The Drunk Beaver Rivne is an OTA compressor pedal, the 17th of the maker's limited "pedal drop" releases, launched on 4 January 20241. It takes the classic DynaComp and Ross compressor circuits and their Japanese derivations as its starting point, then adds features the originals never had: a clean signal blend, a higher impedance input buffer, a three-position attack switch and a tone control1. It was designed by Vitalii Bobrov, who Guitar Pedal X described as offering "Vitalii's take on classic Dyna Comp / Ross Compressor circuits with some necessary mods"1.
Circuit and lineage
OTA (operational transconductance amplifier) compressors are a family that includes the compressor pedal classics: the MXR DynaComp and the Ross Compressor, along with Japanese versions of that circuit from Yamaha, Korg and Guyatone, and the Marshall ED-1, all of which run a higher bias than the American originals1. The Rivne follows that lineage but uses a matched transistor array IC in place of separate transistors. Guitar Pedal X explained the advantage: "The benefit from this is that the transistor's array is a matched set, coupled physically on the same silicon"1.
Stefan Karlsson of Guitar Pedal X summed up the result at launch: "If you're fans of classic OTA compression - then this is a much-improved and evolved version of those early classics"1.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Mix | Blends the compressed signal with the clean signal1 |
| Tone | Shapes the treble response, an addition over the classic circuits1 |
| Compression | Sets the amount of compression1 |
| Level | Sets the output volume1 |
| Attack | Sets the attack response1 |
| Attack switch | Three positions: classic, shorter, longer1 |
The clean blend is the feature that separates the Rivne from the DynaComp and Ross circuits it draws on, letting a player keep low-frequency punch and pick attack intact under the compressed signal1.
Availability and price
The Rivne launched on 4 January 2024 through the Drunk Beaver Reverb.com store at $150 plus shipping and tax, in a planned run of only 20 units1. It is now discontinued: Guitar Pedal X's October 2026 compressor roundup listed it as a "discontinued Pedal Drop" at $150 and noted "Still very decent, but alas long since sold out"2. Karlsson added that he does not favor OTA types and their harder knee overall, though he still rated the Rivne as very decent2.
The Rivne was a one-time limited run of 20 units and has long since sold out. Drunk Beaver's current releases are sold through the Drunk-Beaver.Rocks webstore3.
Videos
Drunk Beaver Pedals
Questions
Who designed the Drunk Beaver Rivne?
The Rivne was designed by Vitalii Bobrov, the builder behind Drunk Beaver. Guitar Pedal X described it as Vitalii's take on the classic Dyna Comp and Ross Compressor circuits with some necessary mods, including a clean signal blend, a higher impedance input buffer, an attack switch and a tone control.
How many Drunk Beaver Rivne compressors were made?
Only 20 units of the Rivne were planned. Guitar Pedal X reported at the pedal's January 2024 launch that there would only be 20 units, and a later Guitar Pedal X piece noted that only a very limited quantity were made and that the pedal had long since sold out.
Is the Drunk Beaver Rivne still available?
No. The Rivne is discontinued. It launched in January 2024 through the Drunk Beaver Reverb.com store at $150 plus shipping and tax, but Guitar Pedal X confirmed in October 2026 that it had long since sold out. Drunk Beaver's current pedals are sold through the Drunk-Beaver.Rocks webstore.
What circuits is the Rivne compressor based on?
The Rivne is an OTA compressor based on the classic DynaComp and Ross circuits and their Japanese derivations. Guitar Pedal X noted that Japanese versions of that circuit from makers such as Yamaha, Korg and Guyatone, along with the Marshall ED-1, all run a higher bias.
What does the Attack switch do on the Rivne?
The Attack switch offers three settings: classic, shorter and longer. It sits alongside the Mix, Tone, Compression, Level and Attack knobs, letting the player choose between the original circuit's attack behavior and faster or slower alternatives.
Sources (3)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-01-04
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2025-05-25
