Tone Bender- diy?

[Sea Chief]

Hi chaps- I think Im in need of a Tone Bender! & got some pedal build parts like a suitable 2-knob alu box/ switch to house it (unless it needs one of those huAge cool old grey boxes.. assuming not actually neccessary to be this big-?).

I'd like advice on building a clone.. so can anyone cast any basic light for a novice?

Thanks, SeaChief

[rjb]

I don't know Tone Bender from Adam, but it looks like the first thing you have to do is decide which one you want. There are different versions with different circuits - seems mostly ripped off from elsewhere.

EDIT: CORRECTED LINK!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tone_Bender

[John_H]

They've got PCBs, parts lists, and full instructions Here>http://www.madbeanpedals.com/projects/index.html

You'll find them about 1/3 of the way down the page under 'classics'

[eschertron]

I don't know Tone Bender from Adam, but it looks like the first thing you have to do is decide which one you want. There are different versions with different circuits - seems mostly ripped off from elsewhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjZsWs7Tw6A

I don't know if youtube got hacked, but I followed your link and ended up on a Allman Brothers concert. Well, you know how the internet is. Tonebenders, indeed!

[Jazz P Bass]

There are many, many iterations of this circuit.

Pick one & post the schematic.

Keep in mind that the circuit utilized germanium transistors.

So, by its very nature, the germanium three-transistor circuit is a finicky design. It seems to sound best with components that are obsolete and difficult to procure. It begs to be tweaked and optimized and fussed over.

[rjb]

I don't know if youtube got hacked, but I followed your link and ended up on a Allman Brothers concert.

I screwed up- meant to post a link to Wikipedia. Its fixed now.

The YT link was Flaco Jimenez & Freddy Fender playing Frosty the Snowman. But I can see how you could get them confused with the Allman Brothers.

[eschertron]

I screwed up- meant to post a link to Wikipedia. Its fixed now.

The YT link was Flaco Jimenez & Freddy Fender playing Frosty the Snowman. But I can see how you could get them confused with the Allman Brothers.

I did enjoy Freddy and Flaco. From Freddy, well, I meandered. I did say I ended up on...

[Sea Chief]

Good link rjb. Tbh I'm needing suggestions firstly on which one to go for. I can't tell a heap of difference between a YT demo of all the mk 1-4 etc, tho mk1 seemed to have more complexity.

I was wondering if anyone's actually made one?

[rjb]

I've never built one, but if you can't tell much difference between them the most sensible choice is to build the simplest circuit. Right?

[Sea Chief]

Well Id say no not neccessarily; if the simplest circuit costs alot more, &/ or is far more difficult to source the parts for, is problematic regarding getting xyz 'just right'.

Im really needing advice from anyone whose built one. I thought they were a diy'ers ideal clone.. they look made from pretty few parts, & sound great generally speaking afaict/ far better than a generic 'distortion' pedal, which I built a rat clone of & seems about 3x as complex with horrible fiddly 8-leg transistor whanots in, a diy n'mare from my pov to solder in.

[John_H]

This got me interested, so I ordered a board for a germanium three knob version. 2015 edition. Coincidentally, just last week I ordered an assortment of around 200 germanium transistors along with some mounting sockets. I'll add any other components that I need to an order that I'm putting together already.

[nosaj]

Well Id say no not neccessarily; if the simplest circuit costs alot more, &/ or is far more difficult to source the parts for, is problematic regarding getting xyz 'just right'.

Im really needing advice from anyone whose built one. I thought they were a diy'ers ideal clone.. they look made from pretty few parts, & sound great generally speaking afaict/ far better than a generic 'distortion' pedal, which I built a rat clone of & seems about 3x as complex with horrible fiddly 8-leg transistor whanots in, a diy n'mare from my pov to solder in.

There a lot worse out there to desolder or solder in than a jrc 4558. They're preatty easy peasy, maybe you need more practice, which I got mine from deconstrucing various electronics. i figured if I messed it up oh well. but it was good practice cause with the iron at 408c i can zip them out pretty quick no traces lifted.

nosaj

[Jazz P Bass]

Sea Chief.

Have you read this part of my post?
"Keep in mind that the circuit utilized germanium transistors.

So, by its very nature, the germanium three-transistor circuit is a finicky design. It seems to sound best with components that are obsolete and difficult to procure. It begs to be tweaked and optimized and fussed over. "

You are traveling down a road from Hell.

[frus]

This is a good demo
https://youtu.be/VdJWv4emZdY

[Mark Hammer]

There are a great many things that are called "Tonebender". Some are essentially derived from the basic Fuzz Face circuit, some akin to the Big Muff Pi, and others of a different basic architecture. I'm assuming that your desire to make one is because you heard the name associated with a particular artist or artists whose tone appealed to you. Who might those be? That might point towards the more relevant schematic/circuit, and whatever guidance about parts, construction tips, etc. might be of use.