter Cry Baby are not well-documented, but its design aligns with the preferences of guitarists in rock and funk genres during the late 1960s and 1970s. Artists who popularized similar wah pedals include:
The Arbiter Cry Baby's simple controls allow for versatile applications:
The Arbiter Cry Baby remains a rare and collectible piece of wah pedal history. While it did not achieve the same fame as Vox or Dunlop versions, its vintage components and unique tonal characteristics make it a prized item among enthusiasts. Its influence is part of the broader legacy of early wah pedals that shaped rock, funk, and blues music.