The GUP Tech Vej2 Preamp Overdrive is an amp-in-a-box preamp-overdrive pedal: a single stompbox that GUP Tech says "brings a complete amp feeling to your pedalboard." It combines a full EQ with three gain modes, and the maker describes it as very low noise, calling it "a must have preamp for all pedalboards." It sits in the same family as the company's other preamp-overdrives, such as the GUP Tech PHNX Overdrive, and belongs to the broader world of preamp pedals and overdrive pedals.1
The controls: full EQ and three gain modes
The Vej2's layout is built around two things: a full EQ section and a three-position gain selector. GUP Tech does not publish a control-by-control breakdown on the product page, but it does spell out what the three gain modes are on the Douche Edition version of the pedal, which shares the circuit12:
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| 0 | Full range boost |
| 1 | Tight Distortion |
| 2 | Fat Distortion Channel |
That gives the pedal a range from a clean-ish full range boost through to a fatter distortion voicing, with the EQ shaping the tone across all three.2
Power and current draw
The Vej2 runs from a standard 9Vdc supply and draws 12mA. GUP Tech states the pedal is safe at 12 to 18Vdc, but adds a caveat worth knowing before you reach for a higher voltage: "you won't get anything more at 9+VDC." In other words, the circuit does not open up extra headroom or a different character above 9 volts, so a standard 9V supply is all the pedal needs.1
The maker's own wording is that 12 to 18Vdc is "safe but you won't get anything more at 9+VDC," so there is no tonal benefit to running the Vej2 above 9 volts.1
The Douche Edition
GUP Tech also makes a Vej2 Douche Edition, the company's sparkling limited-edition treatment of the same pedal. It carries the same amp-in-a-box preamp-overdrive circuit, the same full EQ and very low noise claim, the same three gain modes, and the same power figures: 9Vdc, safe at 12 to 18Vdc, drawing 12mA. The Douche Edition naming is something GUP Tech applies across its range, including pedals like the Angel Honker - Douche Edition and the BOF Douche Edition.2
Where it is made
GUP Tech builds the Vej2 itself rather than outsourcing production. The company states: "All of our pedals are made by us in Saguenay, Québec, Canada."1
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Questions
Can the GUP Tech Vej2 run on 12V or 18V?
Yes. GUP Tech specifies 9Vdc as the standard supply, and says the pedal is safe at 12 to 18Vdc. The maker also notes that running above 9V will not get you anything more from the circuit, so there is no headroom advantage in going higher.
How much current does the GUP Tech Vej2 draw?
GUP Tech lists power consumption at 12mA, which is a light load by pedal standards and easy on any standard 9V supply or daisy chain.
What colors does the GUP Tech Vej2 come in?
The standard Vej2 is offered in Green and Black color options, according to GUP Tech's product page.
Where is the GUP Tech Vej2 made?
GUP Tech states that all of its pedals are made by the company in Saguenay, Québec, Canada, and the Vej2 is no exception.
What is the Vej2 Douche Edition?
The Douche Edition is GUP Tech's sparkling limited-edition version of the Vej2, with the same amp-in-a-box preamp-overdrive circuit, full EQ, very low noise, three gain modes and 12mA power draw as the standard version.
Sources (2)
- Vej2 - Preamp Overdrive, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
- Vej2 - Douche Edition, GUP Tech
