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  • Tone Bender- diy?

    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

  • #2
    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
    Last edited by rjb; 12-18-2018, 04:50 AM.
    DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!

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    • #3
      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'

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      • #4
        Originally posted by rjb View Post
        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!
        If it still won't get loud enough, it's probably broken. - Steve Conner
        If the thing works, stop fixing it. - Enzo
        We need more chaos in music, in art... I'm here to make it. - Justin Thomas
        MANY things in human experience can be easily differentiated, yet *impossible* to express as a measurement. - Juan Fahey

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        • #5
          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.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by eschertron View Post
            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.
            DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!

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            • #7
              Originally posted by rjb View Post
              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...
              If it still won't get loud enough, it's probably broken. - Steve Conner
              If the thing works, stop fixing it. - Enzo
              We need more chaos in music, in art... I'm here to make it. - Justin Thomas
              MANY things in human experience can be easily differentiated, yet *impossible* to express as a measurement. - Juan Fahey

              Comment


              • #8
                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?

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                • #9
                  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?
                  DON'T FEED THE TROLLS!

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                  • #10
                    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.

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                    • #11
                      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.
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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Sea Chief View Post
                        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
                        soldering stuff that's broken, breaking stuff that works, Yeah!

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                        • #13
                          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.

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                          • #14
                            This is a good demo
                            https://youtu.be/VdJWv4emZdY

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                            • #15
                              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.

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