The Gecko Pedals O-Face is an overdrive pedal with a twist: each of its three control knobs, Gain, Tone and Volume, can be set to modulate itself. With a button push, any of the three controls can be made to oscillate automatically, as if a hand were physically turning the knob back and forth around the point where you set it1. At its core it is an overdrive, but the modulation turns it into several pedals at once: Pedal of the Day describes it as "combining a tremolo, a tone-vibrato, a pulsed gain, and a killer-sounding original overdrive"1.
What it does: overdrive with self-turning knobs
The core of the O-Face is a high-output analog overdrive, but on top of that Gecko Pedals added what both Delicious Audio and Pedal of the Day describe as an industry first: independent optical knob modulation on each of the overdrive control knobs21. Each of the three controls, Gain, Tone and Volume, has a modulation feature that can be enabled to make it oscillate automatically, sounding as if the knob were being physically turned back and forth from its set-point2.
What that means in practice depends on which knob you modulate:
- Volume modulation pulses the output level, which is what a tremolo does.
- Tone modulation sweeps the frequency response, giving what Pedal of the Day calls a tone-vibrato effect1.
- Gain modulation pulses the drive amount, moving between clean and driven in a rhythm.
Delicious Audio notes the pedal can be used in a variety of ways, "from pure overdrive, to clean or driven tremolo, all the way to pure sonic experimentation"2. Pedal of the Day's reviewer summed it up as "the O-Face is like having four pedals in one"1.
The 4-stage analog drive circuit
The drive side is a 100% analog 4-stage overdrive circuit2. Both Delicious Audio and Pedal of the Day describe it as a high-output design, with Delicious Audio calling it "a fantastic sounding 100% analog high-output drive circuit"2. Clipping comes from a unique soft-clipping diode configuration, chosen to achieve both high output and a soft clipping knee for a tube-like sound2.
The modulation side works optically. Pedal of the Day explains the technique as similar to the legendary Uni-Vibe pedals, which used an LFO-driven incandescent bulb shining onto photo-sensitive resistors to achieve their sweep1. The O-Face uses the same principle but with LEDs rather than a bulb, which the reviewer notes "will never burn out"1.
Knob modulation: speed, depth, shape and phase
Each modulation has its own independently configurable speed, depth, waveform shape and phase21. That means the Gain, Tone and Volume modulations do not have to move together: you can set the volume pulse fast and deep while the tone sweep runs slow and shallow, or run them at different phases so the effects interleave rather than land on the same beat.
The pedal also carries tap tempo, presets and MIDI, which Pedal of the Day lists among the features that make it an option-filled unit1. It is fully MIDI controllable through a compact 1/8" mini-jack MIDI interface, with both MIDI input and output jacks2, and Guitar Pedal X notes the mini MIDI in and out sit on the rear of the pedal3. Three programmable presets can be recalled through the hardware, and up to 12 through the MIDI interface2.
Build, size and power
Everything is hand-crafted in small batches in Eugene, Oregon, USA, with circuit board assembly, machining, powder coating, screen printing, assembly and testing all done in-house, and each unit individually hand-numbered2. The enclosure is a genuine Hammond Manufacturing all-metal box, powder coated with epoxy ink printed artwork2.
A power supply is not included with the O-Face. It runs on a 9V supply, and Gecko Pedals sells a dedicated 9V power supply separately2.
Videos
AndyDemos
Jack Fossett Guitar
Pedal of the Day
Questions
How many presets does the Gecko O-Face hold?
Three programmable presets can be recalled directly from the pedal's hardware, and up to 12 can be stored and recalled through the MIDI interface. The pedal is fully MIDI controllable through its 1/8 inch mini-jack MIDI input and output.
Is the Gecko O-Face analog?
Yes. The drive circuit is a 100% analog 4-stage overdrive with a soft-clipping diode configuration chosen for a tube-like clipping knee. The modulation side uses LFO-driven LEDs shining onto photo-sensitive resistors, a technique similar to the Uni-Vibe but with LEDs instead of an incandescent bulb.
Can the O-Face be used as a tremolo?
Yes. Reviewers describe it as usable from pure overdrive to clean or driven tremolo, because the Volume knob can be set to oscillate automatically, which pulses the output like a tremolo. Modulating Tone gives a tone-vibrato effect and modulating Gain gives pulsed gain.
Does the O-Face come with a power supply?
No, a power supply is not included. It runs on a 9V supply, and Gecko Pedals sells a dedicated 9V power supply separately.
Where are Gecko Pedals made?
Every unit is hand-crafted in small batches in Eugene, Oregon, USA. Circuit board assembly, machining, powder coating, screen printing, assembly and testing are all done in-house, and each unit is individually hand-numbered.
What size is the Gecko O-Face?
The enclosure measures 3.75 inches wide by 4.72 inches deep by 3.5 inches high (94 mm by 127 mm by 62 mm). It weighs 14 oz (400 g) without the box and 18 oz (512 g) with it.
Sources (3)
- Gecko Pedals O-Face Modulated Overdrive, Pedal of the Day, 2023-11-22
- Gecko Pedals O-Face, Delicious Audio, 2024-01-04
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-12-16