The GUPtech 1982 Douche Edition is a distortion pedal and the maker's tribute to two circuits players know well: the ProCo RAT and the DRV. GUPtech says it "sounds very similar to a RAT," with a Cut knob that acts like the RAT's Filter control. It is built by GUPtech in Saguenay, Québec, Canada1.
The pedal is listed as sold out on GUPtech's page as of 2026-10-261.
Power and the 18V question
The 1982 Douche Edition runs from a 9Vdc center negative supply only. GUPtech is blunt about higher voltages: "Voltage : 9Vdc center negative ONLY. Anything higher will blow some stuffs." Power consumption is 16mA1.
The 18V figure some players associate with pedals like this is handled inside the pedal. As GUPtech puts it, "Internal charge pump is converting the external 9V into 18Vdc," so the internal headroom comes from the pedal itself and no 18V supply should ever be connected1.
The updated design
In February 2025 the pedal received an updated design: same circuits, with an updated Vintage look. The name comes from the maker's designer: "We named it after our designer Emilie's birth year, 1982." The current enclosure color is purple1.
The Cut knob and the RAT comparison
GUPtech describes the pedal as a tribute to the RAT and DRV, and says it sounds very similar to a RAT. The tone control follows the RAT's layout: "Cut act like the Filter of the RAT and you can get a creamy tone with drive at about 6-8"1.
If you are looking at related GUPtech distortions, the maker also builds the Pile O' RATs Douche Edition, another RAT-flavored pedal, and the Pumpky Distortion, which offers a clipping selection toggle. An overview of the wider category is on the Distortion Pedals page.
Questions
Does the GUPtech 1982 Douche Edition sound like a RAT?
GUPtech says it does: the maker describes the pedal as a tribute to the RAT and DRV, and states plainly that it sounds very similar to a RAT. The Cut knob works like the RAT's Filter control, and GUPtech notes you can get a creamy tone with drive at about 6 to 8 on that knob. As with any maker's description, treat it as the builder's own account of the pedal's character.
Can I use an 18V supply with the 1982 Douche Edition?
No. GUPtech specifies 9Vdc center negative only, and warns that anything higher will blow some stuffs. The pedal reaches its internal 18V rails on its own: an internal charge pump converts the external 9V into 18Vdc, so there is no need for an 18V supply, and using one risks damage.
Where is the GUPtech 1982 Douche Edition made?
GUPtech builds all of its pedals in Saguenay, Québec, Canada, and the 1982 Douche Edition is made there by the company itself. The pedal is currently listed as sold out on the maker's page.
What does the Cut knob do compared to the RAT's Filter?
According to GUPtech, the Cut knob acts like the Filter of the RAT. The maker suggests settings around 6 to 8 on the Cut knob for a creamy tone with drive. It is the pedal's tone-shaping control, playing the same role the Filter plays on the ProCo RAT.
Sources (1)
- 1982 RAT distortion tribute, GUPtech (guptech.ca), 2025-02
