The GUP Tech 1982 RAT Tribute Distortion is a distortion pedal built as the company's tribute to the RAT and the DRV1. GUP Tech says it "sounds very similar to a RAT," and the name comes from the birth year of the company's designer, Emilie, who was born in 19821. Every GUP Tech pedal is made by hand in Saguenay, Québec, Canada1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of drive; GUP Tech notes a creamy tone at about 6 to 81 |
| Cut | Acts like the Filter of the RAT1 |
The Cut control works together with Drive: GUP Tech says you can get a creamy tone with drive set at about 6 to 81.
Power
The 1982 runs on 9V DC center negative only, drawing 16mA, and GUP Tech is blunt about the limit: "Voltage : 9Vdc center negative ONLY. Anything higher will blow some stuffs"1. The circuit itself runs at a higher voltage internally. As the maker puts it, "Internal charge pump is converting the external 9V into 18Vdc"1, so the pedal generates its own 18V rail from a standard 9V supply.
Do not power the 1982 with anything above 9V DC center negative. The 18V the circuit uses is produced inside the pedal by a charge pump, so an 18V supply at the jack can damage it1.
History and versions
In February 2025, GUP Tech updated the 1982's design: same circuits, with an updated Vintage look1. The pedal sits in GUP Tech's range of distortion designs alongside the Pile O' RATs, another RAT-related pedal from the same maker, and other drives such as the Death By Unicorn Mini and the Torch HM-2 Clone. For the wider category, see Distortion Pedals.
The maker's product page shows 4 reviews, all positive1.
Videos
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Questions
Can I use an 18V power supply with the GUP Tech 1982?
No. The pedal takes 9V DC center negative only, and GUP Tech warns that anything higher will blow some components. The 18V the circuit runs on is generated internally: a charge pump inside the pedal converts the external 9V supply into 18Vdc, so there is no need to feed it a higher voltage from outside.
What does the Cut knob do on the 1982 RAT Tribute?
Cut acts like the Filter control on a RAT, shaping the tone as you turn it. GUP Tech also notes that with the Drive control set to about 6 to 8, you can get a creamy tone, so the two controls work together to dial in the character of the distortion.
Where is the GUP Tech 1982 made?
GUP Tech builds all of its pedals by hand in Saguenay, Québec, Canada, and the 1982 is no exception.
What colors does the GUP Tech 1982 come in?
The 1982 is offered in two colors, yellow and black, as listed on GUP Tech's product page.
Is the GUP Tech 1982 a clone of the ProCo RAT?
GUP Tech describes the 1982 as its tribute to the RAT and the DRV, and says it sounds very similar to a RAT. The name comes from the birth year of the company's designer, Emilie. It is presented as a tribute design rather than an exact copy.
Sources (1)
- 1982 RAT pedal, GUP Tech (guptech.ca), 2025-02
