Tone bender germanium transistor.
The MKII Tone Bender mostly came with OC75s.
Tone bender germanium transistor You can also reduce the value diyguitarpedals. The circuit is simple lol jk. 5V DC for optimal tone. Why does a Tone Bender MkII sounds good? half a cent which makes for a far higher internal resistance. The Thomas Organ V828 service manual indicated that if European specification transistors were not available, a pair of SK3004 germanium transistors would be The Deimos Germanium Fuzz is a clone of the Sola Sound Tone Bender Mk. Sometime in the early 1990s, the Vox Tone Bender Fuzz (model V829) appeared, announcing itself as “Germanium Charged. Steps. If you want to build a germanium transistor version, you can get your own transistors ( Small Bear carries them) and you can use them with this kit. an SFT337 transistor into the version of the V828 Tone Bender sold in the North American market place. Q1 and 2 can be low gain silicon if you don't want to use germaniums. Original: 3 x OC81D, then 3 x OC75; I trying to find two transistors for my VOX Tone Bender Clone. 5 mostly uses OC75 transistors [early Fuzz Faces tend to use The Tethys Germanium Fuzz is an adaptation of the Baldwin-Burns Buzzaround, a germanium transistor fuzz first sold in 1966 and best known as Robert Fripp’s fuzz of choice in the late 1960s. I used transistors scavenged from transistor radios and other low buck Japanese consumer electronics. The big thing about germanium transistors being temperamental is that they’re also unpredictable. 4 of these are Silicon Transistor varieties and one is a Ge/Si Hybrid (Magnetic Effects Solar Bender), while the other 10 are of course authentic Germanium Transistor types - Completed builds: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face,Tone Bender Professional Mk 3,Tone Bender 3-Knob,Baja BK Butler Tube Driver,Baja Real Tube Overdrive,Roger Mayer Octavia,EH Soul Preacher,Tech 21 XXL Distortion,MFOS Weird Sound Generator. As mentioned, fuzz pedals generally don’t use a lot of components, and the Tone Bender is no different. Type I Germanium: Newmarket NTK275 and high calibre Germanium Transistor alternatives; Type II Hard Silicon : Fuzz Face / Tone Bender / RangeMaster. Thread starter PaulPauliePabloPaolo; Start date Jul 30 Since I'm on a breadboarding binge and you got me interested in Germanium again. The Tone Bender MKII is a three transistor circuit [1] based on the MKI. 5 didn’t say Sola Sound on it,” explains Ant. Project overview. Tone Bender builder David Main of D*A*M cleans up the fuzzy picture of these classic British but it’s the same type of two-transistor circuit, albeit the 1. Forums. is it germanium or silicon you used? sounds to me like you're overloading the input of the first transistor and making it hit cutoff With the fairly imminent arrival of the 3,000 limited-run edition Boss TB-2W Germanium Tone Bender MKII, On this occasion there is a further 7th transistor - 3 x 25K184 + 25A1335 + 3 x 2SC3378 for even more texture and gain. There was a late-70s Colorsound Tone Bender Distortion, which used an IC and clipping diodes—this is not a Tone Bender. Not much off from what a All the key Tone Bender circuits consisted of Germanium Transistor types, while there has been a recent trend to replicate those as closely as possible with Silicon equivalent - where here the most obvious example of that is the Tampco All-Bender. The All-Bender is the only one here to specifically target the 4 key circuits via dedicated controls. i put 3 AC125 germanium transistors into instead of OC81D, more easy to found, and result is perfect. What this does mean though is 1966: Sola Sound produces simplified 2-transistor Tone Bender MKI. and mind the pinout of the transistor. B. CTC are dab hands at creating smart fuzz circuits - Cool, mini documentary on the history of the Tone Bender and the production of the Boss collaboration with It's almost become the "AC128"-ish generic part number for an American germanium transistor. So the Hi, I’ve acquired a couple of germanium transistors one is a cv7003 and a 2G371A would these work together in a tone bender build. Highlights Index. It should be either SFT337-SFT363E or SFT337-OC76 or perhaps OC76-OC76 combinations, however SFT337 and OC76 would be preferable. Fuzz fell out of favor in the 1980s as tastes changed and effects lifted from the floor to racks. 4 of these are Silicon Transistor varieties and one is a Ge/Si Hybrid (Magnetic Effects Solar Bender), while the other 10 are of course authentic Germanium Transistor types - The TB-2W Tone Bender Story. I built a Maestro Fuzz Tone FZ-1 clone a week ago and used some AC128's I had laying around. Boutique Bender (PNP Germanium) Bill of Materials; Boutique Bender (PNP Germanium) Schematic; Boutique Bender (PNP Germanium) Parts Layout The transistor gains for the MKII should be something like 70 for Q1 and Q2 and 100 for Q3. The AC121 Toshiba transistors are best suited for Q2/Q3 positions, and are the higher gain of the set will have “just the right leakage” The transistors in this kit are New Stock OC81D germanium transistors which have been tested in a MKII circuit to ensure optimal performance and low noise. Overview If you are planning on using germanium transistors, TRANSISTOR SOCKETS. 2x AC130, 2x 2N1304 & 1 bonus to round out the gain ranges. It is recommended to use sockets for the transistors. Which brings us to the Boss Waza Craft TB-2W Tone Bender, a collaboration between Boss and original Tone Bender manufacturer Sola Sound. Q3 could also be silicon, but a germanium is most likely going to sound best. 5’ moniker is one that was only applied to the two-transistor Tone Bender by collectors in modern times. For a MkI, you can throw out the rules for other fuzzes, Germanium fuzz based on the Sola Sound/Vox Tone Bender MKII three transistor fuzz circuit with added bias control. The kit includes transistor sockets to make i Based on one of the original “MKI” Tone Bender circuits, Warm Bender’s NOS 76 setting brings a cutting, Warm Bender is made with 100% through-hole construction using NOS Germanium transistors (for NOS 75 & NOS 76 or a The kit contains all the parts to make a great sounding NPN silicon transistor version of a ColorSound™ Tone Bender™ 3 knob Version. Brand New. Of course you get a really great Tone Bender, Fuzz Face and Rangemaster all in the same box - which may be a touch overkill for some! Sola Sound Tone Bender MKIIThe Tone Bender MKII is one of the most legendary fuzz boxes of all. The Phobos Germanium Fuzz is a clone of the Colorsound / Sola Sound Tone Bender Mk III. The germanium transistors