Drunk Beaver Taras Bulba v2

Modern take on the classic Germanium Tone Bender MK2 circuit

The Drunk Beaver Taras Bulba V2 takes the first version of the Taras Bulba - based on a vintage germanium Tone Bender MK II - and completely revises the circuit design and adds even more features.

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.

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

What's new?
Taras Bulba V2 retains the two modes of the V1 - switchable between "Mk 1.5" and "Mk II" Tone Bender sounds - and the extremely useful extras such as the external Bias control and Pickup Sim section, but it also adds an extra control labelled "Velcro", which enables you to dial the transistor stages' feedback to achieve that perfect gated, or velcro, sound.

Vitalii has also improved the pickup simulator circuit for better response with a variety of different pickups and impedances.

There's also a new full-frequency boost on the output, which gives your signal an extra kick and ensures that it cuts through any mix, in the studio or on the stage. This is a great addition, as many vintage units - and even some modern fuzzes - suffer from low output. Not here!

Taras Bulba V2 Controls
- Attack : Adjusts gain
- Bias : Varies the second-stage transistor biasing. Biasing is tuned separately for each mode. Use this control to alter the fatness and response of the fuzz.
- Hi-Cut : A low-pass filter reduces high frequencies to suit your band or recording situation.
- Volume : Adjusts output level
- Impedance : Controls the signal impedance when the pickup simulator is enabled, allowing you to adjust the interaction between your guitar and the pedal and fine-tune your sound. Acts a bit like an extra guitar volume pot.
- Velcro : Adjusts the amount of feedback between transistor stages, enabling you to achieve a gated, velcro-like sound.
- Mode : Toggle Switches between Mk II and Mk 1.5 Tone Bender circuits. The Mk 1.5 topology is very closely related to the , while the Mk II has more gain and saturation, and a more aggressive character.
- PU Sim : Toggle Adds/removes pickup simulator buffer from the circuit. When the PU Sim toggle is off, the buffer and impedance pot are also bypassed, giving you the vintage response that's sensitive to your input signal and any other pedals in your chain.

Taras Bulba V2 Features
- Germanium Tone Bender Mk II & Mk 1.5 with modern features
- NOS Germanium transistors from 1970s-'80s
- Handmade in Poland
- Attack, Bias, Hi-Cut, Volume, Impedance, Velcro, Mode & PU Sim controls
- Power: 9V DC centre-negative (not included)
- Current draw: 3.5mA
- Dimensions: 125B, 122mm x 66mm x 39.5mm