Tonebender MKI

[martinsmith06]

Is there anyone who currently makes, or is able to make a Hurst era MKI Tonebender, or the SolaSound MKI circuit??? I've got one of the first reissues that came out, (which was not the MKI circuit to my knowledge), and I'd love to get the original circuit put in the housing, as well as have it True-Bypassed, etc.. (This is not for re-sale either... for personal use indeed)

I know this sounds pretty custom, but so far I haven't even gotten a reply to the question in general.

Just tryin to get some extra fuzzin' :D

Thanks,
Marty

[Burgs]

Hey Marty,

I have to admit that I'm pretty lean in MK1 knowledge department, but the Brazilians over at Deep Trip sent me a 'Kryptone' a few months ago to video demo for them. They claim that it's descended (or borrowed heavily) from a MK1 circuit. I guess you'd be a better judge of that but I thought it was pretty cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqwxC5Q3CX4

www.deeptripland.com if you're interested.

[bluesjuke]

That Kryptone sounds pretty good.
Reminds me of a 1.5.

[martinsmith06]

Thanks a lot guys... I've said it before, and I'll say it again... what a great resource this place is. :)

[In Tune]

Thanks for the clips 666,,,,some great fuzz sounds and I want both. OK just one.:drink

[Don P.]

I'm not 100% positive but I think that the Phoenix Custom Electronics Lady Stardust might be an MK I clone. Anyway, it might be worth taking a look at.

[E Baxter Put]

Music Ground is selling the wooden MKI replica on Ebay. It is supposed to have the original circuit tuned by Mr. Hurst himself. You might have to pay a ton of money and wait indefinitely though.............

[JLee]

Music Ground is the only company making a proper MKI. They are supposed to release a metal enclosure MKI with the correct MKI circuit and not the MKII circuit that's been in the RIs since it's debut. That Kryptone doesn't sound like a MKI. Not enough gating. The info on the page does say it's based on the Vox Tonebender though, which is not the same circuit as the Hurst MKI. The Hurst is based on the Maestro Fuzztone and the 1st incarnation of the MKI allegedely sounds just like the Maestro or very close to it. The 2nd generation MKI has a bit more gain and sustain. I believe this is the version Sola Sound eventually released. You could try and contact Brad at Creepy Fingers Effects. He had a MKI clone in the pipeline.

[martinsmith06]

Music Ground is selling the wooden MKI replica on Ebay. It is supposed to have the original circuit tuned by Mr. Hurst himself. You might have to pay a ton of money and wait indefinitely though.............

I already paid a ton of money ;) and am waiting indefinitely for the wooden enclosure MKI... I couldn't pass that up. I just want to take this shell of a pedal and stuff it with an authentic circuit

Music Ground is the only company making a proper MKI. They are supposed to release a metal enclosure MKI with the correct MKI circuit and not the MKII circuit that's been in the RIs since it's debut. That Kryptone doesn't sound like a MKI. Not enough gating. The info on the page does say it's based on the Vox Tonebender though, which is not the same circuit as the Hurst MKI. The Hurst is based on the Maestro Fuzztone and the 1st incarnation of the MKI allegedely sounds just like the Maestro or very close to it. The 2nd generation MKI has a bit more gain and sustain. I believe this is the version Sola Sound eventually released. You could try and contact Brad at Creepy Fingers Effects. He had a MKI clone in the pipeline.

Thanks AbbeSauniere, I've got a Creepy Fingers Fuzz Nugget coming my way, and I may give Brad a ring sometime in regard to his MKI. I've actually had a few nibblers concerning what's going on, I'd say taking it from a pipe-dream to an in-the-works project, so I'm actually a little more enthusiastic as I was when I started the post.

I'm not 100% positive but I think that the Phoenix Custom Electronics Lady Stardust might be an MK I clone. Anyway, it might be worth taking a look at.

