OC201 Preamp pedal from Great Eastern FX Co.

Published 6/2/25

Limited run of just 50 pedals worldwide

The latest pedal to find its way into the Great Eastern FX Co. line-up sees the company take a new approach to a popular fuzz design, and also marks the beginning of a new pedal series. Limited to just 50 units worldwide, the OC201 Preamp is based around a dual-transistor circuit and employs a pair of NOS (new old stock) Mullard OC201s.

The transistors in question were the first silicon-based versions produced by Mullard, and were constructed using the same techniques as their germanium devices. They’re only capable of providing a modest level of gain and exhibit a limited bandwidth compared to modern devices, although according to company founder David Greeves, that’s exactly what makes them such a good choice for a fuzz pedal! Some more modern components are present too, though, with the OC201 Preamp featuring high-tolerance Dale metal-film resistors and WIMA capacitors — an approach that the company say helps to ensure the best combination of tone and reliability while keeping the cost reasonable.

The pedal promises to deliver a diverse palette of sounds that range from dirty boosts and garage rock tones through to raw, richly textured fuzz, all of which benefit from the volume knob clean-up characteristics that this type of fuzz is well known for. The circuit has also been tweaked to ensure it can deliver a sizeable volume boost. Great Eastern FX Co. are keen to point out that, as is the case with many fuzz pedals, the OC201 Preamp will likely perform at its best when used as the first pedal in the user’s effects chain. It’s also the first release in a new Obsolete Devices series, a range that will see the company depart from their usual approach and focus on new and interesting variations of classic pedal designs.

“With pedals like the Design-a-Drive and the XO Variable Crossover, we’re really committed to developing original designs that bring something new to the table. I’m always very conscious of choosing parts that aren’t going to go obsolete so we can go on making the pedals for as long as people want to buy them. But I also love messing around with old parts and classic circuits, which is a totally different mentality. The Obsolete Devices series is basically a way for me to have fun modifying these classic circuits and experimenting with my stash of NOS components, then share the results. The name is a little bit of an inside joke. I think what gets labelled as ‘obsolete’ is very subjective. As pedal designers and guitar players, we obsess over obsolete components and what, in any other field, would be considered outdated designs. So the name is a nod to that. I also loved the thought of us coming out with some brand-new Obsolete Devices of our own!” - David Greeves, Founder, Great Eastern FX Co.