helped to create a smoother, warmer fuzz tone that is somewhat along the lines of a tube amp. Embraced by many of the world’s greatest guitarists, the sound of this pedal is woven into the fabric of some of the most influential music created over the last five-plus decades. Forcing voltage with trim pots results in From the various analyses I’ve read on the internet, people say that you want leaky germaniums in a Tone Bender, and in particular that 200uA is the target for Q3. And when you have a great one in your chain, you have a seriously expressive tool at your disposal. Fully clockwise is more gated sound. TONE BENDER PROFESSIONAL M 2 / DEIMOS FU 3 Transistor Selection & Biasing A person could write a book, or at least a pretty lengthy essay, about germanium transistors and their use in vintage fuzz circuits. But like your warm tube amp has a hole in the speaker. This three transistor fuzz was the first iteration of the Tone Bender family and a refinement of the earlier FZ-1 Different to the classic germanium transistor Tone Bender in the slim enclosure the Colorsound Supa Tonebender features a silicon transistor circuit. T. And these days everything sounds fuzzy to me so I now no longer need such a circuit. CTC are dab hands at creating smart fuzz circuits - Most notably the Tone Bender. Skip to content. View similar gear from other sellers on Reverb. Original: 2 x OC75; Alternatives: CV7005 + OC76 | 2 x МП20 0378; MKII. 4 of my favourite Germanium and Silicon Switching Fuzzes. 99. With silicon numbers we would have up to 2600 ohms, but this is germanium. I can't seem to find the original ones anywhere, but I think that it anyway is better getting new (tested) ones. Highlights. 6V when adjusting the trimpot for Q3? Hello! I have built the (Fuzzdog) Tone Bender Pro MKII and it works and sounds good on first test with guitar, however, when it comes to biasing the transistors, the collector voltage ranges I see when adjusting the trimpots for Q2 and Q3 do not match those A brief overview of 5 Formidable Multi-Bender Varieties. It was one of the pioneers of guitar effects pedals, hugely influential both musically and electronically to The kit contains all the parts to make a great sounding NPN silicon transistor version of a ColorSound™ Tone Bender Mark II™. au : Germanium Transistor Sets - DIYGP PCBs & Kits Diodes Germanium Transistor Sets ICs Trimpot Transistors Wire Accessories Capacitors Pedal Decals Vactrol / Optocoupler Resistors Switches LED Enclosures Knobs DBE PCB's Audio & Power Potentiometers ecommerce, open source, shop, online shopping For fans of the aggressive germanium fuzz tones that could be wrought from those early units, Hurst’s slightly modified three-transistor circuit ran on nine volts, rather than three like the FZ-1, making its distortion louder, aggressive and more sustaining. Fortunately, you don’t need parts with a specific name. View similar gear. A brief overview of 5 Formidable Multi-Bender Varieties. I obviously would need one more transistor I was hoping to get another 2G371A but could only get one! However, it is true that it is MK 1. I’ve never really dealt with germanium transistors before and I’ve come to understand they need matching but I’m not really sure how it works and what values I’m looking for. This makes the stripboard layout for it pretty easy! You can see that some of the components are a little crowded in the first half of the board, but they’re actually not hard to solder; it’s a bit of a squeeze on the top of the board, but Classic fuzz circuits like the Fuzz Face & Tone Bender (which is what the Tone Vendor is) rely on Germanium transistors for their unique sound, so any other type is out. Mar 24, 2025. Skip the OCxxx parts, which are expensive and are often out of spec rejects these days. For the PNP silicon version, you can use 2N3906. OC75 - SO-2 typical Germanium Transistor Black Glass 'Bulb'/'Bullet' The OC75 is pretty much synonymous with the Tone Bender Vox Tone Bender. I think the transistor is bad (it squeals), so went to buy a different transistor, but Small Bear is closed because of the pandemic. Rated 5 out of 5. Elsewhere, I managed to find some brand-new 2N404 Germanium Transistors from NTE Buy Warm Audio WarmBender Tone Bender-Style Fuzz Pedal featuring Two Iconic Tone-Bender Circuits in One, Third Circuit for Silicon Fuzz Tone, Ideal for Overdrive and Huge Feedback, Thru-Hole Construction and NOS Germanium, Classic Attack and Level Controls, Voltage SAG Position 1 is a two-transistor fuzz with an NOS OC76 transistor paired The first two positions on Warm Bender use NOS germanium transistors to authentically reproduce the intricate tones and unique separate circuits of vintage Tone Bender fuzz pedals. V (2 x Mullard OC75) Scotty Smith defines this as definitely not a Tone Bender - while for me it combines elements of Tone Bender, Fuzz Face and Germanium Overdrive. By default it has a beautifully rich and creamy I built lots of clones of the Vox Tone Bender / Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face back around 1968 - 1970. I don’t have the level of expertise to do this, so While I'm not as good a historian as others, the story goes that the Tone Bender was first designed to compete with the Gibson/Maestro Fuzz Tone. News. 99 sold out. All the Fuzzes here have at least 3 controls and wholly deliver on that style of texture. Recent production NPN Ge is, The ACY23 transistors have extremely low leakage, and a perfect gain range for “Q1” in a fuzz build. Germanium Transistor Selection: It is important to select the right transistor from the whole batch in order to archive the best effect performance. The three-transistor circuitry uses germanium The Supa Tone Bender Released in 1973 under the Colorsound brand, the Supa Tone Bender had a noticeably different tone and feel to the previous pedals in the series. Although minor variations occur, the “Ge sound” is the same timbre (type of tone) as any other Ge transistors. 