Hey Don P. The Phoenix Lady Stardust is based on the Italian Vox Tone Bender... I have one, and it's a great pedal... it somehow convinced me to let go of my original Vox, however that's not the tiger I'm chasin' right now. Definitely going for a Hurst or Sola MKI Tonebender

[JLee]

I already paid a ton of money ;) and am waiting indefinitely for the wooden enclosure MKI... I couldn't pass that up. I just want to take this shell of a pedal and stuff it with an authentic circuit

:drool Post a review when you finally get it. I've got a custom clone in the works that will hopefully be ready soon. Can't wait. :crazy

[Menegozzo]

Hi, folks! This is Du Menegozzo from Deep Trip pedals. Just wanted to reinforce what AbbeSauniere said about the Kryptone, it is based on the Vox Tonebender indeed, that one allegedly used in some Beatles and Mark Ronson recordings, and many others. The original schematic is closely related to the Fuzz Face, BTW, with a different voicing.
But here at Deep Trip we're not trying to do close replicas or anything like that, our plan is to start from a very nice sounding basic schematic and build from there to reach new heights, with more features, lots of mods and a different aproach. That's what we do.
There seems to be some guys doing fantastic job on nice replicas, like D*A*M for example. If you're looking for a replica, that's probably the way to go.:AOK

About the gating, it can be adjusted with the MOOD control, which is an external bias control for the second transistor. The pedals leave our shop adjusted to have a more traditional guitar sound with the MOOD control set around middway, with less gating and what we consider a "standard" voicing. With the MOOD control far down, near zero, you get gating and other effects of transistor starvation (lower collector voltage); with MOOD far up, near ten, you get the opposite. That's our way of saying "versatile".:phones

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or doubts, or just to chat about nice gear and guitar sounds! :dude

[dorfmeister]

I like the looks of the Ghost Effects Doombender.

http://www.ghosteffects.co.uk/doombender.html

http://www.ghosteffects.co.uk/images/pedals/doombender_5_1.jpg

[909one]

I tried this exact pedal a few months ago here, it sounded bad-ass.
I don't know for sure if its an exact replica of a MK1, but to my ears it sounded pretty close to the DAM Mk1 demo I heard from Gearmandude.

http://www.makenmusic.com/product.cfm?prodID=1301&catID=5

[cubistguitar]

Skinpimp can fix you up too. Nice guy, great ear for Benders with mucho volume.

Makes a scary MKI.

[JLee]

I tried this exact pedal a few months ago here, it sounded bad-ass.
I don't know for sure if its an exact replica of a MK1, but to my ears it sounded pretty close to the DAM Mk1 demo I heard from Gearmandude.

http://www.makenmusic.com/product.cfm?prodID=1301&catID=5


It's not a Hurst/Sola Sound MKI. The description is inaccurate. The Sola Sound MKI had 3 transistors.

[erksin]

Tim Cooper/Fuzzfaceless also makes Mk.1s

C2C_yEvJGoU

[imguitardan]

I have two Skinpimp MKI's and a Jerms'. They are each totally bad ass. I'd try to find a Skinpimp.

[dorfmeister]

Jimmy Behan Mk1

http://www.jimmybehanfx.net/effects-pedals/tone-bender-mki

http://www.jimmybehanfx.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/P1010377_600.jpg

[guitar_tod77]

JERMS MK1 is a fine fine pedal inside and out. info is here. (http://stompboxes.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=7868) check out page 19 for an ebay link to one that just sold. beautiful build.

[mgrier1]

Tim Cooper/Fuzzfaceless also makes Mk.1s

C2C_yEvJGoU

My absolute fave in MKI builds... Has it all: spittiness, can get thin or fat, bias control, somehow more controllable than my other MKI's...

The last fuzz pedal I'd ever sell...

Best,

Mike

[Gretsch47]

I second what Du Menegozzo says about the Deep Trip Kryptone (MKI) It's hands down the most versatile fuzz I've ever played...The Hellbender (MKII) is equally as good and super versatile too. Both have a really wide range of fuzz from spitty fuzz to smooth sustain (I usually keep mine set about the same, just a tad voltage starved) although every setting is just excellent. I have both pedals on my board and although they take up a bit of real estate they cover much different ground and both are staying put. All the DT pedals work well with wahs too. I've never tried the BOG (FuzzFace) but I'm sure it's excellent too.

[drbob1]

Jimmy Behan effects does a nice Mk I replica. He doesn't use Mullard OC81s because he doesn't have a reliable source, it'd probably come with OC75s. His work is impeccable and my Mk II with OC75s sounds equally good to the version with OC81s.

[JLee]

The vintage MKI Tone Benders didn't have OC81s either. Originals used one OC75 and 2 Texas Instruments 2G381 transistors.

[MarkF786]

Another vote for SkinPimp. I've got one of his MKI tone benders. I'm sure you could find a dealer that had one in stock.

