The GUP Tech Holy Phoque is a fuzz and boost pedal from the Canadian maker GUP Tech, described by the company as "a fuzzy-octav-ish boost to make you cut thru any mix."1 GUP Tech frames it simply: "Think of the Holy Phoque as a fuzzy Boost."1 The maker says you'll hear "a buzzy and wild fuzzy tone, with less bass than your original signal, overloading all your other active pedals and creating a laser beam of signal to cut thru the mix."1 In other words, it is not a full-range fuzz: trimming the bass is part of the design, and the pedal is meant to sit in front of other drive pedals and push them harder.
Controls
The Holy Phoque keeps its panel small: three knobs and one toggle switch. The Input control adjusts the bias of the input stage transistor, going from clean-ish to completely dirty-fuzz, the Limit knob controls the amount of signal going to the ground in the Germanium or LED positions, and the Output control acts like a volume knob. The three position toggle lets you select Germanium (top), no clipping (center), or LED clipping (bottom)1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Input | Adjusts the bias of the input stage transistor, going from clean-ish to completely dirty-fuzz1 |
| Limit | Controls the amount of signal going to the ground in the Germanium or LED positions; higher is more "limited" action and less headroom, lower is no limitation and more headroom1 |
| Output | Acts like a volume knob1 |
| Toggle switch | Three positions: Germanium clipping (top), no clipping (center), LED clipping (bottom)1 |
The Input knob is the dirt control, sweeping the input transistor's bias from nearly clean to full fuzz. The Limit knob shapes how hard the clipping section is driven, trading headroom against compression depending on where you set it. The toggle is the quickest way to change the pedal's character: Germanium clipping on top, no clipping in the middle, and LED clipping on the bottom.1
Using it with other pedals
GUP Tech positions the Holy Phoque as a pedal that plays well with others. The maker says you can use it "as a standalone unit or with any of your favorite distortion/fuzz/preamp to create a magical (holy" combination.1 Because its stated job is overloading other active pedals, it can sit before a distortion, fuzz or preamp pedal and drive it, or work on its own as a boosted fuzz. For other ways to push an amp or a drive pedal, see Boost Pedals, and for the wider family, see Fuzz Pedals.
The Phoque family
The Holy Phoque is a variant of GUP Tech's Phoque circuit: the maker's page says "Our Phoque is back, this time in another Fuzzy pedal, the Holy Phoque."1 The family also includes the Phoque Face Fuzz, which the maker describes as "a pure classic fuzz tone"123, and the Douche Edition Phoque Face Fuzz, which uses PNP Germanium transistors with internal and external bias and a clean blend3. The maker calls that Douche edition "the GUP Tech modern version of the SunFace/Fuzz Face."3 The Holy Phoque takes the Phoque idea in a different direction, adding the boost-oriented, bass-trimmed voicing and the clipping toggle.
Power and practical notes
The Holy Phoque runs on 9 Vdc center negative, the standard pedal supply, and draws 1 mA.1 That is a very small draw, so it is an easy addition to almost any powered board.
The maker's page lists the price in pounds sterling, £71.00 GBP, as of 26 October 2026.1
Videos
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Questions
What does the three-position toggle on the Holy Phoque do?
It selects the clipping section of the circuit. The top position engages Germanium clipping, the center position removes clipping entirely, and the bottom position engages LED clipping. Each position changes how the fuzz compresses and distorts, so the toggle is the fastest way to reshape the pedal's character without touching a knob.
What does the Limit knob do on the GUP Tech Holy Phoque?
The Limit knob controls how much signal is sent to ground in the Germanium or LED clipping positions. Turning it higher gives more limited action and less headroom, while turning it lower removes the limitation and gives more headroom. The Output control next to it works like a volume knob.
Can the Holy Phoque be used with other fuzz or distortion pedals?
Yes. GUP Tech says you can use the pedal as a standalone unit or with any of your favorite distortion, fuzz or preamp pedals to create what the maker calls a magical combination. Its stated role is overloading other active pedals and cutting through a mix.
What power supply does the Holy Phoque need?
The Holy Phoque runs on 9 Vdc with a center negative plug, the standard pedal supply. GUP Tech lists power consumption at 1 mA, so it places very little demand on a shared supply or daisy chain.
What colors does the Holy Phoque come in?
The maker's product page lists two color options: White and Silver.
Where is the GUP Tech Holy Phoque made?
GUP Tech builds the Holy Phoque at its shop in Saguenay, Québec, Canada. The maker states that all of its pedals are made by the company there.
Sources (3)
- Holy Phoque Fuzz Boost, guptech.ca
- Douche Edition PhoqueR, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
- Douche Edition Phoque Face Fuzz, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
