The GUP Tech Blades of Steel is a triple overdrive and fuzz pedal that combines three of the maker's most popular circuits in a single enclosure. GUP Tech sums it up this way: "In other terms, this triple pedal resembles a TS-808, an OCD, and a Big Muff, into a super compact enclosure."1 It sits in the overlap between overdrive and fuzz, giving a player three gain stages that can be run separately or chained together.
The three circuits
Each section of the pedal is a version of a pedal GUP Tech already sells on its own21:
- Pumpky Overdrive, a modded OCD-style overdrive, first in the chain
- Honker Hot Rod, a TS-808-based overdrive, second
- Big Pinotte Muff Tribute, a Big Muff-based fuzz, last1
The three cover the classic gain range from mid-focused overdrive through to full fuzz, and because each has its own in and out jacks they can be patched individually or run into each other in the order the enclosure is wired for1.
Jacks and signal flow
The jack arrangement is what makes the pedal flexible. According to GUP Tech's product page, the first and second jacks are in and out for the Pumpky and Honker circuits, and the third and fourth jacks are in and out for the Big Pinotte circuit. An internal jumper between jacks 2 and 3 allows a player to enter at jack 1 and exit at jack 4, running all three circuits in series through one patch.1
Power
The Blades of Steel runs on a 9Vdc center-negative supply and draws 15mA.1 That is a light load by multi-circuit standards, so a standard pedalboard supply handles it without difficulty.
Size and versions
The enclosure measures 7.4 by 4.72 by 1.46 inches (188 by 120 by 37 mm), a large housing that holds three footswitchable circuits and four jacks.1 GUP Tech has kept the pedal in the lineup with the same name and updated graphics, "including the little Pumpky, Honker, and Pinotte!"1
There is also a Blades of Steel Triple Overdrive - Fuzz Douche Edition, a sparkling limited-edition variant with the same three circuits, the same 9Vdc center-negative 15mA power requirement, and the same enclosure dimensions.2
Where it came from
GUP Tech credits the design to one of its earliest fan ideas: a player named Stéphane, who had the company build a triple pedal with those three circuits back in 2019.1 The pedal grew out of that custom build rather than the other way around, which is why the three sections carry the names of pedals the maker already offered.
Questions
What power supply does the GUP Tech Blades of Steel need?
The Blades of Steel runs on a 9Vdc center-negative supply and draws 15mA, according to GUP Tech's product page. A standard center-negative pedal supply covers it, and the modest current draw means it sits comfortably on a shared supply with other pedals.
Which pedals is the Blades of Steel based on?
GUP Tech describes the three sections as a Pumpky Overdrive, a modded OCD-style circuit; a Honker Hot Rod, based on the TS-808; and a Big Pinotte Muff Tribute, based on the Big Muff. In the maker's words, the pedal resembles a TS-808, an OCD and a Big Muff in one enclosure.
Can the three circuits in the Blades of Steel be used separately?
Yes. The first and second jacks are in and out for the Pumpky and Honker circuits, while the third and fourth jacks are in and out for the Big Pinotte circuit. An internal jumper between jacks 2 and 3 lets you plug into jack 1 and come out of jack 4 with all three circuits in line.
How big is the GUP Tech Blades of Steel?
The enclosure measures 7.4 by 4.72 by 1.46 inches, or 188 by 120 by 37 mm, which is a large housing that holds three footswitchable circuits and their jacks.
Who came up with the Blades of Steel?
GUP Tech credits the idea to a fan named Stéphane, who had the company build a triple pedal with those three circuits back in 2019. The pedal has since been kept in the lineup with the same name and updated graphics.
Sources (2)
- Blades of Steel Triple Overdrive, guptech.ca
- Blades of Steel Triple Overdrive, GUP Tech (guptech.ca), 2019