5 piece NPN Germanium Transistor Set. Notifications. The circuit has far more influence on the tone than the transistor type (with some exceptions that are a $199/£209, warmaudio. Sola Sound produced the circuit for Vox (who sold their version as the "Vox Tone Bender Professional MKII"), [5] “Boutique” ToneBender,(with a lot of “Soul”) (PNP Germanium Transistor, Positive Ground) This is a very good variation on the 3 knob Tone Bender Designed by a very successful “boutique company”. Just need to box it! Hello, for everyone that loves Tone Bender MKII, here's some new stuff from Sola Sound that can maybe help avoiding the germanium instability, at least for a good measure. That's how I have my Tone Bender MKII wired, PNP germanium transistors wired for negative ground. Free Shipping. Don't touch the resistors, the circuit should work with stock values. Location: Darwin,Northern Territory Australia Has thanked: 95 times Been thanked: 300 times I recently built a Simulcast using a NOS Russian Ge transistor from Small Bear. I'm wanting to pick up some germanium based fuzzes, namely the tone bender mki and the hoof/reaper, however germanium transistors seem to be extremely difficult to come by, and where they are, seem extremely expensive for what they are. The Tone Bender circuit gained a tone control Well, because the Tone Bender MK I is basically a Fuzz Face with some slight changes in resistor and capacitor values, You can't use a multimeter to measure germanium transistors, it doesn't tell you anything. I tried it to be as original as possible, except for some minor and necessary changes. There is, however, a small arrow pointing at one of the legs. Ic is somewhat around What happens to the HPF calculations if you change the inout transistor base resistor to 10K and the second transistor Although branded as a Tone Bender, the 1. I would love some input OC75N, Germanium Transistor as used in the most of the original Vox Tone Bender, Marshall Supa Fuzz and John Hornby Skewes ZONK MACHINE TRANSISTORS. 5 is similar to the Dick Denney designed Vox Distortion Booster circuit, nearly identical to the Italian made Vox Tone Bender circuit, AC128! Germanium transistor! Oh dear, my age is showing. The controls: - Level: the output level - Attack: the amount of fuzz - Bias: bias control for the transistors. com. These usually leak quite a bit. I *think* this provides the leakage of a germanium transistor equal to the leakage of the diode. Yet these facets of the Tone Bender's performance, in aggregate, are also its strengths. 5/vox 2 transistor circuit that spawned the fuzzface thrown These would primarily be those such as the Gibson Maestro, the Sola Sound Tone Bender, and a few others. For Selected NPN Ge transistors have excellent gain (Hfe) ratings for Fuzzface, Tonebender, etc fuzz builds, as well as low leakage (Icb) for a stable, more reliable pedal with less temperature sensitivity. The actual part number of the transistor doesn't matter as much as the type (PNP or NPN) and the gain value (hfe usually). com It’s that time again – Warm Audio’s cloning vat has been reheated! Thrown in this time are a handful of vintage British fuzz pedal designs, some new-old-stock Germanium transistors and a can of grey hammertone paint. Late 1966 Fuzz Face released; ‘Arbiter England’ logo; NKT275 germanium transistors; grey finish. and thats actually not for germanium, if youre doing it with germanium, lose the pot on Q1 thanx always think outside the box The classic Dallas RangeMaster is/was a Germanium Transistor type (OC44) Treble Booster which the majority here are too (Germanium that is!). Especially Q1 needs a You want -8V on Q3c to have good output, tone and no artifacts. The ’90s Tone Bender Resurgence to Today. Hey all, I’ve just finished my first pedal build of a tone bender style three transistor pedal on a breadboard. The granddaddy of fuzz pedals, the Maestro Fuzz-Tone, used three RCA 2N270 germanium transistors, while most versions of its British semi-equivalent, the Sola Sound (later Colorsound) Tone Bender, also carried three germanium transistors in the interesting combination of one Mullard/Phillips OC75 and two Texas Instruments 2G381s. 99, read real reviews and discover how 5 pro artists use it. 5’s’ were fitted with Impex S3-1T transistors instead). And sliding steaming into the output tray is the freshly minted Warm Bender: it’s a three-mode take on some classic I suggest you to have a trial with the Tone Bender MK2 professional - a 3 transistor version. 5 series fuzz using germanium transistor even if it is so, it is enough to obtain a sense of compact compression unique to successive TONE BENDER (even with this pick attack It is that Kanji that picks up as much as it is). typically with two Mullard OC75 germanium transistors (although some early ‘MK1. All in all, it’s more akin to the natural breakup of a vacuum tube. Sola Sound Tone Bender ‘MK 1. Can you share the parameters of the germanium transistor you've used Vox V829 Tone Bender Germanium Charged Fuzz - See the best prices from $199. I used NOS TI 2N404 transistors in my build and put in a 20K pot for the 8. 5’ (similar to Fuzz Face circuit); 2 transistors. The original Tonebender employs germanium transistors (AC128). The TB-2W is a great Exposing the Q3 bias externally is also helpful for tone control. Very much the mk1. Choose the gain of each transistor as follows: Q1: β = 70-90 Q2: β = 50-70 Q3: β = 110-130. “Larry was always making pedals to sell through some distributor or different shops. This was due to the fact that it didn’t use germanium transistors like previous Tone Benders, and was essentially a mildly modified Big Muff—complete with four silicon transistors and diode clipping. 4 of my favourite I can get all manner of tones out of this including several kinds of Fuzz Face and Tone Bender varieties. 1968 ‘Dallas-Arbiter Released in 1962 as Everything you need to build your own 1965 Tone Bender MKI In 1965 engineer Gary Hurst designed the first Tone Bender, colloquially referred to as the MKI. ao link. It was developed in 1966, Later examples feature various two- and three-transistor circuits, with silicon transistors instead of the germanium types. The circuit is constructed on a strip-board. ” Your questions are welcome, even if the type of transistor is not the most important in the Tone Bender Mk3 circuit To be very synthetic : there are 4 families of germanium transistors, each with a specific sonic comportment Tone Bender This is the Tonebender, one of the most iconic fuzz effects from the 60s. With 20dB of gain at 100hz or 10khz, plus a voltage bias control, it allows you to create your own perfect hairy fuzz tone for any situation, from bass heavy stoner metal to octave-like Hendrix style effects. It’s all about the transistors. for a Fuzz Face), but as the Germanium transistor began replacing vacuum Germanium is Germanium. See page 5 for more information. It's the Q3 one that needs to be a higher hFE for the whole thing to really work. With some light modifications, I feel it is very good sounding device. No need to worry, though. The MKII Tone Bender mostly came with OC75s. The circuit was designed with that in mind. Sola Sound’s Tone Bender Professional MKII was an improvement upon