The Lineage Series ZONK is based on the mid-to-late 60’s 3 Germanium transistor Zonk Machine. A close cousin to the MKI, the ZONK is the lean, aggressive and stringy counterpart to the MKI with a high midrange emphasis and the same ripping attack and crumbling, sizzling decay.
ZONK plays especially well with hot pickups and amps, but is equally at home with single coils for a thinner spitty fuzz with lots of sustain and a gating artifacts. If you find a MKI has a bit too much bloom and sag with your setup, but dig the note attack and textured decay, you’ll love the ZONK. Built on the same point-to-point eyelet/PCB hybrid board as the MKI, the ZONK uses the schematic from the early V1 Germanium Zonk Machine to recreate its classic tones in a small, sleek footprint with modern features like a center negative 9v power jack (w/ internal battery snap), LED indicator and true bypass switching.
NOS capacitors and Germanium transistors are used throughout, specific components are subject to availability, though I am able to make a ripping Zonk with a variety of caps and transistors.
Standard model ships using a matched NOS 2N1303/AC125/MP42 Germanium transistor set, OR upgrade to an all British transistor set (typically Mullard, Brimar, NKT etc…).