The Angel Honker Overdrive is a GUP Tech pedal that the maker describes as "a hot rodded tribute to the old Marshall Blues Breaker"1. It is a low-gain, transparent overdrive: GUP Tech says it is "a precise tone shaping tool and didn't have a lot of gain," a "really transparent OD" that works best with an amp that is already breaking up, and that it also stacks well with other overdrives or boosts for extra crunch1. All GUP Tech pedals, this one included, are made by the builder in Saguenay, Québec, Canada1.
The circuit: Blues Breaker roots and the Morning Glory mod
The Angel Honker follows the Marshall Blues Breaker, the circuit behind one family of low-gain transparent overdrives. GUP Tech calls its version "our take on the old Marshall Blues Breaker"2. The JHS Morning Glory, which Guitar Pedal X describes as "a Blues Breaker Style Overdrive," comes from the same lineage3.
On top of that base circuit, GUP Tech includes the JHS Morning Glory mod, which the maker says adds "some volume to the output"1. In its own words, the result is a pedal "based on the BluesBreaker, with a little bit more Volume (thanks to the morning glory mod)"4. For a player, that means more available level than a stock Blues Breaker-style build, useful for pushing the front of an amp harder.
Controls and how to set it
The pedal keeps the control set simple: Volume and Gain knobs, plus a Hard and Soft Clip switch and an internal Presence trim pot1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level; GUP Tech suggests starting at max |
| Gain | Drive amount; GUP Tech suggests starting at noon |
| Hard and Soft Clip switch | Center: boost with no clipping; top: LED clipping; bottom: diode clipping1 |
| Presence trim pot (internal) | Adds extra treble if needed; shipped set at noon1 |
The three-position clip switch is the most flexible control. In the center position the pedal acts as a clean boost with no clipping at all, while the top and bottom positions give two different clipped voices, LED clipping in one and diode clipping in the other1. GUP Tech's suggested starting point: "Start with volume at max and gain at noon, then move around the gain knob to find where it suits your needs"1.
Power
The Angel Honker runs on 9V DC, center negative, with a power consumption of 5mA1. GUP Tech notes that 18V DC "would not hurt," so higher-voltage supplies are an option for players who want more headroom1. The 5mA draw is light enough that the pedal is easy to fit on a shared power supply.
Editions and colors
The standard Angel Honker Overdrive is offered in Blue and Pink finishes1. GUP Tech also sells several alternate editions built around the same idea:
- Angel Honker Douche Edition: the same hot-rodded Blues Breaker tribute circuit, with the Morning Glory volume mod and the Hard and Soft Clip switch, available in Silver or Gold. GUP Tech's page for it says "This ain't a beginners Overdrive." It shares the same power spec: 9V DC center negative, 5mA5.
- Angel Honker Gold Rush Edition: "Exactly the same circuit as the original GUPtech Angel Honker, in a unique Gold box," now sold out6.
The Douche Edition name appears on an alternate-finish version of an existing circuit, available in Silver or Gold color, so a player comparing listings should treat it as a finish variant rather than a different pedal5.
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Questions
What circuit is the GUP Tech Angel Honker based on?
It is a hot-rodded tribute to the old Marshall Blues Breaker, the low-gain overdrive circuit that JHS's Morning Glory is also based on. GUP Tech adds the JHS Morning Glory mod, which adds some volume to the output compared with a stock Blues Breaker build.
What does the Hard and Soft Clip switch do?
It selects the clipping character. In the center position you get the boost feature with no clipping at all, in the top position LED clipping, and in the bottom position diode clipping. That gives you a clean boost plus two different clipped voices from one switch.
Where is the GUP Tech Angel Honker made?
All GUP Tech pedals, including every edition of the Angel Honker, are made by the builder in Saguenay, Québec, Canada. The company sells its pedals directly through its own website.
What does the internal Presence trim pot do?
It is an internal trimmer that adds extra treble if you find the pedal too dark for your rig. GUP Tech ships every Angel Honker with the Presence trim pot set at noon, so it is a starting point you can adjust inside the enclosure.
What is the Douche Edition of the Angel Honker?
It is a version of the same Blues Breaker tribute circuit, including the Morning Glory volume mod and the Hard and Soft Clip switch, offered in Silver or Gold finishes. GUP Tech uses the Douche Edition name across its range for alternate-finish versions of its pedals.
Sources (6)
- Angel Honker Overdrive (Blues Breaker Tribute), GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
- Angel Chiou Boost-Overdrive, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-02-02
- Angel Reaper, GUPtech
- Angel Honker, GUP Tech
- Angel Honker, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
