The Drunk Beaver Vatra is a dual-voice boost / overdrive derived from the Ibanez TS808, custom developed as a signature pedal for Vlad Yarun, guitarist for the Ukrainian Hutsul metal band Karna. It was released in January 2026 at $150 on the Drunk Beaver Rocks Webstore1. It sits between the boost and overdrive camps: one voicing is a straight Tube Screamer, the other swaps in MOSFET clipping for a fuller, higher-gain voice.
The Tube Screamer base
The TS808 is the most documented overdrive circuit in the pedal world. GuitarPCB's technical analysis breaks it into simple blocks: JFET bypass switching, power supply, input buffer, clipper amplifier, tone and volume control, and output buffer2. The Vatra's Smereka mode keeps that classic TS808 style voicing, with the familiar three screamer controls: Level, Tone and Drive1.
The two modes
A toggle switch selects the two voicings1.
| Mode | Voicing | Clipping |
|---|---|---|
| Smereka (up) | Classic TS808 style Tube Screamer, with Level, Tone and Drive controls | TS808 style |
| Buk (down) | Fuller, higher-gain voice | MOSFET clipping1 |
Reviewer Stefan Karlsson of Guitar Pedal X had this to say about the Buk mode:
"For me the 'Buk' Mode is a revelation - a really distinct fuller flavour which wholly sounds exceptional1."
He added that it is worth getting the Vatra just for that mode, and shared his own settings: Buk Level at max, Tone at 4 o'clock, and Drive at around 12:301.
Context in the Drunk Beaver range
The Vatra is a release from Drunk Beaver. Like the maker's Irpin pedal, it comes from a small builder rather than a mass-market brand1.
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Questions
What is the Drunk Beaver Vatra based on?
The Vatra is a dual-voice boost and overdrive derived from the Ibanez TS808 Tube Screamer circuit. Guitar Pedal X describes it as a signature pedal custom developed for Vlad Yarun, guitarist for the Ukrainian Hutsul metal band Karna. One of its two voicings stays close to the classic TS808 style, while the other replaces the usual clipping with MOSFETs for a fuller, higher-gain character.
What do the two modes on the Vatra do?
A toggle switch selects the two voicings. The upper Smereka mode is a classic TS808 style Tube Screamer voicing with the familiar Level, Tone and Drive controls. Flipping the switch down to Buk engages MOSFET clipping mode, which reviewer Stefan Karlsson of Guitar Pedal X called a revelation with a really distinct, fuller flavour.
Who is the Drunk Beaver Vatra a signature pedal for?
The Vatra was custom developed for Vlad Yarun, guitarist for the Ukrainian Hutsul metal band Karna. Guitar Pedal X reported its release as a signature high-gain amp booster overdrive in January 2026.
Does the Vatra use MOSFET or diode clipping?
The Vatra uses MOSFET clipping in its Buk mode, while the Smereka mode keeps the classic TS808 style Tube Screamer voicing. The two are selected with a toggle switch, so the pedal covers both clipping types depending on which voicing you choose.
How much does the Drunk Beaver Vatra cost?
The Vatra Boost / Overdrive goes for $150 on the Drunk Beaver Rocks Webstore, as reported by Guitar Pedal X when the pedal was released in January 2026.
Sources (2)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-01-16
- Tube Screamer Analysis, GuitarPCB
