Recommend me a Tone Bender fuzz

[greatmutah]

As the title says. Recommend me a good tone bender. Things I’m looking at include the Keeley Fuzz Bender, Space Man Titan and the old EQD Tone Reaper. Want to know what other folks have tried and liked.

 

[Dave Lewis]

These are where it all started and not cheap.
https://www.macaris.co.uk/colorsound
Rick Beato on a trip to London a few years ago with the late CGS went to Macaris shortly before they moved out of London to Sussex.
He said it’s the most money I have ever spent on a pedal.

 

[Dave Lewis]

This pedal for the money is exceptional and been getting a lot of use here since its release a few months ago.

 

[Dave Lewis]

This Warm Audio has been my main go to since its release .

 

[dronerstone]

I can add my 2 cents about the following:

Lovepedal Bone Tender:
This is the pedal that made me fall in love with the mkII sound. It does the thing well enough, but I wanted to look further. Pretty basic, and a bit too noisy for my taste. Sold it on without regrets. That said, it's kinda affordable.

Warm Audio Warm Bender:
I like that one! What more can I say? Versatile enough to cover various voicings, and the voltage starve is a nice add-on. Imho, the Germanium modes don't really jive with buffers in front, but that's part of the deal. Somewhat noisy, depending on settings and placement though. I wish it'd have a bias knob. That's a tiny bummer here.

Ramble FX Twin Bender V3:
By far my favorite, unfortunately they've become expensive with Tim Krueger's passing (RIP). I truly love the impedance and bias controls, also having an mk1.5 and mkII in the same box, with three voicings (stock, fat, mid-forward) for each, that's a lot of colors to add to your palette!
Absolutely ZERO noise issues, thanks to the bias control.

Keeley Fuzz Bender:
Bought one used, very cheap. Liked it at first, but after honeymoon, I noticed a high-end fizz that I couldn't manage to unhear. It's always there. Might be due to placement... No idea. Sold it on and got the Twin Bender, the rest is history.

EHX Ripped Speaker:
This is a sleeper. Not exactly an mkII Bender, but it can go there, and do other things as well. Not too shabby. Got it as a gift, and was pleasantly surprised. Nice backup, I'd recommend checking it out if you can locally, and have limited budget. It's a bit more flexible than the "true to vintage" units, thanks to the tone knob.

Some day, I'll definitely consider looking further into the mkII offerings by JDM Pedals. Joe is a real wizard, and pricing is more than fair, I reckon.

 

[bikescene]

I have a Keely Fuzz Bender. It’s a fun pedal with the TMB controls, but am not sure how close it gets to a Tonebender.

I’ve always wanted to check out the germanium Tonebender offerings from Monsterpiece. Their wiring from gut shots is impressive.

 

[dronerstone]

I have a Keely Fuzz Bender. It’s a fun pedal with the TMB controls, but am not sure how close it gets to a Tonebender.

I’ve always wanted to check out the germanium Tonebender offerings from Monsterpiece. Their wiring from gut shots is impressive.

I believe the Keeley Fuzz Bender is "loosely inspired" by the mk3 Bender. Also, there's no mids knob. It's treble/bass only, and will often get a bit too scooped-sounding, imho.

 

[bikescene]

I believe the Keeley Fuzz Bender is "loosely inspired" by the mk3 Bender. Also, there's no mids knob. It's treble/bass only, and will often get a bit too scooped-sounding, imho.

Right, I haven’t looked at the pedal in a while. The middle knob is Bias. It can indeed stray towards a buzzy sound that doesn’t remind me of my idea of a Tonebender.

I just remembered that I have a Way Huge Havalina. I’ve seen it described as MKIII Tonebender-like.

 

[Dave Lewis]

I’ve shed a tear going through my friend the late great CGS videos looking for this one Lance made about his trip to London when Rick Beato was over for a visit.
I posted earlier in this thread Rick says it’s the most money he has ever spent on a pedal.
I guess he got the VAT back

 

[dronerstone]

Right, I haven’t looked at the pedal in a while. The middle knob is Bias. It can indeed stray towards a buzzy sound that doesn’t remind me of my idea of a Tonebender.

I just remembered that I have a Way Huge Havalina. I’ve seen it described as MKIII Tonebender-like.