the two-transistor Tone Bender ‘MK1. ***These tweaks are included on the ToneBender MKII For more than two decades, the Tone Bender as we know and love it today lay dormant and forgotten. I have 3 germanium transistors at the follwowing gains: 65 hfe 67hfe 120hfe What positions should these go into my tonebender in order to optimize tone? Q1= hfe Q2= hfe Q3= hfe Also, one of my transistors, a hitachi 2SB77, has no emitter tab. Among the iconic fuzz pedals in music history, the Tone Bender is one of the most revered and unique. Many guitarists feel that the germanium transistor creates a warm fuzz tone similar to the sound of an As with the ‘MKI’, the ‘MK1. What about the three-transistor set for the Sola Tone Bender Professional Mark II? The second and third stages are exactly the same as in the Fuzz Face, and the first stage needs one that measures from 75-100. GPX AI. Graou. . In fact this new circuit wasn't new at all: At a closer look it reveals its TONE BENDER MKII $289. Now, this does bring up a very important point: a lot of people will say that you need to buy a germanium fuzz instead of silicon, that the germanium far surpasses the silicon in quality and all-around-gnarliness. Low leakage NPN Ge, JDM Pedals “Vindicator” Tone Bender MK2 Fuzz & Germanium Rangemaster Dual Pedal; Categories. This listing has ended. VOX Tone Bender Germanium Fuzz V829 / Fender Tweed Champ Reveb and Jazzmaster. 5’. “BOSS has used a modern germanium transistor in the TB-2W. Check the postings on diystompboxes. The MP20B is a great transistor for Tone Benders because you can find ones with an hfe of 100+ relatively easily. I found two things that fry germanium devices, heat and voltage. Sorry about my English. Index. Go to Geofex and build the germanium transistor tester. This leads to their warmth and organic tone and generally dynamic nature. No, aliens did not bring us the first fuzz tone pedal (although it would've made a great sequel to Crossroads if Jimi Hendrix sold his soul to E. Coming from a poor man who enjoys this hobby. 2K resistor to bias the Q3 transistor to -4. II (two-knob) that was produced and sold by Macaris in London beginning in late 1966. Guitar Gear Workshop Tone Bender MKII - DIY Kit - Germanium Fuzz. Six Piece PNP Germanium Transistor Kit - For Classic Fuzz, Tonebender, Depending on the transistor, Modded Tone Bender Mk. All pretested and gain sorted. com for suggestions on how It's got a mosFET, a silicon, and a germanium transistor. If you want to build a germanium transistor version, you can get your own germanium transistor set Germanium transistor clipping, at least to me, often sounds tighter and less crunchy. Reactions: andare. TONE BENDER M III / PHOBOS FU 5 Transistor Selection & Biasing A person could write a book, or at least a pretty lengthy essay, about germanium transistors and their use in This is my silicon version of the Tone Bender MKI. From the various analyses I’ve read on the internet, people say that you want leaky germaniums in a Tone Bender, and in particular that 200uA is the target for Q3. 5 version, but with an additional amplifier gain stage. Tone Bender MKIII, Q3 Transistor Comparison OC71, OC75, OC81 Guitar Related Ramblings - Vero, P2P, Vintage Effects and Amps Vintage fuzz, guitars, amps, guitar effects I’m yet to find a germanium transistor that II Professional, the Tone Bender Mk. These TG5S’s are quickly becoming my favorite fuzz transistors, a well-suited replacement for the almost unobtainable OC71 & OC75. The 4 knobs are Volume Distortion, with further toggle-switches for Tone Bypass and 2 x Transistor Selector switches with Left being Tone bender transistor matching I’ve just purchased a load of parts to make a tone bender mk1. Bret608. My tone bender clone has been sounding wonderful but all of a sudden i had an issue. MK1. Vox Tone Bender Stripboard Layout. Price $119. And the germie can have horribly high leakage, and it doesn't seem to affect performance at all! But again - not a Tonebender. Distinctive features include: cast aluminium enclosure, TL:DR: Tone Bender Pro MKII - Why can I only achieve a range of 0-3. andare Well OC75N, Germanium Transistor as used in the most of the original Vox Tone Bender, Marshall Supa Fuzz and John Hornby Skewes ZONK MACHINE OC75N Germanium Transistor, used by the Vox Tone Bender Type I Germanium: Newmarket NTK275 and high calibre Germanium Transistor alternatives; Type II Hard Silicon : Fuzz Face / Tone Bender / RangeMaster. For the Rangemaster, Fuzz Face, and Hybrid Tone Bender, you’re fine using low-leakage germanium transistors with hFE values between 60 and 120. Considering how much in If you'd use germanium transistor (like a AC127 Ge NPN, I can't find spice model for 2N388) it would work as is, but silicon NPN Q1 won't open. When it gets warmer turn the knob anti-clockwise to reduce gating. III PedalBuilder; Jun 19, 2024; Build Reports; Replies 11 Views 2K. Position #1 is a two-transistor fuzz with an NOS OC76 transistor paired with an NOS SFT337. DVD & Downloads; Guitar Lessons; JDM Pedals; Compare to Sola Sound Tone Bender MKII. Enter a germanium transistor as it is the properties (gain and leakage). This ‘Professional’ spec TB MKII hits a beautiful mix of gate and sustain courtesy a pair of NOS Texas Instruments 2N404’s and a Polish made CEMI TG5S in Q2. Tone Vendor MK II (first fuzz build) I’ve been reading through Tone Bender schematics and I’m thinking of building a MkIII or MkIV (I already have a MkII clone I bought before I started building myself). While the first version was essentially the same topology as a Fuzz Face, and the second version added a gain stage in front, this third version from 1967-1968 was a completely different circuit, using a Darlington-pair transistor configuration to drive a third transistor, Much like the “Made in Italy” VOX Tone Bender, the Supa Tone Bender and Jumbo Tone Bender should not be mistaken for the earlier three-transistor designs. When it comes to germanium transistors, buying them in bulk from eBay is usually a better deal than buying small matched sets. The gains don't have to be exact, but it helps for them to be close to these values. they can be $149 - An "extreme" evolution of the Tone Bender, the Keeley’s Fuzz Bender adds an active EQ after the three-transistor fuzz circuit for added versatility. I think for Q1 an Q2 they might work just fine. Popular. The Buzzaround is very similar to the third You’ll see tone control in more modern three transistor fuzzes like the Fulltone Soul-Bender and the Legends of Fuzz Bender. Tone Bender Mk2 Transistors?. lvepdjexcxjdenvbdfubvvumsfypwocpqeurapulznsqofglgxjotnkpouiumhzengyn