[erksin]

My absolute fave in MKI builds... Has it all: spittiness, can get thin or fat, bias control, somehow more controllable than my other MKI's...

The last fuzz pedal I'd ever sell...

Best,

Mike

This is good to hear, 'cause he making me one as we speak.

This will be my first Mk.1 (or Tonebender of any sort for that matter) - I did a fair bit of research and I always came back to Tim's builds. There is just something about the richness of the decay of that thing that totally grabs me.

Hell of a nice guy too.

[mgrier1]

This is good to hear, 'cause he making me one as we speak.

This will be my first Mk.1 (or Tonebender of any sort for that matter) - I did a fair bit of research and I always came back to Tim's builds. There is just something about the richness of the decay of that thing that totally grabs me.

Hell of a nice guy too.

Agree on all counts! You will not regret the purchase... His etched housings are just icing on the cake... Mine has a Bear chasing a Salmon on it... Crazy!

I'm gearing up to have him do a MKII build for me... Man knows how to tune a Tonebender circuit!

Best,

Mike

[Mozart82]

http://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd352/Mozart82/DSC09217.jpghttp://i531.photobucket.com/albums/dd352/Mozart82/DSC09210.jpg
his MKI is one of the best. i love this baby....! will never get rid of it...! for everyone who's looking into MKI... you should def. check out Tim's stuff!

[mgrier1]

^^^

Now that is SWEET!

Best,

Mike

[emjee]

The vintage MKI Tone Benders didn't have OC81s either. Originals used one OC75 and 2 Texas Instruments 2G381 transistors.


Surprising how nobody acknowledges this bit of crucial info. THIS is the key to the MKI folks! The Texas Instruments 2G351's are mandatory for the real MKI. Jerms and Hurst are the only ones
that are using them. Thats why they go for $400 plus..

[StuC]

The vintage MKI Tone Benders didn't have OC81s either. Originals used one OC75 and 2 Texas Instruments 2G381 transistors.

Surprising how nobody acknowledges this bit of crucial info. THIS is the key to the MKI folks! The Texas Instruments 2G351's are mandatory for the real MKI. Jerms and Hurst are the only ones
that are using them. Thats why they go for $400 plus..

Not quite. It is true that Gary Hurst never used OC81s or OC81Ds, but the early MkIs had three black glass OCxx transistors, so it's not "mandatory" to use 2G381s.

No Texas Instruments transistors in here:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c351/stuc01/mki001.jpg

[itkindaworks]

Surprising how nobody acknowledges this bit of crucial info. THIS is the key to the MKI folks! The Texas Instruments 2G351's are mandatory for the real MKI. Jerms and Hurst are the only ones
that are using them. Thats why they go for $400 plus..
There are certainly others using them.

[AGuitarPlayer]

I have a Jerms with the 2G381s and it sounds great but I've had a Skinpimp MKI right next to it (not sure what's in there, but no TIs) and it was a little different but it was also excellent and definitely sounded like a MKI.

I would go with the Skinpimp if I didn't have the Jerms and wanted a MKI.

[SUPERMUFF1]

Pulling up this old thread to ask does anyone know if Tim Cooper of Fuzzfaceless is still making pedals. I want a fuzzfaceless mkl bbbbaaaddd if you know how I can contact him please let me know thanks alot Dan

Did i mention i really really want a fuzzfaceless mkl....o ok ;)

[lennon08]

Chris at LIC Pedals (new company in NYC) built me a MKI that rocks. Great guy to work with, builds it your specs. He has built me a MKII, MKI, Maestro Fuzz clone and a Big Muff Rams Head clone. They all rock. Great prices as well. He is now working with Dregen from the Backyard Babies and that guy knows his Fuzz.

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc338/cgrecords/IMG_20120322_124839.jpg

[itkindaworks]

Is that this one?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tone-Bender-MK1-Clone-Mullard-OC-76-Germanium-Transistor-/140673232466?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20c0c72e52

Clip sounds pretty good!
Chris at LIC Pedals (new company in NYC) built me a MKI that rocks. Great guy to work with, builds it your specs. He has built me a MKII, MKI, Maestro Fuzz clone and a Big Muff Rams Head clone. They all rock. Great prices as well. He is now working with Dregen from the Backyard Babies and that guy knows his Fuzz.

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc338/cgrecords/IMG_20120322_124839.jpg

[lennon08]

That is the guy. He just sold one to Henry Kaiser. Word is starting to spread.