Tools, Tones and Toys for Guitarists
One of my projects – just a MKII layout built to suit a particular enclosure and layout style that I’ve been working with lately. The board is just the right size for this enclosure. Most of the assembly is done on a wiring jig first, before transferring it into the enclosure – would be a … Read more
Vox tone bender – two knobs and three silicon transistors. It’s kind of a silicon MKII with clipping diodes on the output. It’s loaded with a Jen FZ III circuit, which I wasn’t aware that it was ever used in a Vox. Photos from someone that grabbed a fuzz from me recently – Initially … Read more
Just to offset the amplifier posts for the pedal folks – here’s a set of three Tone Benders that I just finished. By a set I mean a MKI, MKII and a MKIII – and no I did not include a MK1.5. The layouts and info on how to build these can all be … Read more
I was a little surprised when someone requested this, as I assumed that I would have already done it given my love of vintage size vero and Tone Benders. Anyways, here’s the short circuitboard version of the MKII Tone Bender. What’s this short circuitboard business? It’s thought to be the transition from the MK1.5 Tone … Read more
I almost didn’t post this one, as it’s really really close to the Hot Silicon Fuzz – but I was curious after seeing the post on FSB and I haven’t done a regular / still in production circuit for a while. Josh Scott says that sonically it’s an approximation of his favourite seventies MKIII Tone Bender, … Read more
Here’s a nice silicon MKII variant from Reeves Electro – who are most famous for their insanely well made point to point construction fuzzes. Write-up from Reeves can be found here Schematic can be found here The voice (mids) switch is basically switching between a 10n and 100n coupling cap after Q1 (buffer). The … Read more
The Zircon is Aion FX’s take on the Hot Silicon fuzz – which is of slightly disputed origin, but we’ll leave that well alone. It’s a silicon Tone Bender MKII, with a Big Muff style tone control. Aion build docs, including schematic and biasing tips can be found here. AION FX ZIRCION / HOT … Read more
Nice bit of MKII history on fuzzboxes.org The MKII might be the most popular of the Tone Benders, although personally I’m split between the MKI & MKIII. There’s also this interesting timeline on the D*AM forum. Not sure who made it, but it’s a handy reference (thanks ClassicFuzz). TONE BENDER MKII SCHEMATIC & VALUES TONE … Read more
This is a slightly different hybrid MKII than I have previously seen – this is a Sola Sound MKII built by D*A*M, referred to as the Black Fish Skin version by Macari’s Music. The PNP Silicon transistor is a PNP version of a BC109 / BC108. I couldn’t see the value of one resistor on the photos, so a safe … Read more
Also known as the JHS & Ricken’s Fuzz – the JEN FZ III Fuzz is a simple silicon variation on a Tone Bender MKII. First things first – this is reported to be very bright, so maybe increase the 10n capacitors to something a little larger to let more lows through, or add a 10n to … Read more