Tone bender germanium transistor You can also reduce the value diyguitarpedals. The circuit is simple lol jk. 5V DC for optimal tone. Why does a Tone Bender MkII sounds good? half a cent which makes for a far higher internal resistance. The Thomas Organ V828 service manual indicated that if European specification transistors were not available, a pair of SK3004 germanium transistors would be The Deimos Germanium Fuzz is a clone of the Sola Sound Tone Bender Mk. Sometime in the early 1990s, the Vox Tone Bender Fuzz (model V829) appeared, announcing itself as “Germanium Charged. Steps. If you want to build a germanium transistor version, you can get your own transistors ( Small Bear carries them) and you can use them with this kit. an SFT337 transistor into the version of the V828 Tone Bender sold in the North American market place. Q1 and 2 can be low gain silicon if you don't want to use germaniums. Original: 3 x OC81D, then 3 x OC75; I trying to find two transistors for my VOX Tone Bender Clone. 5 mostly uses OC75 transistors [early Fuzz Faces tend to use The Tethys Germanium Fuzz is an adaptation of the Baldwin-Burns Buzzaround, a germanium transistor fuzz first sold in 1966 and best known as Robert Fripp’s fuzz of choice in the late 1960s. I used transistors scavenged from transistor radios and other low buck Japanese consumer electronics. The big thing about germanium transistors being temperamental is that they’re also unpredictable. 4 of these are Silicon Transistor varieties and one is a Ge/Si Hybrid (Magnetic Effects Solar Bender), while the other 10 are of course authentic Germanium Transistor types - Completed builds: Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face,Tone Bender Professional Mk 3,Tone Bender 3-Knob,Baja BK Butler Tube Driver,Baja Real Tube Overdrive,Roger Mayer Octavia,EH Soul Preacher,Tech 21 XXL Distortion,MFOS Weird Sound Generator. As mentioned, fuzz pedals generally don’t use a lot of components, and the Tone Bender is no different. Type I Germanium: Newmarket NTK275 and high calibre Germanium Transistor alternatives; Type II Hard Silicon : Fuzz Face / Tone Bender / RangeMaster. Thread starter PaulPauliePabloPaolo; Start date Jul 30 Since I'm on a breadboarding binge and you got me interested in Germanium again. The Tone Bender MKII is a three transistor circuit [1] based on the MKI. 5 didn’t say Sola Sound on it,” explains Ant. Project overview. Tone Bender builder David Main of D*A*M cleans up the fuzzy picture of these classic British but it’s the same type of two-transistor circuit, albeit the 1. Forums. is it germanium or silicon you used? sounds to me like you're overloading the input of the first transistor and making it hit cutoff With the fairly imminent arrival of the 3,000 limited-run edition Boss TB-2W Germanium Tone Bender MKII, On this occasion there is a further 7th transistor - 3 x 25K184 + 25A1335 + 3 x 2SC3378 for even more texture and gain. There was a late-70s Colorsound Tone Bender Distortion, which used an IC and clipping diodes—this is not a Tone Bender. Not much off from what a All the key Tone Bender circuits consisted of Germanium Transistor types, while there has been a recent trend to replicate those as closely as possible with Silicon equivalent - where here the most obvious example of that is the Tampco All-Bender. The All-Bender is the only one here to specifically target the 4 key circuits via dedicated controls. i put 3 AC125 germanium transistors into instead of OC81D, more easy to found, and result is perfect. What this does mean though is 1966: Sola Sound produces simplified 2-transistor Tone Bender MKI. and mind the pinout of the transistor. B. CTC are dab hands at creating smart fuzz circuits - Cool, mini documentary on the history of the Tone Bender and the production of the Boss collaboration with It's almost become the "AC128"-ish generic part number for an American germanium transistor. So the Hi, I’ve acquired a couple of germanium transistors one is a cv7003 and a 2G371A would these work together in a tone bender build. Highlights Index. It should be either SFT337-SFT363E or SFT337-OC76 or perhaps OC76-OC76 combinations, however SFT337 and OC76 would be preferable. Fuzz fell out of favor in the 1980s as tastes changed and effects lifted from the floor to racks. 4 of these are Silicon Transistor varieties and one is a Ge/Si Hybrid (Magnetic Effects Solar Bender), while the other 10 are of course authentic Germanium Transistor types - The TB-2W Tone Bender Story. I built a Maestro Fuzz Tone FZ-1 clone a week ago and used some AC128's I had laying around. Boutique Bender (PNP Germanium) Bill of Materials; Boutique Bender (PNP Germanium) Schematic; Boutique Bender (PNP Germanium) Parts Layout The transistor gains for the MKII should be something like 70 for Q1 and Q2 and 100 for Q3. The AC121 Toshiba transistors are best suited for Q2/Q3 positions, and are the higher gain of the set will have “just the right leakage” The transistors in this kit are New Stock OC81D germanium transistors which have been tested in a MKII circuit to ensure optimal performance and low noise. Overview If you are planning on using germanium transistors, TRANSISTOR SOCKETS. 2x AC130, 2x 2N1304 & 1 bonus to round out the gain ranges. It is recommended to use sockets for the transistors. Which brings us to the Boss Waza Craft TB-2W Tone Bender, a collaboration between Boss and original Tone Bender manufacturer Sola Sound. Q3 could also be silicon, but a germanium is most likely going to sound best. 5’ moniker is one that was only applied to the two-transistor Tone Bender by collectors in modern times. For a MkI, you can throw out the rules for other fuzzes, Germanium fuzz based on the Sola Sound/Vox Tone Bender MKII three transistor fuzz circuit with added bias control. The kit includes transistor sockets to make i Based on one of the original “MKI” Tone Bender circuits, Warm Bender’s NOS 76 setting brings a cutting, Warm Bender is made with 100% through-hole construction using NOS Germanium transistors (for NOS 75 & NOS 76 or a The kit contains all the parts to make a great sounding NPN silicon transistor version of a ColorSound™ Tone Bender™ 3 knob Version. Brand New. Of course you get a really great Tone Bender, Fuzz Face and Rangemaster all in the same box - which may be a touch overkill for some! Sola Sound Tone Bender MKIIThe Tone Bender MKII is one of the most legendary fuzz boxes of all. The Phobos Germanium Fuzz is a clone of the Colorsound / Sola Sound Tone Bender Mk III. The germanium transistors helped to create a smoother, warmer fuzz