Inspired by Boss's PW-2 Power Driver, Drunk Beaver's Seattle Driver delivers a majestic improved successor to its Fluff Fuzz and Mykolaiv Grunge forebears
So this has been quite the epic journey, and is in fact the 4th pedal in sequence that follows the Fluff Octave Fuzz (October 2021), Mykolaiv Grunge (October 2022), and Big Grunge (May 2023).
The Fluff Octave Fuzz is one of my very favourite Drunk Beaver pedals - a take on the Violet Ram’s Head Muff with additional Upper Octave and Boost Stage - so essentially a Boosted Octave Muff, and as pictured below in my favourite edition :
Next we had the Mykolaiv Grunge - a fantastic take on the Boss PW-2 Power Driver, essentially a Boss Big Muff take. This was a limited Pedal Drop, which introduced slider controls and a third Highs band - where you could flip between Stock and Custom centre frequencies for each of the bands - 130 / 80Hz, 1070 / 890Hz, 2775Hz. The added Highs Band control was labelled Scream, which added a little sizzle also to the top end. That pedal is pictured below :
Then we had the Big Grunge - a limited edition collaboration with Boost Guitar Pedals, and a distillation of the Mykolaiv Grunge. The Big Grunge has conventional controls with ±Bass @ 80Hz, ±Mids @ 890Hz, and Highs @ 3.5kHz. That model has the same knobs as the new Seattle Driver variant. Pictured here :
My favourite Fluff Octave Fuzz was discontinued around 1 year ago now, so this new Seattle Driver combines the best of the Mykolaiv Grunge / Big Grunge and that discontinued Fluff Fuzz. They're both obviously Big Muff style circuits - and so have a lot of parallels. Obviously the Boss PW-2 is at the heart of this engineering project too, where the circuit features original parts from that short-lived Power Driver (1996-98). The M5218 OpAmp used for the EQ is as per the original PW-2, and we have SMD 2SK209-GR FET's - which are equivalent to the THD ones in the PW-2. So as far as I'm concerned - this is a marriage of the Mykolaiv Grunge and Fluff Fuzz - minus the Boost Stage and second Footswitch.
Seattle Driver Controls - Fat (± Bass centered @ 80Hz, 5.06 Q), Muscle (± Mids centered @ 875Hz, 5.5 Q), Air (± Highs centered @ 1550Hz, 4.58 Q), Exhaust (Volume), Vacuum (% Ring Mod Upper Octave), Power (Drive).
While there is no separate Boost element to the Seattle Driver, the octave circuit is boosted a bit at the phase splitter. The end result is that this circuit doesn't need the extra boost, it's already plenty potent enough, and Unity volume is easily reached at around noon of the Exhaust dial.
Vitalii has tweaked the PW-2 EQ and output profiles of the PW-2 and Mykolaiv Grunge a touch, and I dare say that this Seattle Driver sounds even better balanced and more magnificent than either of my Fluff Fuzz or Mykolaiv Grunge. The 3-Band Active EQ really allows you to beautifully and expansively shape the pedal's output.
I consider this a definite improvement, and therefore worthy successor to the its forebears mentioned above. It really does elevate this Seattle Driver above any one of those that came before.
Preferred Settings - Fat @ 2 o'c, Muscle @ 9 o'c, Air @ 2 o'c, Exhaust @ 1 o'c, Vacuum @ 3 o'c, Power @ 3 o'c.
There's plenty of range on each of those dials, and you can go as searing as you like - or more vintage scooped profile like my current preferences. Any which way - this Uber Muff sounds superb!
The Seattle Driver Octave Muff goes for £175 on the Drunk Beaver Webstore, and is a general release thank goodness so that everyone can get their hands on one!
As far as I'm concerned the original PW-2 is a fantastic Muff Style secret weapon, while this Seattle Driver is a much improved take on that format, with added Ring Mod style Upper Octave.
I was sad to see the Fluff discontinued, but absolutely delighted to have an even better version of that circuit - combined with the best elements from the PW-2.
Demos
