R2R Electric Supa MKII Fuzz
The best fuzz I've ever played. Every knob is usable across its full span. Welcome back to Edge of Breakup.
In this episode the R2R Electric Supa MKII Fuzz takes center stage — running into my Giordano Guitars '60s S-Model, into the Benson Amps Monarch (NOS Tung Sol tubes) through the Boss Waza Tube Amp Expander with the Benson Tall Bird in the effects loop, into the Benson Vincent 2x12" cabinet.
The Supa MKII is Chris Vincent's (@djlavalamp) synthesis of two circuits that are essentially the same pedal under different names: the Sola Sound Tone Bender MKII and the Marshall Supa Fuzz — both made by the same people in the mid-1960s, the Supa Fuzz being a slightly evolved version of the MKII produced for Marshall's retail catalog. Chris combined his favorite elements of both and made modifications of his own, resulting in more overall volume headroom and a wider sonic palette while maintaining the integrity of the original circuit.
The components are what define a R2R build. Three hand-selected and matched vintage 1960s Amperex 2N280 and Mullard OC75 germanium transistors. Vintage Stackpole, CTS, and Centralab potentiometers. 1960s Philips Mustard Cap capacitors. 1960s ERO Foil capacitors. NOS Philips 10uf and 47uf capacitors. NOS Piher and Philips resistors. Every component recycled from 1950s and 1960s audio gear. Hand-wired.
The three-knob version featured here adds an external Bias control to the Volume and Fuzz — the Bias knob is where the range of this pedal truly opens up. Dial it into the sweet spot for the classic Tone Bender MKII / Supa Fuzz bloom and sustain. Push it hot for compressed, thick fuzz. Back it off for gated, spitty, broken territory. The circuit is extremely reactive to your guitar volume control — you can get tones ranging from crystal clean to bright overdrive to massive fuzz, all from rolling back the volume knob.
Get on the R2R Electric mailing list — it's the only way to get one: https://www.r2relectric.com/how-to-order
Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/djlavalamp/
🎸 Giordano Guitars: https://www.instagram.com/_giordanoguitars_/
🔊 Benson Amps: https://www.bensonamps.com/guitar-amplifiers
Subscribe for more boutique tone explorations.
🎸 Giordano Guitars '60s S-Model
🎛️ R2R Electric Supa MKII Fuzz | NOS Germanium | Tone Bender MKII + Marshall Supa Fuzz | Bias Control
🔊 Benson Amps Monarch (NOS Tung Sol) | Benson Tall Bird | Boss Waza TAE | Benson Vincent 2x12"
Recording: Universal Audio Apollo x4 | Royer R121 & SM57 on grill | Royer R10 on back | Ableton Live 11
