Dunlop GCB-80 High Gain Volume Pedal

Submitted by Mason Hoberg on Jun. 1, 2020..

86

GEARANK

86 out of 100. Incorporating 225+ ratings and reviews.

Gearank Recommendation

The GCB-80 appeared on our recommended list for Guitar Volume Pedals from August 2017 until June 2020 when it was out-ranked by other volume pedals.

Although this was previously on our recommended list, there are now more highly rated options which you can see in our guide to The Best Volume Pedals for Guitar.

Overview

Right off the bat, this volume pedal actually isn’t intended for high-gain genres.

Rather, when they say high-gain it’s a designation to make it clear that it’s for guitars as opposed to keyboards. It does seem like a bit of an odd choice to give this pedal that particular designation when in reality it would be better suited to passive pickups.

With that out of the way, the Dunlop GCB-80 is incredibly reminiscent of the company’s most well-known product the Crybaby Wah. Because the designs are so similar, the unit shares both the strengths and weaknesses of the design.

Crybaby style wahs and volume pedals are known for their smooth response and taper, both of which make them incredibly well-suited to regular gigging. The design is also very durable, which is a plus if you’re going to traveling with the unit.

With that being said, Dunlop’s volume and wah pedals are known to gradually degrade under use. This is due to the pots used, though in the vast majority of cases these pedals will still last for several years. Should the pot wear out it can be replaced so long as you’re halfway handy. The repair is actually pretty simple all things considered.