The GUPtech Pumpky Distortion is a compact distortion pedal built by GUPtech in Saguenay, Québec, Canada. GUPtech describes it plainly: "Our Pumpky Distortion is a tribute to the newer V2 version of the OCD"1. The OCD it honors is the Fulltone overdrive/distortion stompbox that Guitar World's Paul Riario noted in 2017 is still considered by many guitarists "one of the finest overdrive/distortion stompboxes"2. The Pumpky takes that circuit as its starting point and adds GUPtech's own switching options, including a three-way clipping toggle and a filter toggle.
The standard Pumpky lists at £71.00 GBP3. A super limited Spooky 2026 edition, in a glow in the dark box and limited to 10 units, was released on 1 October 2026 at a sale price of £88.00 GBP1.
A tribute to the OCD V2
GUPtech's route to the Pumpky went through its Lab Series, the company's line of experimental builds. The Lab Series #21 OCD V2 page points readers to the production model: "Production model is available here : Pumpky Distortion"4. So the Pumpky is the finished, regularly available version of a circuit GUPtech first worked through as a lab build. The company also lists a Pumpky Overdrive described as a "Modded OCD" among its other pedals5, so the OCD circuit family runs through more than one GUPtech product.
The original OCD itself has a long reputation. Reviewing the OCD V2 for Guitar World in September 2017, Paul Riario wrote that "many guitarists still consider the OCD one of the finest overdrive/distortion stompboxes"2. The V2 revision that the Pumpky pays tribute to is the newer version of that pedal.
Controls and switching
The Pumpky's controls center on its two toggles.
| Control | Positions | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Right toggle (clipping) | Up | LED clipping mode |
| Center | No clipping | |
| Down | Classic Germanium-MOSFET clip | |
| Left toggle (filter) | Up | High pass filter |
| Down | Low pass filter |
The clipping toggle lets a player choose how the pedal's gain stage is shaped: LED clipping in the upper position, a clean, no-clipping signal in the center, and the classic Germanium-MOSFET clip in the lower position1. The left toggle shapes the frequency response, with a high pass filter in the up position and a low pass filter in the down position1.
The very high input impedance means the pedal presents an easy load to the guitar, which matters for preserving the signal when the pedal is first in a chain1.
The 2024 design update
The Pumpky was not always laid out this way. In May 2024 GUPtech revised the design: "2024-05 : Design update, we've moved away from the original 'buffer' / 'No Buffer' toggle"3. That original buffer/No Buffer toggle was replaced by the right toggle for clipping selection, choosing between LED clipping, no clipping, or the classic stock MOSFET plus Germanium clipping, and all new units built since then carry the clipping selection3.
If you are buying second-hand, check which toggle layout the unit has. Units built before May 2024 have the original buffer/No Buffer toggle; all new units have the clipping selection toggle3.
Editions and colors
The standard Pumpky Distortion is available in Sky blue and Gray styles3. Beyond the standard version, GUPtech has released the pedal in two other forms:
- Douche Edition Pumpky: "Same circuit, nice gold enclosure!"6. The gold-cased Douche Edition carries the identical circuit and the same clipping and filter toggles as the standard pedal6.
- Spooky 2026 edition: a super limited run in a glow in the dark box, limited to 10 units, released 1 October 2026 and now sold out1.
Power and build
The Pumpky runs on 9V DC with a center negative plug and accepts 9 to 18V, so it works with most standard pedalboard power supplies and can be run at higher voltage for a different feel1. Power consumption is a light 6mA1. GUPtech builds every pedal itself: "All of our pedals are made by us in Saguenay, Québec, Canada"3.
What players say
Two player comments appear on GUPtech's own page for the pedal. Steve W reports: "I play a Tele through a Custom Reverb, and this pedal gives a thick, chalky distorted sound"3. Leezus Kryst uses it in front of a loud amp: "Using it to tighten up high-gain amps, does the trick easily"3.
Videos
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Questions
What is the GUPtech Pumpky Distortion based on?
GUPtech describes the Pumpky Distortion as a tribute to the newer V2 version of the Fulltone OCD. The company also built a Lab Series #21 OCD V2 version before the Pumpky became the production model, and lists a Pumpky Overdrive as a modded OCD.
What does the clipping toggle on the Pumpky do?
The right toggle selects the clipping character. In the upper position the pedal uses LED clipping, the center position is no clipping, and the lower position is the classic Germanium-MOSFET clip. This toggle replaced the original buffer/No Buffer toggle in the May 2024 design update.
Where is the GUPtech Pumpky made?
GUPtech builds all of its pedals itself in Saguenay, Québec, Canada. The Pumpky Distortion is one of the company's hand-made production pedals, alongside its Lab Series experiments and various limited editions.
What colors does the Pumpky come in?
The standard Pumpky Distortion is available in Sky blue and Gray styles. There is also a Douche Edition with the same circuit in a gold enclosure, and a super limited Spooky 2026 edition in a glow in the dark box, limited to 10 units.
What changed in the Pumpky design update?
In May 2024 GUPtech moved away from the original buffer/No Buffer toggle and replaced it with a right toggle for clipping selection, choosing between LED clipping, no clipping, or the classic MOSFET plus Germanium clipping. All new units built since then have the clipping selection toggle.
Sources (6)
- Pumpky Distortion, GUPtech (guptech.ca), 2024-05
- Review: Fulltone OCD V2 Overdrive Pedal, Guitar World, 2017-09-15
- Pumpky Distortion (OCD Germanium V2 Tribute), GUPtech (guptech.ca), 2024-05
- Lab Series #21, guptech.ca
- Blades of Steel Triple Overdrive, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
- Douche Edition Pumpky, GUP Tech (guptech.ca)
