Benson Amps STORKN B0ks Fuzz Pedal

The Benson Amps STORKN B0ks Fuzz Pedal is a modified/augmented version of the Stonk Box pedal, created in collaboration with the main inspiration of the Stonk Box, legendary experimental guitarist and composer David Torn! STORKN B0ks is a confused/confusing and vaguely nordic mashup of "Stonk Box" and "Torn." It utilizes Benson's automatic thermal bias, so after plugging it into power (9V DC only), it will take 2-3 minutes on average to sound correct. The color of the LED indicator light might change. Don’t turn the internal trimmer.
 The STORKN B0ks started as a tweaked version of the Stonk Box, Benson's heavily modified version of a Tone Bender mk1 Fuzz. When designing the Stonk, they reached out to David to help, since he is one of the most famous and discerning users of that original 60s circuit. He requested more bass on tap, mostly for amplifying the sub frequencies of his down tuned guitars, so Benson added a variable bass control, that effectively fades between the thinned out bass sound of the first version of the Zonk Machine (what the Stonk comes with stock), and the wide open sound of the mk1. The addition of more bass allows for even more gnarly, gated, gnarly and crushing Fuzz Tones than the Stonk Box could do stock.

The other major difference between the Stonk and the STORKN B0ks is the addition of a unique positive feedback switch. Knowing David and other unconventional guitarists were going to get a little weird with the pedal, Chris applied a misremembered idea from his lead tech and unconventional guitarist in his own right Carson McWhirter... He used a diode network in the oscillation path to get weird sub tones, synthy filter sounds and basically the ability to ruin a perfectly good set with the press of a button. It is powerful magic.

AUTOMATIC THERMAL BIAS TECHNOLOGY


The bias of the transistors in this pedal is automatically regulated by a circuit that GENTLY warms the Germanium transistors (2N404 OR 2N527) to a preset operating point using analog components, and ensures a consistent sound, no matter the external temperature. When the LED is amber, the transistors are warming up to increase their hFE (transistor gain) and to shift the bias point to the correct voltage. When the LED turns green, the warmer is off because the correct bias and hFE have been set. Expect the LED to toggle back and forth every so often while the pedal is on...that is how you know it's working. The heaters will warm the transistors enough to still be effective on a summer stage, but far cooler than anything that would harm the transistors.

INTERNAL TRIMMER


Please don’t turn the internal trimmer. It is precisely set at the factory. Turning the trimmer voids the warranty. The correct trimmer position is marked in case you get one used where a tone lord hath already turnt it.

POWER SUPPLY


This pedal is for use only with a 9V DC Boss-style center negative power supply. There is no battery. Please do not subject this pedal to more than 9V DC or the pedal or power supply could be destroyed. This pedal draws less than 100 mA when the heater is engaged, and far less than that when it is off. It will pull those 100 mA instantaneously, which most power supplies have no issue with. With substandard or non-standard power supplies it is possible the pedal will start oscillating madly at the heater threshold, where the LED changes. In this case you may try using a current doubler cable, or switching to a higher rated power output.