The Cog Effects Tarkin mk2 is a compact fuzz pedal for guitar and bass, announced in April 2016 as the second version of Cog's Tarkin. Its circuit is built on a Green Russian Big Muff tone, and its main change over the mk1 is a set of LPF and HPF filter switches that reshape the filters making up the Tone control, reducing the typical Muff mid-scoop so the fuzz can cut through a live mix123.
The mk2 was squeezed into the 1590A size format, one of the smallest standard pedal enclosures, in a CNC-engraved Hammond aluminum enclosure. It carries true bypass switching, a 9-volt standard DC input, and internal clipping switching, and it retailed at £130 when announced13. Tom George is the man behind Cog Effects, and all Cog Effects pedals are built in Sheffield, South Yorkshire1.
A flexible fuzz for guitar and bass
Cog Effects announced the Tarkin mk2 and the larger Grand Tarkin together on 15 April 2016, describing the pair as upgraded and improved versions of the original pedals13. The Tarkin range sits in the fuzz family, and the Tarkin itself is the guitar-sized model while the Grand Tarkin Bass Fuzz is the bass model with a filtered clean blend24.
Tom George described the intent behind the range in the announcement:
"My goal with the Tarkin range has always been to make solid fuzzes for the gigging guitarist and bassist"
The mk2's core sound comes from its Green Russian tone base, the Big Muff variant known for a thicker, bassier character than the standard Muff. Guitar Interactive reported that the mk2's additions, the filter switches and internal clipping switching, add further flexibility to that base tone rather than replacing it3.
For bass players, the related Grand Tarkin Bass Fuzz is the version to look at. It keeps the Mids control and filtered clean blend of the original, and its mk2 replaces the old Blend and Level controls with two pairs of individual Fuzz and Clean level controls, plus an extra footswitch to swap between the two presets mid-song14. Bass Musician Magazine's reviewer Ty Campbell found the Grand Tarkin "a step above" the many fuzz pedals available for bassists, and enjoyed the range of tones it produced both with and without fuzz5.
The controls and filter switches
The Tarkin mk2's headline feature is its pair of filter switches. These sit alongside the Tone control and change the shape of the filters that make it up132:
| Control or switch | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tone control | Sets the overall tonal shape of the fuzz |
| LPF switch | Changes the low-pass filter shape within the Tone control1 |
| HPF switch | Changes the high-pass filter shape within the Tone control1 |
| Internal clipping switching | Selects between clipping configurations inside the pedal1 |
MusicRadar explained the practical point of the LPF and HPF switches: they reduce the typical Muff mid-scoop and help the pedal cut through a live mix2. For a player who has fought a Big Muff-style fuzz disappearing against a band, that is the problem these switches address. The mid-scoop is the dipped midrange that gives Muff circuits their smooth, huge character, but it is also the frequency range where guitars and basses need presence to be heard live.
The Grand Tarkin mk2 takes a different approach to flexibility. Instead of filter switches, it adds two pairs of Fuzz Level and Clean Level controls, so a player sets two independent blends of fuzzed and clean signal, and a second footswitch swaps between the two presets on the fly during a song14. The A/B footswitch switches between the two pairs of level controls, giving two preset blends of fuzzed and clean signals4. Bass Musician Magazine's reviewer described the level controls as adjusting the amount of fuzz you want, and noted the pedal can run clean or dirty5.
Build, maker and history
Cog Effects is a small British effects builder. The Tarkin mk2 is built into a CNC-engraved Hammond 1590A aluminum enclosure and runs from a 9-volt standard DC input1. It retailed at £130, and its circuit builds on the base Green Russian tone1.
The enclosure work is a visible part of the build: the Tarkin mk2 uses a CNC-engraved Hammond 1590A aluminum enclosure, the smallest of the two sizes Cog used across the pair, while the Grand Tarkin mk2 uses the larger 1590BB13. The 1590A format is roughly the size of a matchbox-style mini pedal, which makes the Tarkin mk2 an option for players building tight boards.
The £130 price is the UK retail price as stated at announcement in April 2016. No US dollar price was published, and the figure is a decade old, so treat it as historical rather than current.
Questions
Is the Cog Effects Tarkin mk2 true bypass?
Yes. Both the Tarkin mk2 and the larger Grand Tarkin mk2 use true bypass switching, so the pedal drops out of the signal path completely when disengaged. Reviewers of the Grand Tarkin also confirmed true bypass operation on the bass version.
What power does the Tarkin mk2 use?
The Tarkin mk2 runs on a 9-volt standard DC input, the same supply most pedalboards already carry. No other power details, such as current draw or polarity, were published in the announcement materials.
What size is the Cog Effects Tarkin mk2 enclosure?
The mk2 Tarkin was squeezed into the 1590A size format, one of the smallest standard pedal enclosures, in a CNC-engraved Hammond aluminium enclosure. The Grand Tarkin mk2 uses the larger 1590BB Hammond enclosure.
Where is the Tarkin mk2 made?
All Cog Effects pedals, including the Tarkin mk2, are built in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom. The company is a small British builder rather than a mass manufacturer.
Who designed the Cog Effects Tarkin mk2?
Tom George is the man behind Cog Effects, the Sheffield builder that designed and makes the Tarkin mk2. He described his goal with the Tarkin range as making solid fuzzes for the gigging guitarist and bassist.
What do the LPF and HPF switches do on the Tarkin mk2?
The LPF and HPF switches change the shape of the filters that make up the Tone control. MusicRadar reported that they reduce the typical Big Muff mid-scoop, helping the fuzz cut through a live mix instead of getting lost under it.
Sources (5)
- Cog Effects Announces the Tarkin and Grand Tarkin, Premier Guitar, 2016-04-15
- Cog Effects revamps Tarkin fuzz pedals for guitar and bass, MusicRadar, 2016-04-14
- Cog Effects unveils Tarkin and Grand Tarkin Fuzzes MK2, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2016-04-15
- Grand Tarkin Bass Fuzz by Cog Effects, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Review - COG Effect Grand Tarkin Bass Fuzz - Bass Musician Magazine, The Face of Bass, Bass Musician Magazine, 2017-08-14