tone that is somewhat along the lines of a tube amp. Embraced by many of the world’s greatest guitarists, the sound of this pedal is woven into the fabric of some of the most influential music created over the last five-plus decades. Forcing voltage with trim pots results in From the various analyses I’ve read on the internet, people say that you want leaky germaniums in a Tone Bender, and in particular that 200uA is the target for Q3. And when you have a great one in your chain, you have a seriously expressive tool at your disposal. Fully clockwise is more gated sound. TONE BENDER PROFESSIONAL M 2 / DEIMOS FU 3 Transistor Selection & Biasing A person could write a book, or at least a pretty lengthy essay, about germanium transistors and their use in vintage fuzz circuits. But like your warm tube amp has a hole in the speaker. This three transistor fuzz was the first iteration of the Tone Bender family and a refinement of the earlier FZ-1 Different to the classic germanium transistor Tone Bender in the slim enclosure the Colorsound Supa Tonebender features a silicon transistor circuit. T. And these days everything sounds fuzzy to me so I now no longer need such a circuit. CTC are dab hands at creating smart fuzz circuits - Most notably the Tone Bender. Skip to content. View similar gear from other sellers on Reverb. Original: 2 x OC75; Alternatives: CV7005 + OC76 | 2 x МП20 0378; MKII. 4 of my favourite Germanium and Silicon Switching Fuzzes. 99. With silicon numbers we would have up to 2600 ohms, but this is germanium. I can't seem to find the original ones anywhere, but I think that it anyway is better getting new (tested) ones. Highlights. 6V when adjusting the trimpot for Q3? Hello! I have built the (Fuzzdog) Tone Bender Pro MKII and it works and sounds good on first test with guitar, however, when it comes to biasing the transistors, the collector voltage ranges I see when adjusting the trimpots for Q2 and Q3 do not match those A brief overview of 5 Formidable Multi-Bender Varieties. It was one of the pioneers of guitar effects pedals, hugely influential both musically and electronically to The kit contains all the parts to make a great sounding NPN silicon transistor version of a ColorSound™ Tone Bender Mark II™. au : Germanium Transistor Sets - DIYGP PCBs & Kits Diodes Germanium Transistor Sets ICs Trimpot Transistors Wire Accessories Capacitors Pedal Decals Vactrol / Optocoupler Resistors Switches LED Enclosures Knobs DBE PCB's Audio & Power Potentiometers ecommerce, open source, shop, online shopping For fans of the aggressive germanium fuzz tones that could be wrought from those early units, Hurst’s slightly modified three-transistor circuit ran on nine volts, rather than three like the FZ-1, making its distortion louder, aggressive and more sustaining. Fortunately, you don’t need parts with a specific name. View similar gear. A brief overview of 5 Formidable Multi-Bender Varieties. I obviously would need one more transistor I was hoping to get another 2G371A but could only get one! However, it is true that it is MK 1. I’ve never really dealt with germanium transistors before and I’ve come to understand they need matching but I’m not really sure how it works and what values I’m looking for. This makes the stripboard layout for it pretty easy! You can see that some of the components are a little crowded in the first half of the board, but they’re actually not hard to solder; it’s a bit of a squeeze on the top of the board, but Classic fuzz circuits like the Fuzz Face & Tone Bender (which is what the Tone Vendor is) rely on Germanium transistors for their unique sound, so any other type is out. Mar 24, 2025. Skip the OCxxx parts, which are expensive and are often out of spec rejects these days. For the PNP silicon version, you can use 2N3906. OC75 - SO-2 typical Germanium Transistor Black Glass 'Bulb'/'Bullet' The OC75 is pretty much synonymous with the Tone Bender Vox Tone Bender. I think the transistor is bad (it squeals), so went to buy a different transistor, but Small Bear is closed because of the pandemic. Rated 5 out of 5. Elsewhere, I managed to find some brand-new 2N404 Germanium Transistors from NTE Buy Warm Audio WarmBender Tone Bender-Style Fuzz Pedal featuring Two Iconic Tone-Bender Circuits in One, Third Circuit for Silicon Fuzz Tone, Ideal for Overdrive and Huge Feedback, Thru-Hole Construction and NOS Germanium, Classic Attack and Level Controls, Voltage SAG Position 1 is a two-transistor fuzz with an NOS OC76 transistor paired The first two positions on Warm Bender use NOS germanium transistors to authentically reproduce the intricate tones and unique separate circuits of vintage Tone Bender fuzz pedals. V (2 x Mullard OC75) Scotty Smith defines this as definitely not a Tone Bender - while for me it combines elements of Tone Bender, Fuzz Face and Germanium Overdrive. By default it has a beautifully rich and creamy I built lots of clones of the Vox Tone Bender / Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face back around 1968 - 1970. I don’t have the level of expertise to do this, so While I'm not as good a historian as others, the story goes that the Tone Bender was first designed to compete with the Gibson/Maestro Fuzz Tone. News. 99 sold out. All the Fuzzes here have at least 3 controls and wholly deliver on that style of texture. Recent production NPN Ge is, The ACY23 transistors have extremely low leakage, and a perfect gain range for “Q1” in a fuzz build. Germanium Transistor Selection: It is important to select the right transistor from the whole batch in order to archive the best effect performance. The three-transistor circuitry uses germanium The Supa Tone Bender Released in 1973 under the Colorsound brand, the Supa Tone Bender had a noticeably different tone and feel to the previous pedals in the series. Although minor variations occur, the “Ge sound” is the same timbre (type of tone) as any other Ge transistors. 