DRUNK BEAVER Taras Bulba

About the DRUNK BEAVER Taras Bulba

The Drunk Beaver Taras Bulba is at its heart a vintage germanium Tone Bender MK II circuit, designed with an additional "Mk 1.5" mode plus exciting extras such as a Bias control and in-depth Pickup Sim section.

The Mk II Tone Bender is renowned for its smooth sustain thanks to its 3-transistor design, while the Mk 1.5 (an unofficial name given to the transitional 2-transistor circuit) was an inspiration for the Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face. 

The Taras Bulba utilises NOS germanium transistors: 1980s German MP20 & 1970s Soviet P416B.

Some of rock's greatest names have used a Tone Bender, including Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Mick Ronson.

Taras Bulba Controls

Attack Adjusts gain

Bias Varies the first stage transistor biasing

Hi-Cut Reduces high frequencies

Volume Adjusts output level

Mode Toggle Switches between Mk II and Mk 1.5 Tone Bender circuits.

PU Sim Toggle Adds/removes pickup simulator buffer from the circuit. When switched off the pedal is sensitive to what is placed before it in the chain, as with the vintage originals.

Impedance Works only with pickup simulator enabled and controls the amount of the signal hitting the circuit, similar to a second guitar volume control.

PU Type Toggle Works only with pickup simulator enabled and switches between lighter (think single-coil) and heavier (think humbucker) pickup response.

Taras Bulba Demos

Taras Bulba Features

• Germanium Tone Bender Mk II & Mk 1.5 with modern features
• Handmade in Poland
• Attack, Bias, Hi-Cut, Impedance, Mode, Volume, PU Sim & PU Type controls
• Power: 9V centre-negative (not included)
• Current draw: 3.5mA
• Dimensions: 125B, 122mm x 66mm x 39.5mm