The GUPtech T-Bag is a 2-in-1 JFET preamp pedal that GUPtech tweaked around the Sunn Model T amp. The maker describes it as "a pretty violent tribute to the great T", which gives a fair idea of where the circuit is aimed: players who want the character of that amp in a pedal, with the gain pushed harder than a straight reproduction would take it1. A JFET preamp uses junction field-effect transistors to shape gain and tone in a way that behaves more like tube amp stages than an op-amp drive, which is why preamps of this kind are often used to put an amp's voicing on a pedalboard or to feed a power amp directly.
Controls and switching
The T-Bag carries a full 3-band EQ, so bass, mid and treble are on board rather than a single tone control1. The pedal is a 2-in-1 design, meaning it holds two channels, and the right footswitch switches between them1. That makes it usable as both a preamp and a two-channel gain staging tool: one channel for a base tone, the other for a pushed or heavier setting, with the 3-band EQ shaping both.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Bass | Low band of the 3-band EQ1 |
| Mid | Middle band of the 3-band EQ1 |
| Treble | High band of the 3-band EQ1 |
| Right footswitch | Switches between the pedal's two channels1 |
Power
The T-Bag runs on 9V DC center negative, the common standard for pedal supplies1. GUPtech lists power consumption at 4mA1, a light draw that keeps it well within what a typical shared supply handles.
The Douche Edition
GUPtech also made a T-Bag Douche Edition, a version of the same 2-in-1 JFET preamp tweaked around the Sunn Model T amp2. It shares the standard T-Bag's power requirements: 9V DC center negative at 4mA2.
| T-Bag | T-Bag Douche Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit | 2-in-1 JFET preamp, tweaked around the Sunn Model T2 | 2-in-1 JFET preamp, tweaked around the Sunn Model T2 |
| Power | 9V DC center negative1 | 9V DC center negative1 |
| Current draw | 4mA1 | 4mA2 |
The maker's range includes other Douche Editions of its preamps, such as the PorCorn Douche Edition3.
Where it is made
GUPtech builds the T-Bag itself in Saguenay, Québec, Canada. The maker states that "all of our pedals are made by us in Saguenay, Québec, Canada"1.
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Questions
What amp is the GUPtech T-Bag based on?
GUPtech describes the T-Bag as a 2-in-1 JFET preamp tweaked around the Sunn Model T amp. The maker calls it a pretty violent tribute to the great T, so the pedal is aimed at players who want that amp's character in a pedal format rather than a straight reproduction of the original circuit.
What power supply does the GUPtech T-Bag need?
The T-Bag runs on 9V DC center negative, the same polarity used by most standard pedal power supplies. GUPtech lists power consumption at 4mA, which is a light draw, so it sits comfortably on a shared supply with other pedals.
Where is the GUPtech T-Bag made?
GUPtech builds the T-Bag itself in Saguenay, Québec, Canada. The maker states that all of its pedals are made by the company in Saguenay, so the pedal is a Canadian-built product rather than an outsourced build.
What is the T-Bag Douche Edition?
The T-Bag Douche Edition is a version of the same 2-in-1 JFET preamp, also tweaked around the Sunn Model T amp. It shares the T-Bag's core circuit, 9V DC center negative power, and 4mA current draw. GUPtech lists it as sold out.
How much current does the GUPtech T-Bag draw?
GUPtech lists power consumption for the T-Bag at 4mA. That is a low draw for a preamp pedal, which makes it easy to run from a standard 9V supply alongside other pedals.
Sources (3)
- GUPtech T-Bag, GUPtech (guptech.ca)
- GUPtech T-Bag, GUPtech (guptech.ca)
- PorCorn - Douche Edition, GUPtech
