The Free The Tone DVL-1L is a low-impedance volume pedal, part of the maker's Direct Volume line. Where a conventional passive volume pedal uses a potentiometer chosen to suit a guitar's pickups, the DVL-1L is built for the other side of a pedalboard: Free The Tone describes it as a low-impedance type, for use after low output impedance sources such as guitars and basses with active pickups, wireless receivers and effects1.
That placement matters in practice. A passive volume pedal with the wrong pot value can dull highs or steal level when it sits after a buffered or active source. The DVL-1L uses a 50KΩ potentiometer, a value suited to low-impedance sources, and Pedal of the Day describes it as "the Low Impedance model, and is used after a low impedance device, as often found in gui[tars with active electronics]"21. Players with passive single-coil or humbucker guitars straight into the pedal would look at the high-impedance sibling, the Free The Tone DVL-1H2.
Where it came from
Free The Tone also announced a low-impedance version of the Direct Volume, the DVL-1L. Guitar.com reported the news, quoting the company's statement that it would be "releasing a low-impedance version of the Direct Volume, the DVL-1L, at a later, but unannounced, date"3.
Price and availability
On Free The Tone's own product page, the DVL-1L is listed at 45,100 yen including tax1. The page gives the price in yen as stated; no US dollar list price is given.
The pedal was announced in December 2019 for release "at a later, but unannounced, date"3, so early coverage dates from the announcement rather than from street availability.
How it compares
Within the Direct Volume pair, the choice comes down to where the pedal sits in the signal chain:
| Model | Impedance type | Intended placement |
|---|---|---|
| DVL-1L | Low impedance (50KΩ pot) | After active-pickup guitars or basses, wireless receivers, effects units12 |
| DVL-1H | High impedance | Guitar or bass straight in2 |
Both belong to the broader family of volume pedals, where makers such as Ernie Ball, Morley, Boss and Lehle offer passive and active designs at a range of pot values.
Videos
Simon Gotthelf Music
Metropoulos Amplification
Sources (3)
- DVL-1 SERIES / DIRECT VOLUME｜Products 商品紹介｜Free The Tone, Free The Tone
- Free The Tone DVL-1H Direct Volume Pedal, Pedal of the Day, 2020-02-02
- Free The Tone rolls out the Direct Volume DVL-1H, guitar.com, 2019-12-16