The Havalina always sounded awesome in videos, I probably would've bought one already if it weren't discontinued.

EDIT: And yes, I also remember reading it's closely related to the Bender breed.

Btw, EQD Park/Colby fuzz is also a nice mk3.

 

[la szum]

Authentic that sticks to the Original Script, or a Modern Twist on an Old Tale?

 

[greatmutah]

I’m good with both authentic and modern twists. Great rec’s so far everyone. This is helpful.

 

[Funk Soul Brother]

Many Tone Benders have come & gone, only ones I kept:

Super Electric MkI (Mullard OC75 + 2X TI 2G306)
Super Electric MkII (Mullard OC75 3X)
Pedalworx Bender Over Under MkII by Bob McBroom (RIP)
Jext Telez Dizzy Tone v5 OC44 MKIII
Throbak Stone Bender MkII
D*A*M Drag'N'Fly Ge/Si Mk1.5 Hybrid (bought it new for $170!)

An issue for many Ge fuzzers, that didn't make the cut for me, was excessive/unusable noise ~ Either the builder knows and/or cares to sort out self-noise & gain problemos, or they don't...

I'm looking at you Seeker

Also, picking/matching x-sisters is a true art, with many costing *big* $$$ for the skill ~ I promptly sold *all* of my *expensive* fuzzers when I learned that Jimmy Behan (Super Electric) had learned the art from David Main et al., bought a few to audition (NOS x-sister builds exceeded expectations), but wasn't charging a kidney to get into the game.

YMMV

 

[dronerstone]

[...] charging a kidney to get into the game.

Yup, some Bender cross WAY into cork-sniffer country, even beyond the "own-fart-inhaler" red line of death, e.g. Isle Of Tone (1 grand and more!).

People are stupid. NOS components yadda yadda, but this is legit asshole territory.

Pardon my french, but imho 300-400 euros/bucks should be absolute tops for a nice fuzz. Anything above, and it's your own fault if you're buying that.

Ridiculous.

 

[Dave Lewis]

I’ve just changed the black to white chicken head knobs.
Much easier to see .

 

[saarangnarayan]

It's NOT strictly based on a Tone Bender circuit, but Lovepedal's Bone Tender is Sean's take on the Tone Bender sound. Unlike proper TB circuits, the Bone Tender will clean up pretty nicely with the volume knob. And it is LOUD.

 

[Funk Soul Brother]

I’ve just changed the black to white chicken head knobs.
Much easier to see .
View attachment 45023View attachment 45024

I think the red clown nose bauble really completes the package

BTW, are you on a mission to promote *all* muso gear coming out of China?

 

[greatmutah]

I think the red clown nose bauble really completes the package

BTW, are you on a mission to promote *all* muso gear coming out of China?

Are Warm Audio MIC? That’s not necessarily a deal breaker for me. I’d rather spend money on an ODD Drive then buy from Fulltone (shit customer service among other things) but that’s just me and that pedal.

 

[la szum]

I’m good with both authentic and modern twists. Great rec’s so far everyone. This is helpful.

For a Modern Twist with all the Special Sauce I have to suggest the Basic Audio Scarab Deluxe.

I think it is one of the best Modern Fuzzes out there. No one makes anything like it. Dead silent.
Stone cold deafening. Fat. Thin. Brash. Infinite sustain. It's kind of bonkers what it can do.

Legendary in my book.

You almost never see any Used ones for sale, which is telling.

 

[Dave Lewis]

The Warm Bender

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION & EXTERNAL SPECS​

• Selectable Three-Circuit, NOS Transistor Fuzz Pedal Based Off Of Two Iconic Vintage Tone Benders
• Controls: Level, Attack, Version, SAG
• Custom Enclosure With A Durable Hammered Metal Powder Coat Finish
• 1/4" Input And Output Jacks
• Dimensions: 6” x 2.25” x 3.5”
• Weight: 1.5lbs

• 5-Year Warranty

COMPONENTS & INTERNAL SPECS​

• Premium Components, Including All-NOS Germanium transistors: (1X) OC76, (1X) SFT337, & (3X) OC75, Carbon Resistors & Film Capacitors
• 100% Through-Hole Construction
• True-Bypass Switching
• 9-Volt Battery Or External 9V Regulated DC Adapter (center-negative)
• Current Draw: 6 mA (9V)