Drunk Beaver Releases Versatile and Gutsy Trainer TS-100 Preamp + Boost
Those sharp-eyed among you will have noted that Drunk Beaver released its Trainer TS-15 Preamp Pedal in November of last year - based on the dynamic and punchy Traynor TS-15 Solid State Combo Amp. Obviously the TS-15 has a unique character that befits its smaller twin 8" speakers - and the pedal captures that perfectly.
The Traynor TS-100 (pictured below) was the TS-15’s bigger brother with full-size twin 12" speakers for a somewhat gutsier and beefier output. Each variant sounds very distinct - and while the TS-15 has more of a mids focus by virtue of its smaller speakers and cabinet. The TS-100 has quite a bit more heft and openness to it and in particular more of a low-end frequency profile.
Traynor TS-100 Amp Controls - Channel 1} Gain, Bass, Treble; Channel 2} Gain, Middle, Bass, Treble, Reverb, Master Volume.
Trainer TS-100 Pedal Controls - Bass, Mid, Treble, Master, Bright Switch, Gain, Preamp Footswitch (Red LED), Boost Footswitch [+7dB] (Magenta LED) (Boost is not independent!).
The TS-100 has quite a bit more range to it versus the TS-15 - both in gain and tone-shaping - obviously where that 3-Band EQ comes in very handy. Bright Switch is also great in particular for humbucker guitars - and the fixed value Boost is a sort of Full-Frequency Fat Boost - which I prefer to have on most of the time - the Boost also impacts on the low-end of the output giving the tonal output even more heft and punch!
The TS-15 and TS-100 are actually quite different in character and for sure have different usage scenarios - where the TS-15 is more about that low to mid gain sound - while you have the most fun with the TS-100 at full-throttle!
The TS-100 sounds properly chunky to me - which is just how I like my distortions - it's not super high gain - but broaches that ballpark nicely. This is just a really well-rounded preamp with lots of tonal possibilities - I prefer this to the TS-15 in many ways - because it's more versatile, while the TS-15 is pretty optimised for more low end tones - and is perfectly engineered for that - with a really interesting breakup character.
Of course If you can afford it - you should have both! - as they each render as quite a different and distinct gain pedals - where the one with the more controls obviously wins overall for me. That's not to diminish the TS-15 at all as that is perfectly fit for its own purpose - and a really exacting take on the original source amp. My only minor quibble for the TS-100 being that the Boost is not independent or variable.
So in short - this is a really gutsy, beefy preamp which has wonderful distortion texture when you properly crank it. My own preferred settings currently are - Bass @ 4 o'c, Mid @ 2 o'c, Treble @ 10/11 o'c, Master @ 2 o'c, Bright : On, Gain @ 3 o'c.
Available right now on the Drunk Beaver Reverb.Com Webstore for $175.
Demo
