The GUPtech Double Donut is a distortion/overdrive pedal that packs two of the company's Donut circuits into a single 1590BB-sized enclosure. Instead of choosing between two pedals, you select the right circuit, the left circuit, or both at once, in GUPtech's words: "Two Donut circuits in the same enclosure. Select right, left, or even BOTH sides."1 The Donut itself is GUPtech's Hotcake tribute, a circuit that runs from clean boost to a solid overdrive sound, with a tone knob that adjusts the medium frequency response from no mid boost to what the maker calls a "cut-the-mix" tone.1
What it does to your sound
Each side is a Donut, GUPtech's take on the Hotcake circuit. The maker describes the range as "going from clean boost to solid OD sound," with the tone knob shaping the mids from no mid boost up to a tone that cuts through a mix.1 With two of those circuits on tap, the Double Donut covers lighter drive on one side and a heavier stacked sound when both run together.
GUPtech customer DTM described using it with a Strat, Tele, and SG through a Vox amp: "The DD sounds great through my vox amp (using my Strat, Tele, and SG)."1
Controls and power
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Circuit selection | Right side, left side, or both sides1 |
| Tone | Adjusts medium frequency response, from no mid boost to a strong mid cut1 |
| Bypass | Buffered design1 |
| Voltage | 9Vdc, center negative1 |
| Current draw | 10mA1 |
The 9V center negative, 10mA requirement is modest, so a standard pedalboard supply handles it without trouble.1
Versions and colors
The Double Donut has appeared in two editions:
| Edition | Colors | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Double Donut | Lavender, Neon Yellow, Viola | Re-stocking soon as of July 20221 |
| Double Donut Douche Edition | Pink, Neon Yellow, Silver, Gold | Sold out as of August 20222 |
The Douche Edition keeps the same formula: two Donut circuits, which GUPtech identifies as Hotcake clones, in a unique 1590BB-sized box, with the same right, left, or both selection, the same buffered design, and the same 9Vdc center negative, 10mA power draw.2
Both editions were listed in limited availability in 2022, the standard version as re-stocking soon and the Douche Edition as sold out.12 GUPtech builds in small runs, so color options change from batch to batch.
Who makes it and where
GUPtech is a small Canadian builder. The company states: "All of our pedals are made by us in Saguenay, Québec, Canada."1 Alongside the Double Donut, its range includes pedals like the Pumpky Distortion, the Jojo Cake, and the 1982 Douche Edition, and the Donut circuit also appears on its own in the DOnut Distortion Gold Tone Rush edition. For more on the wider category, see Distortion Pedals and Overdrive Pedals.
Videos
GUPtech
Questions
Is the GUPtech Double Donut true bypass?
No. GUPtech describes the Double Donut as a buffered design, meaning the signal passes through a buffer rather than a simple true bypass switch. The same buffered design carries over to the Double Donut Douche Edition. A buffered pedal can help preserve signal strength on longer cable runs, though players who prefer a strictly untouched bypass path should know it is not true bypass.
What power supply does the GUPtech Double Donut need?
GUPtech specifies 9Vdc center negative and a current consumption of 10mA. A standard 9V center-negative supply works, and the modest 10mA draw means it sits comfortably alongside other pedals on a shared supply, within that supply's available current.
Can both Donut circuits run at the same time?
Yes. GUPtech's own description is 'Two Donut circuits in the same enclosure. Select right, left, or even BOTH sides.' That means you can run one circuit alone on either side, or stack both together for a heavier drive.
Where is the GUPtech Double Donut made?
GUPtech states that all of its pedals are made by the company in Saguenay, Québec, Canada, and the Double Donut is no exception.
What is the Double Donut Douche Edition?
The Douche Edition is GUPtech's later take on the Double Donut: two Donut circuits, which the company identifies as Hotcake clones, in a unique 1590BB-sized box, with the same right, left, or both selection and the same 9Vdc center negative, 10mA power requirements. It was offered in Pink, Neon Yellow, Silver, and Gold, and was listed as sold out as of August 2022.
Sources (2)
- Double Donut (Hot Cake Tribute), GUPtech (guptech.ca), 2022-07-25
- Double Donut, GUP Tech, 2022-08-04
