DVP5 Volume (X) 8

116
GUITARIST JULY 2021
Dunlop pedals
Two ’board-friendly treadle pedals designed alongside Pedaltrain
MANUFACTURER
DUNLOP
MODEL
CBJ95 CRY BABY JUNIOR & DVP5 VOLUME (X) 8
CONTACT
WESTSIDE DISTRIBUTION 0844 326 2000
WWW.JIMDUNLOP.COM
PRICE
£119 EACH
PEDALBOARD
Words Trevor Curwen Photography Olly Curtis
F
ull-sized treadle pedals such as an original Cry Baby
can take up a lot of space on your ’board, but then again
some compact versions are sometimes a bit too small.
Somewhere between those two extremes sits this new pair
from Dunlop, designed in collaboration with Pedaltrain and
crafted to fit perfectly with its Metro and other popular ranges
of pedalboards, but also totally suited to anyone who wishes to
optimise their underfoot space. At just 20cm (eight inches) in
length, these are indeed compact, and while they might still have
a similar width to a standard Cry Baby, the implementation of
front- rather than side-mounted socketry saves on that crucial
left/right space.
ROUND-UP
DVP5 Volume (X) 8 £119CBJ95 Cry Baby Junior Wah £119
T
he X8 offers Volume mode control alongside Expression
mode parameter tweaks. While there’s provision to
tighten or loosen things up with an Allen key, the smooth
treadle action courtesy of Dunlop’s patented Low Friction Band-
Drive feels just right and will sit exactly where you leave it. A
curved rear end to the chassis and a complementary recess on the
treadle delivers a wide range of travel, so there’s plenty of scope for
subtlety in your volume or parameter changes.
As a volume pedal, it works well for instant muting, rolling things
back to clean up a dirty amp or swelling to a violin-like attack for
your note. There’s a separate jack to connect your tuner, so you keep
that clear of the main signal chain, plus you can tune silently with a
heel-down treadle position. Expression use requires a TRS cable,
and you can set the maximum and minimum values by the usual
method of setting the toe value then the heel. However, there’s also
an internal pot (accessed via the four-screw baseplate) that can set
the minimum value. An internal polarity switch lets you reverse the
heel/toe action for maximum value at the heel-down position.
T
his dinky version of the popular wah will save you about
5cm (two inches) in its footprint, but it still feels right as
there remains plenty of space to plant your size nines and
you really won’t miss that extra length. The front end of the treadle
moves vertically the same distance as its larger sibling, so the
nuances of controlling the sweep are still intact. Switching/bypass
is by the tried-and-tested switch under the toe, and a bright white
LED at the rear end lets you know when the pedal is active.
Tonally, you get three voicing options courtesy of a three-way
switch on the side of the pedal. The H setting offers the sound of a
modern Cry Baby such as the GCB95. It has a wide frequency range
with more top-end at the toe-down position than the others. The
M setting is more in keeping with a vintage wah sound, focusing on
the midrange with a less of that aggressive treble bite. The L setting
delivers a darker experience with coverage slightly lower down
the frequency range, with an expressive vocal quality. The three
add a real versatility to what was always going to be a practical
package anyway.
VERDICT We’re talking serious utility with this diminutive charmer –
it’s a shoo-in for any ’board!
VERDICT All the functionality of a well-sorted Cry Baby in a very
practical footprint for pedalboards
CBJ95 Cry Baby Junior Wah
£119
front- rather than side-mounted socketry saves on that crucial
left/right space.
DUNLOP DUNLOP
GIT473.peds_dunlop.indd 116GIT473.peds_dunlop.indd 116 11/05/2021 20:3311/05/2021 20:33