5 piece NPN Germanium Transistor Set. Notifications. The circuit has far more influence on the tone than the transistor type (with some exceptions that are a $199/£209, warmaudio. Sola Sound produced the circuit for Vox (who sold their version as the "Vox Tone Bender Professional MKII"), [5] “Boutique” ToneBender,(with a lot of “Soul”) (PNP Germanium Transistor, Positive Ground) This is a very good variation on the 3 knob Tone Bender Designed by a very successful “boutique company”. Just need to box it! Hello, for everyone that loves Tone Bender MKII, here's some new stuff from Sola Sound that can maybe help avoiding the germanium instability, at least for a good measure. That's how I have my Tone Bender MKII wired, PNP germanium transistors wired for negative ground. Free Shipping. Don't touch the resistors, the circuit should work with stock values. Location: Darwin,Northern Territory Australia Has thanked: 95 times Been thanked: 300 times I recently built a Simulcast using a NOS Russian Ge transistor from Small Bear. I'm wanting to pick up some germanium based fuzzes, namely the tone bender mki and the hoof/reaper, however germanium transistors seem to be extremely difficult to come by, and where they are, seem extremely expensive for what they are. The Tone Bender circuit gained a tone control Well, because the Tone Bender MK I is basically a Fuzz Face with some slight changes in resistor and capacitor values, You can't use a multimeter to measure germanium transistors, it doesn't tell you anything. I tried it to be as original as possible, except for some minor and necessary changes. There is, however, a small arrow pointing at one of the legs. Ic is somewhat around What happens to the HPF calculations if you change the inout transistor base resistor to 10K and the second transistor Although branded as a Tone Bender, the 1. I would love some input OC75N, Germanium Transistor as used in the most of the original Vox Tone Bender, Marshall Supa Fuzz and John Hornby Skewes ZONK MACHINE TRANSISTORS. 5 is similar to the Dick Denney designed Vox Distortion Booster circuit, nearly identical to the Italian made Vox Tone Bender circuit, AC128! Germanium transistor! Oh dear, my age is showing. The controls: - Level: the output level - Attack: the amount of fuzz - Bias: bias control for the transistors. com. These usually leak quite a bit. I *think* this provides the leakage of a germanium transistor equal to the leakage of the diode. Yet these facets of the Tone Bender's performance, in aggregate, are also its strengths. 5/vox 2 transistor circuit that spawned the fuzzface thrown These would primarily be those such as the Gibson Maestro, the Sola Sound Tone Bender, and a few others. For Selected NPN Ge transistors have excellent gain (Hfe) ratings for Fuzzface, Tonebender, etc fuzz builds, as well as low leakage (Icb) for a stable, more reliable pedal with less temperature sensitivity. The actual part number of the transistor doesn't matter as much as the type (PNP or NPN) and the gain value (hfe usually). com It’s that time again – Warm Audio’s cloning vat has been reheated! Thrown in this time are a handful of vintage British fuzz pedal designs, some new-old-stock Germanium transistors and a can of grey hammertone paint. Late 1966 Fuzz Face released; ‘Arbiter England’ logo; NKT275 germanium transistors; grey finish. and thats actually not for germanium, if youre doing it with germanium, lose the pot on Q1 thanx always think outside the box The classic Dallas RangeMaster is/was a Germanium Transistor type (OC44) Treble Booster which the majority here are too (Germanium that is!). Especially Q1 needs a You want -8V on Q3c to have good output, tone and no artifacts. The ’90s Tone Bender Resurgence to Today. Hey all, I’ve just finished my first pedal build of a tone bender style three transistor pedal on a breadboard. The granddaddy of fuzz pedals, the Maestro Fuzz-Tone, used three RCA 2N270 germanium transistors, while most versions of its British semi-equivalent, the Sola Sound (later Colorsound) Tone Bender, also carried three germanium transistors in the interesting combination of one Mullard/Phillips OC75 and two Texas Instruments 2G381s. 99, read real reviews and discover how 5 pro artists use it. 5’s’ were fitted with Impex S3-1T transistors instead). And sliding steaming into the output tray is the freshly minted Warm Bender: it’s a three-mode take on some classic I suggest you to have a trial with the Tone Bender MK2 professional - a 3 transistor version. 5 series fuzz using germanium transistor even if it is so, it is enough to obtain a sense of compact compression unique to successive TONE BENDER (even with this pick attack It is that Kanji that picks up as much as it is). typically with two Mullard OC75 germanium transistors (although some early ‘MK1. All in all, it’s more akin to the natural breakup of a vacuum tube. Sola Sound Tone Bender ‘MK 1. Can you share the parameters of the germanium transistor you've used Vox V829 Tone Bender Germanium Charged Fuzz - See the best prices from $199. I used NOS TI 2N404 transistors in my build and put in a 20K pot for the 8. 5’ (similar to Fuzz Face circuit); 2 transistors. The original Tonebender employs germanium transistors (AC128). The TB-2W is a great Exposing the Q3 bias externally is also helpful for tone control. Very much the mk1. Choose the gain of each transistor as follows: Q1: β = 70-90 Q2: β = 50-70 Q3: β = 110-130. “Larry was always making pedals to sell through some distributor or different shops. This was due to the fact that it didn’t use germanium transistors like previous Tone Benders, and was essentially a mildly modified Big Muff—complete with four silicon transistors and diode clipping. 4 of my favourite I can get all manner of tones out of this including several kinds of Fuzz Face and Tone Bender varieties. 1968 ‘Dallas-Arbiter Released in 1962 as Everything you need to build your own 1965 Tone Bender MKI In 1965 engineer Gary Hurst designed the first Tone Bender, colloquially referred to as the MKI. ao link. It was developed in 1966, Later examples feature various two- and three-transistor circuits, with silicon transistors instead of the germanium types. The circuit is constructed on a strip-board. ” Your questions are welcome, even if the type of transistor is not the most important in the Tone Bender Mk3 circuit To be very synthetic : there are 4 families of germanium transistors, each with a specific sonic comportment Tone Bender This is the Tonebender, one of the most iconic fuzz effects from the 60s. With 20dB of gain at 100hz or 10khz, plus a voltage bias control, it allows you to create your own perfect hairy fuzz tone for any situation, from bass heavy stoner metal to octave-like Hendrix style effects. It’s all about the transistors. for a Fuzz Face), but as the Germanium transistor began replacing vacuum Germanium is Germanium. See page 5 for more information. It's the Q3 one that needs to be a higher hFE for the whole thing to really work. With some light modifications, I feel it is very good sounding device. No need to worry, though. The MKII Tone Bender mostly came with OC75s. The circuit was designed with that in mind. Sola Sound’s Tone Bender Professional MKII was an improvement upon the two-transistor Tone Bender ‘MK1. ***These