The BROctopus is an octave pedal from GUP Tech built around the Green Ringer circuit, a design Coda Effects has described as "a small, but efficient analog octaver circuit"1. What sets it apart from a plain Green Ringer clone is its switching: the pedal carries GUP Tech's PPRSS relay switching system, which lets you hold the effect on momentarily with the footswitch and have it release the moment you lift off2. It sits in the wider family of octave and pitch pedals.
What it is and where it came from
GUP Tech describes the BROctopus (Blue-Ringed Octopus) as "basically our Poulp (the Green Ringer tribute) equipped with our PPRSS system"2. The Poulp is the company's earlier Green Ringer tribute, and the BROctopus is its momentary-equipped variant: the maker says the request came from one of their fellow enthusiasts to build a Poulp with the momentary function2. The bigger 125B enclosure exists to leave space for the micro-controller that runs the relay switching2.
The Green Ringer circuit itself is a well-traveled octave-up design, described as a pseudo ring modulator effect, and it appears in other builders' takes such as the Jed's Pedals Green Ringer kit and the compact Jed's Pedals 1590a Green Ringer kit34.
Relay switching and momentary use
The PPRSS system is the BROctopus's defining feature. GUP Tech explains:
"This addition allows the user to momentary use the effects while holding the footswitch, and auto-release when you leave"
For a player, that means the octave effect can be stabbed in for a phrase or a single note and drops out the instant your foot comes off, without a second stomp2.
Power and practical details
The pedal runs on a 9Vdc center-negative supply and draws 23mA2. That is a modest draw, but it is worth knowing your supply's per-output rating before chaining it with other pedals.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Effect type | Green Ringer style octave2 |
| Switching | PPRSS relay switching, momentary capable2 |
| Enclosure | 125B2 |
| Power | 9Vdc center-negative2 |
| Current draw | 23mA2 |
| Colors | Purple, Silver2 |
| Price | £71.00 GBP (maker's listing, 2026-10-26)2 |
| Reviews | 5 reviews2 |
The BROctopus uses a 125B enclosure, larger than the 1590A-sized Poulp Douche from the same maker, to accommodate the micro-controller behind the relay switching2.
The maker lists the pedal at £71.00 GBP, as of 26 October 20262.
Videos
GUPtech
Questions
What is relay switching on the GUP Tech BROctopus?
The BROctopus uses GUP Tech's PPRSS relay switching system instead of a conventional footswitch arrangement. Holding the footswitch engages the octave effect momentarily, and it auto-releases as soon as you lift your foot. The relay switching and the micro-controller that runs it are also why the pedal uses a bigger 125B enclosure than the related Poulp.
What power supply does the BROctopus need?
GUP Tech specifies a 9Vdc center-negative supply, the standard arrangement for most pedals. The pedal draws 23mA, so it is within reach of many standard power supplies, though it is worth checking your supply's per-output current rating before adding it to a daisy chain.
Is the BROctopus the same as the Poulp?
Not quite. GUP Tech describes the BROctopus as basically its Poulp, the company's Green Ringer tribute, equipped with the PPRSS relay switching system. The BROctopus came about when a customer asked for a Poulp with a momentary function, and it uses a bigger 125B enclosure to leave space for the micro-controller.
What colors does the BROctopus come in?
GUP Tech lists the BROctopus in two colors: purple and silver.
Can I use the BROctopus momentarily while holding the footswitch?
Yes. The PPRSS relay switching lets you use the effect momentarily by holding the footswitch down, and it auto-releases when you let go. This was the whole point of the design: the BROctopus exists because a player asked GUP Tech to build a Poulp with the momentary function.
Sources (4)
- Coda Effects, Coda Effects, 2017-01
- BROctopus Green Ringer, GUP Tech
- Dan Armstrong™ Green Ringer™ Clone: Octave Kit, PCB & Schematic, General Guitar Gadgets, 2014-05-18
- Green Ringer, Jed's Pedals (jedspeds.co.uk)
