Dunlop Crybaby Wah gcb-95 crackle

[redbagy]

Hi! I have a Dunlop Crybaby Wah GCB-95 which crackles when quickly operating the wah. It's fine when changing the frequency slowly. I tried cleaning the pot but it seems enclosed.
Any ideas where I can get a good pot replacement or maybe it could be something else?

Thanks!

[GibsonGM]

Hi Red, if you're in the US, small bear has been a great parts provider for a LONG time, great reputation:   https://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com/pots-1/

There are many more sellers around, as well, including on Ebay etc.

Forum member FSFX was good enough to post this list in PDF form a while back, I've copied it here for you:

WHERE TO GET COMPONENTS FOR BUILDING PEDALS AND SYNTHS
USA:
SmallBear: http://smallbear-electronics.mybigcommerce.com
Tayda: https://www.taydaelectronics.com
Mouser: https://www.mouser.com
Digi-Key: https://www.digikey.com
Pedal Parts Plus: http://www.pedalpartsplus.com/
Love My Switches: https://lovemyswitches.com
General Guitar Gadgets: https://store.generalguitargadgets.com/parts.html
PedalHacker: https://www.pedalhackerelectronics.com/
Newark: https://www.newark.com/
StompBox Parts: https://stompboxparts.com
Arcadia: https://www.arcadiaelectronics.com
Amplified Parts: https://www.amplifiedparts.com/
Synthcube: https://synthcube.com/
Electrosmith: https://www.electro-smith.com/
Modular Addict: https://modularaddict.com/
Syntaur: https://syntaur.com/
Arrow Electronics: https://www.arrow.com
Cabintech: https://cabintechglobal.com/
Antique Electronic Supply: https://www.tubesandmore.com/
BYOC: https://buildyourownclone.com/collections/parts-1

[CheapPedalCollector]

If you need a new pot, the Dunlop one with the 2 million cycle lifetime is a good vanilla choice.

I like the Chasetone ones myself as the sweep is more vintage. You can buy them from Kyle on Ebay.

[PRR]

> crackles when quickly operating the wah. It's fine when ....slowly.

Smells to me like a DC leak.



Notice the blocking caps C5 and C4. But also note no DC-block between C5 and the output jack? Could whatever this goes into be leaking DC at its input?

[redbagy]

@cheappedalcollector
Can you please provide links to both items? As for the pot there seems to be 2 versions.

@prrr
Now that you mention it, it's quite odd. Then again the pedal used to operate fine until recently. First thing I'm going to do is change the pot for an alternative one and check manually if the issue happens again.

Also I can't understand why the Dunlop pots are mostly $30 + shipping?

[PRR]

Plug it into a different amp or next-box and see if the crackle changes. (Much quicker and cheaper than a pot-job.)

[GibsonGM]

If it still crackles, measure for DC on the pot, too...(C5?)

[bartimaeus]

probably cheaper to swap out C4 and C5, in case they are leaking, before you swap the pot.

[CheapPedalCollector]

Yep check for leakage first, I said "if".

$30 is pretty typical for wah pot because they are now sealed and made to last a long time (pot quality has suffered really bad the last few years).

[Paul Marossy]

probably cheaper to swap out C4 and C5, in case they are leaking, before you swap the pot.

I'll second that. Kind of a weird problem to be having... I suppose it could be a defective pot but it would be the first time I've actually heard of a bad Hot Potz II (I assume is what you have?). IIRC, those are supposed to be good for a million cycles. How old/used is your wah pedal?

[redbagy]

Hi it's actually this pot so it's not the newer Hot Potz II type https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/images/jim-dunlop-cry-baby-hot-potz-ii-105q-potentiometer-p9279-12487_image.jpg - I've had the Wah for around the past 5 years.

[anotherjim]

Check the PCB for broken solder joints, particularly the DC jack and sockets. If the solder is ok, fire it up and tap the PCB components with a chopstick or similar.