Tonebender copies?

BenPerkins

BenPerkins

New member
Hello, I’m looking for a good Tonebender 1.5 or 2 copy. I like the Bonetender, sounds great, but they’re listed at $500. Mini pedal size would be a big plus. Basically want to do Yardbirds era Beck and early Zep tones.

Any recommendations under $200? Gracias


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Re: Tonebender copies?

Well a 1.5 is basically a fuzz face, isn’t it?

I’ve had a Stone Bender for over a decade. At the time it wasn’t nearly as much as it is now, but it, my Telecaster and Princeton Reverb sounds like Jimmy Page.

The Earthquaker Tone Reaper looks pretty cool too.
 
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Re: Tonebender copies?

Yeah, I always thought that these were pretty simple electronically. I am sure most places that do kits would have them. Better than paying $500.
 
Re: Tonebender copies?

All fuzzes are simple, it’s about getting the right transistors and the correct bias. The same circuit will sound awesome or atrocious with different transistors. Silicon is easier than germanium since they are more consistent and there aware loads of BC108 and BC109 transistors our there. Germanium is tougher because outside of speciality applications there’s no need for them anymore. Get the gain and leakage “correct” and it’ll sound great though. At this point I’d hope that most of the kits are doing this for you.


I think the $500 tag is an ebay hopeful, they were $120 new.

By the way that first Reverb link looks like a great kit.
 
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Re: Tonebender copies?

I use an Earthquaker Tone Reaper. Great pedal.


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Re: Tonebender copies?

How bout the new JHS Bender Fuzz, supposed to be a clone.
 
Re: Tonebender copies?

the 1.5 and 2 are fairly different. the 1.5 is a two transistor fuzz kinda like a fuzz face but with less bottom among other differences. the 2 is back to a three transistor fuzz. the soulbender is a fun pedal (i have one) but is based on the mkiii version which again, is quite different than the previous ones. i think the jhs is also a mkiii based pedal. the mkI was i think what was used on the yardbirds stuff
 
Re: Tonebender copies?

Chicagostompworks would custom build you one in the flavor of your choice at a reasonable price, most are around $75.
They make seven or eight different versions of the Muff, for example.
Good quality builds; look up some reviews of them if you're interested.
 
Re: Tonebender copies?

I would be more interested personally in the 3 transistors version (because I already have FF).

I like Jimi Page Tonebender tone like in "How many more times" for ex.

Just for information there is still a small run of Sola Sound Tonebender produced today but they do not sell it over the net, just a few copies in a shop in London, close to Denmark Street. Expensive as you could expect (a bit over 300 dollars).

I saw the real thing but I prefered to get the Colorsound Powerboost because so far I am happy with the FF and several Muffs.
 
Re: Tonebender copies?

1.5 is pretty different sounding than a ff even if they look close on paper, but i hear ya. the soulbender is pretty different than my sunface, i prefer the sunface though
 
Re: Tonebender copies?

i have the red dot, my second actually. first one was stolen a long time ago but i liked it so much i had to get another
 
Re: Tonebender copies?

nice! im curious how close the circuits are since the 1.5 and 2 are pretty different, sound matters way more than topography though
 
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