The GUP Tech Galak-C is an optical compressor pedal for guitar, bass or any instrument. The maker describes it as a large headroom, studio grade compressor, and as "a very quiet compressor with a very useful 'Tone' control" that shapes the tone of the compressed signal1. It sits in the compressor pedal family, where an optical design uses a light-dependent element to duck the signal rather than a voltage-controlled amplifier.
Where it came from
The Galak-C replaced the original SQWZR in GUP Tech's lineup in January 2026. The SQWZR had been part of the range since almost the company's beginning, and GUP Tech says the Galak-C is "the same circuit, in a new enclosure design"1. Players who knew the SQWZR are therefore getting the same compression in a different box.
Power and what to watch for
The power requirement is the one thing a new owner needs to get right:
- Voltage: 9Vdc only. GUP Tech warns that "anything higher will blow some capacitors"1.
- Current draw: 13mA1.
Power the Galak-C only from a standard 9V supply. At 13mA it is light on current, so it will sit comfortably on a shared daisy chain with other pedals.
Douche Edition
The Galak-C is listed by GUP Tech as in stock, priced at £77.00 GBP1. GUP Tech describes it as "a very quiet compressor with a very useful \"Tone\" control," and the pedals are made by the company in Saguenay, Québec, Canada1.
News
Sources (1)
- Galak-C - Optical Compressor, GUP Tech (guptech.ca), 2026-01
