She is Finally Finished

[fuzzymuff]

After a week of tweaking and swapping transistors, I finally found a transitor combo that got me the sound close to the original 1965 Tone Bender MK1.

A couple of recent videos I made:

My Clone:



Here is the original 1965 Sola Sound Tone Bender.

[stecykmi]

wow great looking clone! what was the transistor combo, if you don't mind sharing the secret mojo?

[fuzzymuff]

wow great looking clone! what was the transistor combo, if you don't mind sharing the secret mojo?

Oops....I knew I forgot something..
The winning transistor combo were 2N404 for Q1, Chinese 5N10PC for Q2, and an AC128 for Q3.

Q1: 62hfe, 100uA; Q2:121 hfe, 168uA; Q3: 80hfe, 136uA

Source: -9.20

Attack@max

Q1:
C: -9.18
B: -0.54
E: -0.50

Q2:
C: -3.94
B: -0.14
E: 0.00

Q3:
C: -8.61
B: -0.02
E: 0.00

Attack@min

Q1:
C: -9.19
B: -0.53
E: -0.49

Q2:
C: -9.09
B: -0.04
E: -0.00

Q3:
C: -8.67
B: -0.02
E: 0.00

How do they look?

[nzCdog]

Gorgeous build!  Nice work

[fuzzymuff]

Thanks!!  I just ordered two bags of AC125s, hope these wll be enough to make more of these great fuzz pedals.

[raulduke]

Nice build.

MKI's are notoriously finnicky circuits, so congrats on building a beauty!

[fendman]

Excellent work, thanks for taking the time sharing it with everyone

[jvg13]

Nice - both the build and playing.

So far with the 60s fuzzes I've tried, I've found all but the 2 transistor early MK II/FF circuit that bit too thick and synth-like for my tastes.  But that MK I circuit certainly has a very distinctive sound.  Very cool to see/hear you achieved that without the super scarce mojo transistors of the originals.

Did you make the enclosure yourself?  It looks a nicer shape than the originals.

[mgwhit]

Nice build and great videos!

[slimtriggers]

Bangkok and Working Man, nice!

Great looking build and it sounds awesome!

[Rip57]

That's a great sound. Good job sorting through all those transistor combinations, but the final output has at least as much to do with your playing as it does your electronics.

[fuzzymuff]

Nice - both the build and playing.

So far with the 60s fuzzes I've tried, I've found all but the 2 transistor early MK II/FF circuit that bit too thick and synth-like for my tastes.  But that MK I circuit certainly has a very distinctive sound.  Very cool to see/hear you achieved that without the super scarce mojo transistors of the originals.

Did you make the enclosure yourself?  It looks a nicer shape than the originals.

Thanks!  The enclosure was purchased from Fry's Electronics and sells for $12.00 USD.  The quality and construction of this enclosure is the same as Electro Harmonx classic Big Muff or Small Stone Phaser. 

[artstomp]

..good video presentation, too fuzzymuff!....hey...may i ask what software did you use for that awesome presentation...nice build by the way!...