Gus G is a Greek guitarist known for heavy metal, power metal and neoclassical metal, as the guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and a member of Firewind12. His gear story runs through a long relationship with Blackstar amps and a series of signature pedals: the Blackstar HT Blackfire, the BBE G Screamer, and the Crazy Tube Circuits Greek Speed Demon234.
IK Multimedia's Gus G. Tone Asylum collection for TONEX covers his sound across Firewind, his studio work and the touring rigs from his years with Ozzy Osbourne, and includes a Tone Model of the CrazyTube Ultra Shred pedal5.
Amps and the Blackstar relationship
Gus G's relationship with Blackstar began when he used the Series One 200 amplifier to record the latest Ozzy album6. Since then he became a full Blackstar endorsee, and his touring rig has consisted of 12 Series One 200 heads and 12 Series One 4x12 straight fronted cabinets6.
His touring rig at a glance:
In 2010, Blackstar announced its first signature model, the Gus G HT Blackfire Distortion pedal, making Gus G the company's first signature artist2. He had used Blackstar's award-winning HT-Dual pedal and approached the Blackstar R&D team with the aim of producing what the press release called "the ultimate heavy metal valve distortion pedal"6. The HT-Blackfire was limited to 1000 pieces worldwide, each with a certificate of authenticity signed by Gus G and an exclusive Gus trading card68.
The HT Blackfire was a limited edition of 1000 pieces worldwide, so it is no longer in regular production. Each unit shipped with a certificate of authenticity signed by Gus G68.
MusicRadar describes him as a longtime amp endorsee with the brand, and in 2021 he demoed the Blackstar Dept 10 Dual Distortion pedal in a video, playing high gain tones9.
Signature overdrive pedals
Gus G's signature pedals span three makers and nearly a decade:
| Pedal | Maker | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| HT Blackfire | Blackstar | 2010 | Valve distortion pedal, limited to 1000 pieces26 |
| G Screamer (OG-1) | BBE | 2013 | Signature overdrive1 |
| Greek Speed Demon | Crazy Tube Circuits | 2019 | Overdrive, clean boost or extra gain stage4 |
BBE G Screamer
For years before his signature pedal, the BBE Green Screamer was Gus G's overdrive pedal of choice1. Guitar World's review describes the Green Screamer as a dual op-amp overdrive pedal that pays homage to the great TS9 Tube Screamer10, and JHS Pedals' Josh Scott puts it more bluntly: "It's a Tube Screamer."11
At NAMM 2013, BBE released the Gus G OG-1 signature overdrive, built with the Ozzy and Firewind guitarist1. In BBE's demo video, posted by Guitar World in September 2013, Gus G explained the design work behind it:
"Paul Gagon and I collaborated, and we modified the input driver to the distortion circuit so that more lower-mid harmonics are focused where I want them."
He pitched it to players directly: "Want a killer screaming lead tone like mine? Step on a G Screamer!"3
Crazy Tube Circuits Greek Speed Demon
In 2019, Gus G teamed up with Greek effects company Crazy Tube Circuits on the Greek Speed Demon, an overdrive pedal designed and built to his spec124. MusicRadar describes it as a boutique overdrive that serves as a clean boost or extra gain stage4.
Talk box and other gear
Rocktron lists Gus G among its artists, with the Banshee 2 Talk Box as his gear7.
Questions
What amp does Gus G use?
He is a longtime Blackstar endorsee. He recorded an Ozzy Osbourne album with a Series One 200 head, and his touring rig has included 12 Series One 200 heads with 12 Series One 4x12 cabinets6.
Does Gus G use a talk box?
Yes. Rocktron lists the Banshee 2 Talk Box as his gear7.
Does Gus G have a signature overdrive pedal?
He has had several: the Blackstar HT Blackfire valve distortion pedal (2010), the BBE G Screamer (2013) and the Crazy Tube Circuits Greek Speed Demon (2019)234.
What is the BBE G Screamer?
Gus G's signature overdrive pedal with BBE, developed with designer Paul Gagon, growing out of his years on the Green Screamer, a Tube Screamer-style dual op-amp overdrive3101.
Is Gus G a Blackstar artist?
Yes. He became Blackstar's first signature artist in 2010 and remains a longtime amp endorsee of the brand29.
What amp does Gus G use?
Gus G is a longtime Blackstar endorsee. He recorded an Ozzy Osbourne album with a Blackstar Series One 200 head, and his touring rig has included 12 Series One 200 heads with 12 Series One 4x12 cabinets. He has also demoed Blackstar's Dept 10 Dual Distortion pedal on video.
Does Gus G use a talk box?
Yes. Rocktron lists Gus G among its artists with the Banshee 2 Talk Box as his gear. The talk box sends his guitar signal into a tube placed near the microphone, letting him shape vowel sounds with his mouth.
Does Gus G have a signature overdrive pedal?
He has had several. Blackstar built the limited-edition HT Blackfire valve distortion pedal with him in 2010, BBE released the Gus G OG-1 signature overdrive in 2013, and Crazy Tube Circuits built the Greek Speed Demon overdrive to his spec in 2019.
What is the BBE G Screamer?
The BBE G Screamer is Gus G's signature overdrive pedal, developed with designer Paul Gagon. It grew out of Gus G's years on the BBE Green Screamer, a dual op-amp overdrive modeled on the Tube Screamer, with a modified input driver that focuses lower-mid harmonics.
Is Gus G a Blackstar artist?
Yes. Gus G became Blackstar Amplification's first signature artist in 2010 with the HT Blackfire pedal, and MusicRadar describes him as a longtime amp endorsee of the brand, with a touring rig of Series One 200 heads and 4x12 cabinets.
Sources (12)
- NAMM 2013: BBE Releases Gus G OG-1 Signature Overdrive, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2013-01-26
- New Blackstar Gus G signature pedal, MusicRadar, 2010-06-07
- Video: Gus G Demos His Signature BBE G Screamer Overdrive Pedal, Guitar World, 2013-09-10
- Gus G unleashes Speed Demon overdrive pedal, MusicRadar, 2019-08-01
- Gus G. Tone Asylum, IK Multimedia
- Blackstar unveils Gus G HT-Blackfire valve overdrive pedal, MusicRadar, 2010-06-11
- Artists - Rocktron - Technology for Guitarists - rocktron, rocktron.com, 2024-08-28
- Blackstar Unveils Gus G. HT-Blackfire Distortion Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2010-05-29
- Gus G demos the Blackstar Dept 10 Dual-Distortion valve preamp pedal, MusicRadar, 2021-12-19
- BBE: Crusher, Green Screamer and Frequency Boost pedals, Guitar World, 2007-05-16
- WHY BBE PEDALS ARE AMAZING, JHS Pedals
- Crazy Tubes Circuits and Gus G Collaborate on New Greek Speed Demon Overdrive, Guitar World, 2019-07-30