Dunlop DVP3 Volume (X)

The Dunlop DVP3 Volume (X) is a passive volume pedal that doubles as an expression pedal. You plug your guitar into it and rock the treadle to swell from silence to full volume, or connect it to any effects pedal with an expression input and use the same treadle to control that pedal's parameters by hand, or rather by foot¹. It builds on the success of Dunlop's earlier DVP1 Volume Pedal, keeping that pedal's non-slip grip rubber tread and fully adjustable rocker tension while adding expression control¹.

Because it is a passive unit, it needs no power source to operate². Dunlop positions it as the larger sibling in the line: the smaller DVP4 Mini Volume (X) "does everything that the larger DVP3 does at half the size"³.

How it works and how it is wired

The pedal has two operating modes, each with its own potentiometer value. In volume mode it uses a 250 kΩ pot for signal control through the input and output jacks; in expression mode it uses a 10 kΩ pot, with a stereo or TRS cable running from the Volume (X)'s FX jack to your effects pedal's expression jack². Guitar World's buying guide puts it simply: "With the use of a TRS cable, you can use it to control any pedal with an expression input"⁴.

There is also a tuner out jack, an independent feed for a tuner separate from the main signal path¹⁴. In volume mode, the output signal is muted when the rocker pedal reaches the full heel-down position, so you can cut your sound while tuning².

Adjusting the pedal to taste

Two internal adjustments shape how the DVP3 behaves as an expression pedal. An internal push-switch reverses the function of the heel- and toe-down positions, so a pedal whose parameter you want to sweep in the opposite direction can be accommodated¹. An internal potentiometer adjusts the minimum value of the heel-down position: turn it clockwise to raise the minimum level or counterclockwise to lower it, with the factory setting fully counterclockwise²¹. The manual describes this as a 50 kΩ pot wired in series with the expression pot².

The treadle itself is adjustable too. Its torque is set by a screw beneath the heel end of the pedal¹, a feature inherited from the DVP1, whose rear-mounted tension screw adjusted sweep action stiffness⁵.

Treble response

As a passive volume pedal, the DVP3 does color the sound slightly. MusicRadar's review found that "it does cause a little treble loss compared with plugging straight into your amp, but it's no worse than any other passive volume pedal"¹. That is the trade-off for a design that draws no power, and players who find it a problem can look at a buffer pedal elsewhere in their chain.

DVP3 versus DVP1

The DVP1 was a straightforward passive volume pedal with input and output jacks plus an independent tuner feed, and a rear-mounted tension screw for the sweep action⁵. The DVP3 keeps its non-slip grip rubber tread and adjustable rocker tension, and adds the expression connection on the front¹. MusicRadar's DVP1 review called it "a pedal that combines fuss-free performance with confidence-inducing durability" but noted it was a bit pricey and lacked the minimum volume facility of the BOSS FV-500H⁵; the DVP3's internal pot addresses that gap in expression mode by setting a minimum heel-down value².

Dunlop also sells replacement electronic parts for the Volume (X) pedal, though these are aimed at qualified technicians, and the company recommends professional installation or repair for anyone without experience⁶.

What reviewers said

MusicRadar's review, by Mike Astley-Brown, covered both roles. As a volume pedal, "the Volume (X) transitions smoothly from silence to full volume," and as an expression pedal, "plugging in a TRS cable and using it as an expression pedal works perfectly with the EHX pedals we try"¹. On value, the reviewer judged that "it's not the cheapest volume/expression pedal, but it's one of the most durable," with the rock-solid aluminum construction justifying the high asking price¹.

Guitar World's expression pedal buying guide was similarly positive about the build, with the reviewer finding "the build quality of this pedal to be absolutely fantastic and it feels like it's more than capable of putting up with regular gigging"⁷. The same guide noted the pedal "plays two roles, giving you complete control over your pedalboard"⁷.

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