tweaks are included on the ToneBender MKII For more than two decades, the Tone Bender as we know and love it today lay dormant and forgotten. I have 3 germanium transistors at the follwowing gains: 65 hfe 67hfe 120hfe What positions should these go into my tonebender in order to optimize tone? Q1= hfe Q2= hfe Q3= hfe Also, one of my transistors, a hitachi 2SB77, has no emitter tab. Among the iconic fuzz pedals in music history, the Tone Bender is one of the most revered and unique. Many guitarists feel that the germanium transistor creates a warm fuzz tone similar to the sound of an As with the ‘MKI’, the ‘MK1. What about the three-transistor set for the Sola Tone Bender Professional Mark II? The second and third stages are exactly the same as in the Fuzz Face, and the first stage needs one that measures from 75-100. GPX AI. Graou. . In fact this new circuit wasn't new at all: At a closer look it reveals its TONE BENDER MKII $289. Now, this does bring up a very important point: a lot of people will say that you need to buy a germanium fuzz instead of silicon, that the germanium far surpasses the silicon in quality and all-around-gnarliness. Low leakage NPN Ge, JDM Pedals “Vindicator” Tone Bender MK2 Fuzz & Germanium Rangemaster Dual Pedal; Categories. This listing has ended. VOX Tone Bender Germanium Fuzz V829 / Fender Tweed Champ Reveb and Jazzmaster. 5’. “BOSS has used a modern germanium transistor in the TB-2W. Check the postings on diystompboxes. The MP20B is a great transistor for Tone Benders because you can find ones with an hfe of 100+ relatively easily. I found two things that fry germanium devices, heat and voltage. Sorry about my English. Index. Go to Geofex and build the germanium transistor tester. This leads to their warmth and organic tone and generally dynamic nature. No, aliens did not bring us the first fuzz tone pedal (although it would've made a great sequel to Crossroads if Jimi Hendrix sold his soul to E. Coming from a poor man who enjoys this hobby. 2K resistor to bias the Q3 transistor to -4. II (two-knob) that was produced and sold by Macaris in London beginning in late 1966. Guitar Gear Workshop Tone Bender MKII - DIY Kit - Germanium Fuzz. Six Piece PNP Germanium Transistor Kit - For Classic Fuzz, Tonebender, Depending on the transistor, Modded Tone Bender Mk. All pretested and gain sorted. com for suggestions on how It's got a mosFET, a silicon, and a germanium transistor. If you want to build a germanium transistor version, you can get your own germanium transistor set Germanium transistor clipping, at least to me, often sounds tighter and less crunchy. Reactions: andare. TONE BENDER M III / PHOBOS FU 5 Transistor Selection & Biasing A person could write a book, or at least a pretty lengthy essay, about germanium transistors and their use in This is my silicon version of the Tone Bender MKI. From the various analyses I’ve read on the internet, people say that you want leaky germaniums in a Tone Bender, and in particular that 200uA is the target for Q3. 5 version, but with an additional amplifier gain stage. Tone Bender MKIII, Q3 Transistor Comparison OC71, OC75, OC81 Guitar Related Ramblings - Vero, P2P, Vintage Effects and Amps Vintage fuzz, guitars, amps, guitar effects I’m yet to find a germanium transistor that II Professional, the Tone Bender Mk. These TG5S’s are quickly becoming my favorite fuzz transistors, a well-suited replacement for the almost unobtainable OC71 & OC75. The 4 knobs are Volume Distortion, with further toggle-switches for Tone Bypass and 2 x Transistor Selector switches with Left being Tone bender transistor matching I’ve just purchased a load of parts to make a tone bender mk1. Bret608. My tone bender clone has been sounding wonderful but all of a sudden i had an issue. MK1. Vox Tone Bender Stripboard Layout. Price $119. And the germie can have horribly high leakage, and it doesn't seem to affect performance at all! But again - not a Tonebender. Distinctive features include: cast aluminium enclosure, TL:DR: Tone Bender Pro MKII - Why can I only achieve a range of 0-3. andare Well OC75N, Germanium Transistor as used in the most of the original Vox Tone Bender, Marshall Supa Fuzz and John Hornby Skewes ZONK MACHINE OC75N Germanium Transistor, used by the Vox Tone Bender Type I Germanium: Newmarket NTK275 and high calibre Germanium Transistor alternatives; Type II Hard Silicon : Fuzz Face / Tone Bender / RangeMaster. For the Rangemaster, Fuzz Face, and Hybrid Tone Bender, you’re fine using low-leakage germanium transistors with hFE values between 60 and 120. Considering how much in If you'd use germanium transistor (like a AC127 Ge NPN, I can't find spice model for 2N388) it would work as is, but silicon NPN Q1 won't open. When it gets warmer turn the knob anti-clockwise to reduce gating. III PedalBuilder; Jun 19, 2024; Build Reports; Replies 11 Views 2K. Position #1 is a two-transistor fuzz with an NOS OC76 transistor paired with an NOS SFT337. DVD & Downloads; Guitar Lessons; JDM Pedals; Compare to Sola Sound Tone Bender MKII. Enter a germanium transistor as it is the properties (gain and leakage). This ‘Professional’ spec TB MKII hits a beautiful mix of gate and sustain courtesy a pair of NOS Texas Instruments 2N404’s and a Polish made CEMI TG5S in Q2. Tone Vendor MK II (first fuzz build) I’ve been reading through Tone Bender schematics and I’m thinking of building a MkIII or MkIV (I already have a MkII clone I bought before I started building myself). While the first version was essentially the same topology as a Fuzz Face, and the second version added a gain stage in front, this third version from 1967-1968 was a completely different circuit, using a Darlington-pair transistor configuration to drive a third transistor, Much like the “Made in Italy” VOX Tone Bender, the Supa Tone Bender and Jumbo Tone Bender should not be mistaken for the earlier three-transistor designs. When it comes to germanium transistors, buying them in bulk from eBay is usually a better deal than buying small matched sets. The gains don't have to be exact, but it helps for them to be close to these values. they can be $149 - An "extreme" evolution of the Tone Bender, the Keeley’s Fuzz Bender adds an active EQ after the three-transistor fuzz circuit for added versatility. I think for Q1 an Q2 they might work just fine. Popular. The Buzzaround is very similar to the third You’ll see tone control in more modern three transistor fuzzes like the Fulltone Soul-Bender and the Legends of Fuzz Bender. Tone Bender Mk2 Transistors?. lvep djex cxjd env bdfubvv umsfy pwocp qeur apulzn sqofg lgxjo tnkp ouium hzen gyn