The GUP Tech Mad Chiou is a double pedal that puts two of the company's boost-EQ circuits, the GrindR and the Le Chiou, in a single enclosure. GUP Tech describes the result as "a two-in-one boost unit for your high gain amp," built from "our classic GrindR and Le Chiou, both Boost-EQ pedal."1 For a player, that means one box that can push an amp with clean volume on one side while the other side shapes the frequencies going in.
The two sides
Each half of the pedal is a standalone circuit with its own job, and the two can be used together or separately.
| Side | Circuit | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Right | GrindR EQ Boost | 3-in-one based on the TC integrated preamp, 20dB of clean boost, Grind/33 EQ high pass filter engaged at the flick of a toggle12 |
| Left | Le Chiou | Bypassable 3-band EQ with a Tight knob and, in GUP Tech's words, "more volume you'll ever need"1 |
The GrindR side's high pass filter comes in two flavors, named "Grind" or the "33," so you can choose how much low end gets trimmed before the boost hits your amp.2 On the Le Chiou side, Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio explained the Tight knob's purpose: "A Tight knob cuts the lower frequencies to help your guitar stand out in a dense mix."2 Both sides' EQ sections can be bypassed, so each can run as a plain boost when the shaping is not wanted.12
Power and practical notes
The Mad Chiou runs on 9Vdc center negative and draws 61mA. GUP Tech's warning on the product page is blunt: "Anything higher will blow some stuff."1 At 61mA it is worth giving the pedal its own supply output rather than sharing one on a daisy chain with several other pedals.
The maker lists the pedal as re-stocking soon, so availability moves in batches.1
Versions and colors
The standard Mad Chiou comes in Dark Green, Green and Light Blue styles.1 There is also a Scott Bynoe artist edition, announced on 20 June 2021, which GUP Tech describes as having the "Same Boost power as our Original Mad Chiou with a Pink enclosure, Scotts signature on the side, and special design."3
Where it comes from
GUP Tech builds the Mad Chiou in Saguenay, Québec, Canada; the company states that "All of our pedals are made by us in Saguenay, Québec, Canada."1 The Mad Chiou sits in the maker's range alongside the standalone GrindR and other double pedals such as the Double Donut Douche Edition and the Mad Honker. If you are weighing boost pedals more broadly, the boost pedals page sets the Mad Chiou against the other types on the market.
Videos
Scott Bynoe
Kai Down
GUPtech
Questions
What is the difference between the GrindR and Le Chiou sides?
The right side is the GrindR EQ Boost, a 3-in-one circuit based on the TC integrated preamp with 20dB of clean boost and a Grind/33 EQ high pass filter engaged with a toggle. The left side is the Le Chiou, a boost with a bypassable 3-band EQ, a Tight knob that cuts lower frequencies, and a lot of volume on tap.
Does the GUP Tech Mad Chiou have a bypassable EQ?
Yes. The Le Chiou side carries a bypassable 3-band EQ, so you can run it as a straight boost or bring the EQ into the circuit. The GrindR side's Grind/33 high pass filter is engaged at the flick of a toggle, so that side can also run with or without the filter shaping.
What power supply does the Mad Chiou need?
GUP Tech specifies 9Vdc center negative and warns that anything higher will blow some stuff. The pedal draws 61mA, which is more than many daisy-chain outputs comfortably share, so a dedicated 9V supply output is the safe way to run it.
Where is the GUP Tech Mad Chiou made?
GUP Tech builds all of its pedals in Saguenay, Québec, Canada, and the Mad Chiou is made there as well.
What colors does the Mad Chiou come in?
The standard Mad Chiou is offered in Dark Green, Green and Light Blue styles. There is also a Scott Bynoe artist edition with a pink enclosure, Scott's signature on the side and a special design.
Sources (3)
- Mad Chiou, GUP Tech
- GUP Tech Mad Chiou Double Boost + EQ, Delicious Audio, 2022-08-02
- Mad Chiou Scott Bynoe Artist edition, GUPtech (guptech.ca)
