The Greek Speed Demon is an overdrive pedal from Crazy Tubes Circuits, created in conjunction with former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Gus G. Guitar World reported its introduction in July 2019, and the maker describes it as designed to "add clarity, punch and rich harmonics while compressing specific frequencies so the guitar sound is tight while cutting right through the mix"1. In plain terms, it is aimed at keeping a driven tone tight and defined rather than loose and fuzzy, which is the same territory players look at when comparing overdrive pedals against distortion pedals.
Controls and features
The pedal keeps things simple. Guitar World describes "a straightforward three-knob interface (volume, tone and gain)", the layout most players know from classic overdrives: gain sets how hard the circuit is driven, tone shapes the top end, and volume sets the output level1.
- Volume: sets the pedal's output level1
- Tone: shapes the treble response1
- Gain: sets the amount of drive1
Beyond the knobs, the pedal runs true bypass and uses premium audio-grade components, according to Guitar World1. True bypass matters on a pedalboard: when the Speed Demon is off, its circuit is taken out of the signal path entirely, so it will not dull the signal from a guitar with passive pickups.
The Gus G connection
The pedal is a signature collaboration. Guitar World reported that it was "created in conjunction with former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Gus G", who played with Ozzy Osbourne and fronts the band Firewind1. Crazy Tubes Circuits is itself a Greek maker, which is where the pedal's name comes from.
Limited run and availability
The Greek Speed Demon was offered in a limited run of 250 units1. Guitar World reported at the time of the announcement that the pedal "will begin shipping in December 2019"1. With a run that small, the pedal sold through long ago, and it is not part of the maker's current lineup, which has since grown with releases like the Venus, Heatseeker, Orama, Triptychon and Rapture overdrives.
The Greek Speed Demon was a limited edition of 250 units announced in 2019. It is no longer in production, so finding one means looking at the secondhand market.
What reviewers said
Coverage of the pedal at launch came from Guitar World's news report, which passed along the maker's description of the sound: clarity, punch and rich harmonics, with specific frequencies compressed so the guitar stays tight and cuts through the mix1. The report also noted that the pedal was offered in a limited run of 250 units1.
Videos
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Gus G
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Questions
Who designed the Greek Speed Demon?
The pedal was created in conjunction with Gus G, the former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist, working with the Greek pedal maker Crazy Tubes Circuits. Guitar World reported the collaboration when the pedal was introduced in July 2019, describing it as an overdrive designed to add clarity, punch and rich harmonics while keeping the guitar sound tight in a mix.
Is the Greek Speed Demon true bypass?
Yes. Guitar World lists true bypass among the pedal's features, along with premium audio-grade components. True bypass means the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path entirely when the effect is switched off, so it does not load down the signal from your guitar.
How many Greek Speed Demon pedals were made?
The pedal was offered in a limited run of 250 units, according to Guitar World's July 2019 report. Once that run sold through, no further units were produced, so the pedal now turns up only secondhand.
How much did the Greek Speed Demon cost?
At its 2019 introduction, Guitar World reported the Greek Speed Demon was available for 149 euros, or approximately $166. That was the announced price when the pedal was introduced; no later price is documented here.
Is the Greek Speed Demon still available?
No. The pedal was a limited run of 250 units, and Guitar World reported in July 2019 that shipping would begin in December 2019. As a limited-edition release it has long since sold out, so players looking for one today would need to find it used.
Sources (1)
- Crazy Tubes Circuits and Gus G Collaborate on New Greek Speed Demon Overdrive, Guitar World, 2019-07-30
Gus G
