CopperSound Renegade

The CopperSound Renegade Multi-Bias Fuzz is a small-format fuzz pedal from Massachusetts maker CopperSound, launched in October 2022 alongside the Gravity Bomb V2 boost¹. Its circuit is derived from the Tone Bender MK1.5, a two-transistor fuzz box built by Sola Sound in the mid-1960s, and CopperSound's twist on that circuit is a bias toggle that switches between two bias voltages²³. The whole thing fits one knob and one toggle in a mini enclosure, part of CopperSound's growing line of Mini Pedals⁴.

A Tone Bender MK1.5 fuzz in a mini pedal

The original Tone Bender MK1.5 was an influential two-transistor fuzz box built by Sola Sound in the mid-1960s⁴³, and it is regarded as one of the rarest fuzz pedals on the planet³. CopperSound derives the Renegade's circuit originally from the classic Tone Bender MK1.5, with an integrated bias control⁴².

The MK1.5 circuit has been cloned, modified and reproduced by many builders over the years. Coda Effects lists D*A*M, the Earthquaker Devices Tone Reaper, the Fulltone Soul Bender, the Basic Audio Scarab Deluxe, the JHS Bun Runner and the Ramble FX Twin Bender among them⁷. The Renegade is CopperSound's entry in that lineage, described by Delicious Audio as straying off the standard path in part due to its integrated bias control⁴.

CopperSound describes the result as intense, full-bodied fuzz with endless sustain, and highlights a long sustain and electric sizzle effect as the signal fades, especially prominent with the toggle in the down position². MusicRadar called it a "potent sonic disruptor" with off-the-charts sustain⁵.

The Renegade has been described as a "potent sonic disruptor" with off-the-charts sustain and promised "electric sizzle" as notes decay, particularly with the toggle down⁵.

The controls

The control set is minimal: one knob and one toggle.

Delicious Audio's write-up agrees on the volume control, noting the Master Volume knob has "PLENTY of gain on tap"⁴. GuitarPlayer described the same arrangement as a single master volume knob with which to dial in the right amount of gain¹.

The bias toggle is the pedal's distinguishing feature. Where a stock MK1.5-style circuit has one fixed bias point, the Renegade lets the player select between two bias voltages. GuitarPlayer framed the choice as a classic "open" fuzz tone or a more gated sound producing extra "electric sizzle" as the signal fades¹. The gated down position is the more modern of the two voicings⁴.

Power: 9V or 18V

The Renegade runs on 9 to 18V through a 2.1mm x 5.5mm center negative connector, drawing 5mA at 9V and 10mA at 18V⁶⁴. CopperSound says running it at 18 volts adds even more headroom and clarity to your sound⁶, and MusicRadar's coverage makes the same point⁵.

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