The Ogre Tubeholic is an overdrive guitar effects pedal from Ogre, distributed in the United States by MMG Distribution, which announced it as now shipping1. Its enclosure features a sliding cockpit head cover to protect the settings during use1. The pedal uses PCB construction, which the maker says helps prevent external sound interference and insures a signal between the input, controls and output, and it measures 89mm wide by 141mm deep by 72mm high1.
The controls under the sliding cockpit cover
The Tubeholic's most unusual feature is its housing. The pedal is shaped as an alien head fitted with retractable frontal lobes that flip back to expose the controls, and the enclosure is sculpted in die-cast aluminum3. Guitar World describes a sliding cockpit head cover that protects the settings during use, with the Level, Tone and Gain control knobs inside the cockpit1.
Guitar Interactive Magazine's Jonathan Graham wrote that these knobs "provide guitarists versatility in using the pedal for simple clean boosts, crunchy guitar rhythms or searing lead tones"2. Vintage Guitar's news item likewise notes the pedal "has controls for Level, Tone, and Gain"4.
Under the hood, reviewer Barry Rudolph reports that the Tubeholic uses a NOS diode for symmetrical clipping, the clipping arrangement common to many overdrive designs3. For more on how this pedal type sits among its relatives, see the site's pages on Overdrive Pedals, Distortion Pedals and Boost Pedals, or the comparison of the Boss SD-1 vs Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer.
Power and connections
The Tubeholic runs from a DC 9V power supply and draws 6.5mA with the power on, according to Guitar World's specifications1. Its connectors are Input, Output and DC Input1, and the pedal's output impedance is listed at 10k1.
The published specifications list a DC input for power but no battery option, so plan a 9V DC supply for your board.
Guitar World also notes that the Tubeholic utilizes PCB construction to help prevent external sound interference and ensure a signal between the input, controls and output1, and Guitar Interactive Magazine adds that the pedal "utilizes a highly durable enclosure"2.
Bypass and switching
When the pedal is off, it maintains true bypass. Both Guitar World and Guitar Interactive Magazine use the same wording: "While in the off position, the pedal maintains true bypass to eliminate any sacrifice of overall tone or sound degradation"12. In plain terms, true bypass means the pedal's circuit is removed from the signal path entirely when disengaged, so your guitar's signal passes through untouched.
Questions
Is the Ogre Tubeholic true bypass?
Yes. According to press coverage from 2014, while the pedal is in the off position it maintains true bypass, which the reports say eliminates any sacrifice of overall tone or sound degradation when the effect is not engaged.
Who designed the Ogre Tubeholic?
The Tubeholic was created by studio recording engineer Kim Sangkil, according to Guitar Interactive Magazine. The Ogre brand, which the same report says aims to exceed on three goals of Design, Durability, and Sound, was distributed in the United States by MMG Distribution.
How big is the Ogre Tubeholic?
Guitar World lists the Tubeholic's dimensions as 89mm wide, 141mm deep and 72mm high. The pedal sits in a die-cast aluminum enclosure sculpted as an alien head with retractable frontal lobes.
Can the Tubeholic be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Reviewer Barry Rudolph found that the Tubeholic not only works as an overdrive but also works outstandingly as a clean booster as well. The Level, Tone and Gain controls give players the range to use it for clean boosts, crunchy rhythms or lead tones.
Sources (4)
- MMG Distribution Debuts Ogre Tubeholic Overdrive Pedal, Guitar World, 2014-06-10
- MMG Distribution Debuts Ogre Tubeholic Overdrive Pedal, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2014-06-10
- Ogre Stomp Pedals, www.barryrudolph.com, 2025
- Ogre Offers Tubeholic OD Pedal, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2014-06-10