The GUPtech PdeQ Gary Holt Edition is a professional presence and depth guitar EQ pedal from the Canadian maker GUPtech, designed to emulate an amplifier's presence and resonance/depth controls1. It belongs to the broader family of equalization pedals, but where a graphic EQ gives you a row of frequency sliders, the PdeQ gives you the two tone-shaping controls most often found on a metal amp's back panel. GUPtech describes the result as delivering "the extra OOOMMMPHHH and push needed to cut through the mix"1.
This edition carries a special Gary Holt color scheme, matte white with red graphics, which the maker says honors "one of the greatest metal guitarist of all times who happens to be using the" pedal. Gary Holt plays in Exodus and Slayer1.
Controls
The PdeQ has two tone controls, each with its own on/off toggle so you can bring them in separately1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Presence (with on/off toggle) | High-frequency enhancement, emulating an amp's presence control1 |
| Depth/Resonance (with on/off toggle) | Low-end response, emulating an amp's resonance or depth control1 |
Because each control has a toggle, you can run presence alone, depth alone, both together, or neither. With both toggles off, the pedal acts as a clean buffer rather than dropping out of the signal path1, which makes it a candidate for players who also want a buffer on the board.
With both toggles off the pedal stays active as a clean buffer1. It does not behave as a fully out-of-the-path true bypass pedal in that setting, so factor that in if you stack it with other buffers.
Power
The PdeQ runs on a 9V DC center negative supply and draws 20mA1. GUPtech describes this as low power consumption, and the draw is modest enough for most pedalboard power supplies. The maker's listing gives no battery option, so plan on a power supply.
Build and availability
The pedal is built into a standard 125B enclosure measuring 122 x 66 mm (4.8 x 2.6 in)1. GUPtech describes its pedals as boutique handmade construction, made by the company in Saguenay, Quebec, Canada1. The Gary Holt Edition carried a list price of £93.00 GBP on the maker's product page1.
Questions
Is the GUPtech PdeQ true bypass?
Yes. GUPtech states the PdeQ uses true bypass switching, which the maker says preserves signal integrity when the pedal is switched off. Note that when both of its toggles are turned off, the pedal does not simply pass your signal through untouched: it acts as a clean buffer instead, which is worth knowing if you already have buffers elsewhere on your board.
What does the GUPtech PdeQ do when both toggles are off?
With both the Presence and Depth/Resonance toggles switched off, the pedal acts as a clean buffer according to GUPtech. That means the circuit stays in your signal path as a buffer rather than dropping out entirely, so it can serve double duty on a board where you want a buffer anyway.
Does the GUPtech PdeQ run on a battery?
The maker's power requirements list a 9V DC center negative supply with 20mA consumption. No battery option is mentioned on the product page, so plan to run it from a standard pedal power supply. Its 20mA draw is low enough for most daisy chains or isolated supplies.
Where is the GUPtech PdeQ made?
GUPtech builds the PdeQ Gary Holt Edition by hand in Saguenay, Quebec, Canada. The maker describes its pedals as boutique handmade construction, and the edition itself carries a special colour scheme honouring Gary Holt of Exodus and Slayer.
What is the difference between the Presence and Depth controls on an amp?
On an amplifier, the presence control shapes high frequencies and the depth or resonance control shapes the low end. The PdeQ is designed to emulate both of those controls in pedal form: its Presence control handles high-frequency enhancement and its Depth/Resonance control handles low-end response, each with its own on/off toggle.
Sources (1)
- PdeQ Gary Holt Edition, GUPtech (guptech.ca)
