ShortScale.org

As documented elsewhere, I've bought Rhys's old Tonebender. here is a picture of it:



It is really fucking good; a Tone Bender is about the one flavour of fuzz I've not owned before (although it was one of the first pedals that sparked my interest, ironically) and I wish I hadn't waited this long to get one. It really suits the way I play, and also makes my hamfistedness and fuckwittery sound pretty good. It's quite an unusual pedal; can be pretty raspy and full on, yet sounds OK with chords too, almost like an overdrive. Having said that, it'll also do that posessed fuzz thing where it sounds like it's hoovering notes out of the guitar. Also has a nice line in what sounds to me like a low octave going on, in a completely non-glitchy, non-shit-sounding, non-blueboxy way.

Here are its innards:



So, here's the thing; are those germanium transistors, or silicon? They look like silicon gubbinses to me. I couldn't give a flying fuck, since I love the sound of it, but would be interested to know what's in there.

looks great.

i was kicking myself after you bought it off rhys 'cause i read his post before anyone replied and managed to not see it in the post.

looks like standard silicon transistors to me. i really wouldn't bother with changing shit like that.

I dont think any Tonebender used Germ, maybe the MK 1, not sure without checking.
Looks ace Tim, i want demo... with you wearing your Pete Kember stripey jumper and bug shades.

Arr, a little bit of reading on Macari's site says that they are silicon now. Sloan, they always used to be germanium right up until the mid-70's, apparently. Fran, I will load up on Tixylix and cocodamol and break out the trem one day soon.

Oh, and Reece: ha.

Yep those are Si. But you nailed what is important - how it sounds to YOU.

I love those boxes.

Friggin' Awesome!

Those are really cool fuzzes fo sho. Gratsi!