The GUP Tech Le Chiou EQ-Boost - Douche Edition is a boost pedal with a complete EQ section built in. GUP Tech describes it as "a full EQ-ed Boost with almost infinite dB and a complete EQ to shape your tone," and positions it as a tool to push an amp, shape frequencies, or tighten up a high gain rig1. The Douche Edition is the sparkling limited-edition version of the regular Le Chiou EQ-Boost, with the same circuit and controls.
The name comes from the maker's own household: "Le Chiou" is a plush belonging to the designer's 8 year old boy, a creature that is a mix between a dog (chien in French) and a bear (ours in French), giving the blended name "Chi-Ou"1.
A full EQ boost that can work as a preamp
The Le Chiou is not a simple volume booster. It pairs what GUP Tech calls "infinite volume" with a 3-band EQ, so you can push the front of an amp harder while also cutting or boosting bass, mids and treble2. The gain is rated at 23dBu at 0.1Vpp 1kHz1.
Because of that combination of level and EQ, GUP Tech says the pedal works in two roles beyond a plain boost: "Use it as a preamp or to tighten a High Gain machine"1. As a preamp, it can shape your core tone into a power amp or interface; as a tightener, the EQ lets you trim the low end that makes a high gain amp flub out. Players looking at EQ pedals and boost pedals at once will recognize the overlap: the Le Chiou covers both jobs in one box.
The controls
The Douche Edition keeps the control set of the standard Le Chiou EQ-Boost31:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Boost level, described by GUP Tech as "infinite volume"2 |
| 3-band EQ | Bass, mid and treble shaping for the boosted signal2 |
| Tight knob | Cuts lower frequency to let you cut the mix1 |
| Toggle switch | Bypasses the EQ in the upper position1 |
The Tight knob is the shaping control that sets the Le Chiou apart from a flat volume boost. GUP Tech says it "cut lower frequency to let you cut the mix"1: rolling it trims bass so the sound carves through a dense band mix rather than getting lost under the low end.
The toggle switch is a quick way to compare settings. In the upper position it bypasses the EQ entirely, leaving the pure boost, so you can dial in EQ changes and check them against the unshaped signal without touching the knobs1.
Power and setup
The Le Chiou runs on 9V DC only, center negative, drawing 22mA. GUP Tech's warning is blunt: "Anything higher will blow some stuff." Use a properly regulated 9V supply, not a higher voltage adapter1.
The pedal draws 22mA of power1.
Le Chiou and Le Gros Chiou
The Le Chiou line has a few versions. The Douche Edition shares its circuit with the standard Le Chiou EQ-Boost and the Steve Ricardo Artist edition, all with the same EQ bypass toggle and Tight knob14. For stereo use, GUP Tech points players to Le Gros Chiou, the stereo edition of the boost, sold through the maker's custom shop1.
The Le Chiou circuit also appears inside other GUP Tech pedals: the right side of the Angel Chiou boost/overdrive is the classic Le Chiou boost with its 3-band EQ2.
Where it is made
GUP Tech builds all of its pedals itself in Saguenay, Québec, Canada, including the Le Chiou EQ-Boost Douche Edition1.
Questions
What voltage does the GUP Tech Le Chiou EQ-Boost Douche Edition need?
It runs on 9V DC only, with a center negative plug. GUP Tech warns that anything higher than 9V will damage the pedal, so it should only go on a supply that matches that spec exactly.
What does the Tight knob do on the Le Chiou?
The Tight knob cuts lower frequencies so your sound sits better in the mix. Rolling it up trims the low end, which GUP Tech also suggests as a way to tighten up a high gain amplifier.
Can the Le Chiou EQ-Boost be used as a preamp?
Yes. GUP Tech describes the Le Chiou as a full EQ-ed boost with almost infinite dB and a complete EQ, and says to use it as a preamp or to tighten a high gain machine. The gain is rated at 23dBu at 0.1Vpp 1kHz.
What is the difference between Le Chiou and Le Gros Chiou?
Le Gros Chiou is the stereo edition of the Le Chiou boost. GUP Tech sells it through its custom shop, while the standard Le Chiou EQ-Boost and this Douche Edition are the regular mono versions.
Where is the GUP Tech Le Chiou made?
All GUP Tech pedals, including the Le Chiou EQ-Boost Douche Edition, are made by the company itself in Saguenay, Québec, Canada.
Sources (4)
- Le Chiou EQ-Boost, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
- Angel Chiou Boost-Overdrive, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
- Le Chiou EQ-Boost, GUPtech (guptech.ca)
- Le Chiou, GUPtech (guptech.ca)
