The Drunk Beaver Ivano-Frankivsk Fuzz is a limited-run fuzz pedal that recreates the Boss FZ-3 circuit using matched Toshiba SMT transistors with the exact same values as the Toshiba THT originals. It was released on 13 December 2024 as the maker's Pedal Drop #25, priced at $150, and the batch of around 20 units has long since sold out1.
The circuit: a Boss FZ-3 with matched transistors
The FZ-3 that the Ivano-Frankivsk recreates is loosely based on the Fuzz Face and Tone Bender circuits, and uses the SMD version of the 2SK184-GR JFET at its input2. Both the Ivano-Frankivsk and the FZ-3 carry no fewer than eight silicon transistors, six of which generate the fuzz voicing1. Drunk Beaver's approach was to rebuild the circuit with expertly matched Toshiba SMT transistors in place of the originals1.
The pedal also includes a gain recovery stage. According to Guitar Pedal X, the gain recovery adds volume, sustain and compression1.
Controls
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Volume | Output level1 |
| Tone | Tone shaping1 |
| Fuzz | Fuzz amount1 |
| Mids | Boost / Stock / Scoop midrange selection1 |
How it compares to the FZ-3
Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson reviewed the pedal side by side with an original FZ-3 and found the two closely matched1:
"their profiles are very well matched, while I feel the Ivano-Frankivsk can be slightly more articulate and slightly thicker at times"
In his account, the Ivano-Frankivsk keeps the FZ-3's excellent guitar volume gain cleanup, sounds slightly more articulate and thicker at times, and its tone control renders somewhat differently, with all the essential FZ-3 tones available but with greater range1.
Availability
The Ivano-Frankivsk was the 25th of Drunk Beaver's limited Pedal Drop releases, and the batch held only around 20 units1. It is long since sold out, though Vitalii of Drunk Beaver has been asking players to name their favorite Pedal Drop editions, with a view to making a few more of that kind in another colourway1. Other Drunk Beaver fuzzes covered on Tonebox include the Poltava DOA Muff, the Bucha Square Wave and the Kupiansk Sub Fuzz. For more on the effect type, see Fuzz Pedals.
No official demo exists for this pedal, as is usually the case for Drunk Beaver's Pedal Drop releases. Guitar Pedal X's review instead references a classic demo of the original Boss FZ-31.
Questions
What pedal is the Drunk Beaver Ivano-Frankivsk Fuzz based on?
It is based on the Boss FZ-3 Fuzz. Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson described it as an extended range take on the FZ-3, recreated with matched Toshiba SMT transistors carrying the same values as the Toshiba originals. The FZ-3 itself is loosely based on the Fuzz Face and Tone Bender circuits, and both pedals use eight silicon transistors, six of which generate the fuzz voicing.
Is the Ivano-Frankivsk Fuzz still available?
No. The pedal launched on 13 December 2024 as Drunk Beaver's Pedal Drop #25 in a batch of around 20 units, and Guitar Pedal X reported in January 2025 that it had long since sold out. Vitalii of Drunk Beaver has asked players to name their favourite Pedal Drop editions, with a view to remaking a few in another colourway.
How much did the Ivano-Frankivsk Fuzz cost at launch?
The launch price was $150, as of 13 December 2024, according to Guitar Pedal X's review of the pedal drop.
Is there a demo of the Ivano-Frankivsk Fuzz?
No official demo exists for the pedal, which Guitar Pedal X notes is usually the case for Drunk Beaver's Pedal Drop releases. The review instead points to classic demos of the original Boss FZ-3 as a reference for what the circuit does.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-01-07
- Argent Silicon Fuzz / BOSS FZ-3, Aion FX, 2021-11-23
