Thomas Organ 1970s Cry Baby Model 95-910511 "Patented" Stack of Dimes Very Good

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The Thomas Organ Cry Baby wah is one of the foundational pedal designs in electric guitar history, and this early example — the Model 95-910511 with the "Patented" cast housing — represents the circuit and construction that defined the wah sound heard on countless recordings. The Cry Baby wah produces its characteristic vowel-like sweep by using an inductor-based bandpass filter controlled by a rocker potentiometer. The TDK inductor found in this unit is a key tonal component: the so-called "stack of dimes" inductor, named for its layered disc construction, is widely regarded among wah enthusiasts as the ingredient most responsible for the vocal, musical quality of the early Cry Baby sweep. It produces a warmer, more pronounced peak than the single-slug inductors that replaced it in later production.

Thomas Organ acquired the Vox wah circuit from Jennings Musical Industries in the late 1960s and began producing the Cry Baby under their own name for the US market. The Model 95-910511 with the Chicago Patented designation and cast housing (#78-01 in this example) places this pedal in the early production run that collectors and players consistently seek out. The circuit board number 84 22865 and the TDK 5103 inductor are specific identifiers that experienced wah collectors use to date and authenticate these early units. This combination of cast housing, early board, and stack-of-dimes inductor is the configuration most associated with the vintage Cry Baby tone — the benchmark against which later production is measured.

The cast aluminum housing provides durability and mechanical stability that later stamped-steel versions do not match. The potentiometer has been updated. The TDK stack-of-dimes inductor (marked 5103) operates as a bandpass filter with a resonant peak that gives this circuit its characteristic vocal character — narrow enough to be expressive, wide enough to be musical across the sweep range. 

The pedal is in very good condition - see the pictures for details. Serial number 2040937 is visible on a label inside the pedal. 

SPECIFICATIONS

• Brand: Thomas Organ
• Model: Cry Baby 95-910511 "Patented" Stack of Dimes
• Serial Number: 2040937
• Circuit Board: 84 22865
• Housing: Cast aluminum, #78-01
• Inductor: TDK Stack of Dimes, 5103

Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:

"The stack of dimes inductor is the holy grail of wah tone — it gives that early Cry Baby its unmistakable vocal quality that players have been chasing ever since." - WorthPoint community discussion
"The cast housing on the Thomas Organ units is noticeably more solid than what came later — these were built to last." - Vintage effects forum
"The TDK inductor makes all the difference. Once you hear a real stack-of-dimes wah, it's hard to go back to anything else." - Effects collector discussion

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