The GUP Tech PHNX Overdrive is a compact overdrive pedal built around the 4558 op-amp chip, the same basic circuit family as the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Boss SD-1 and the Lightspeed OD. GUP Tech describes it as "a light OD perfect to give some crunch to a breaking-up amp or to give some volume/punch to your solos," which places it in the transparent, low-to-mid-gain end of the overdrive field rather than among high-gain pedals1.
Controls
The pedal keeps things deliberately simple, with three knobs and nothing else. GUP Tech sums it up as "Simple triple controls with Drive (Asymmetric clipping), Volume and Tone"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive | Sets the amount of overdrive, using asymmetric clipping2 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble response of the overdriven signal1 |
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level1 |
That three-knob layout is the classic arrangement for a 4558 overdrive, and it means the PHNX behaves much like the pedals it is related to: Drive sets how hard the circuit clips, Volume sets how loud it pushes the amp, and Tone trims the top end. For players weighing it against the better-known names in that family, the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer comparison covers the two circuits GUP Tech names alongside it.
Power and current draw
The PHNX runs from a 9Vdc center negative supply, the standard for compact pedals, and draws 5mA1. That is a very light load, small enough that it will not strain any output of a typical pedalboard power supply.
Versions and availability
GUP Tech lists the PHNX in different color options, with Gold and Orange shown on the Douche edition page and Red and Orange on the standard page12. A Douche edition of the pedal was announced on September 2, 2024, joining GUP Tech's line of sparkling limited-run versions of its circuits1.
On price, the Douche edition page lists the pedal at £99.00 GBP1. GUP Tech also ran a 5-year warranty promotion valid from July 30, 2024 to August 5, 2024 (Eastern time)2.
GUP Tech ran a 5-Year promotion week 1 on the PHNX Overdrive, valid from July 30 to August 5, 2024 (Eastern time)2.
Who uses it
GUP Tech's page quotes Matthew Jumpsen, whose rig keeps the pedal on most of the time: "It's on most of the time in my rig and just makes things sound sweeter."2
Videos
GUPtech
GUPtech
GUPtech
Sources (2)
- Douche Edition, guptech.ca, 2024-09-02
- PHNX Overdrive, GUP Tech (guptech.ca), 2024-07-30
