Mk I vs MkII vs MkIII, Whats the difference?

[wareagle]

hey all, sorry if there was a thread already to this i searched and nothing, but im curious for the difference between an MkI, MkII and MkIII pedal, i think the mkIII is tone bender MkII is a solasound and not sure what MkI is but whats the difference in all the pedals?

[Panacea]

Here you go.... http://www.stompboxes.co.uk/History.html

[thesjkexperienc]

MKI came first....

[candletears7]

and Google Fuzz Central. Its all there

[wareagle]

MKI came first....

i thought the chicken came first :)

thanks for the links though, will check them out

read the d*a*m forum one, fuzz central seems to have a new site that didnt work for me, i just found some schematics.

anyway whats the main difference in tone/sound between these pedals? the d*a*m one touched upon it but never fully went into detail

[imguitardan]

I've not played a MKIII yet but

MKI (the Skinpimps I have) is slightly gated and thick and raspy (yet articulate). You can play riffs and leads that sound like MKIIs but you can play chords that are very articulate (even off kilter jazzy chords come through) all at full gtr volume. With the vol rolled back, the signal gets spitty and synthy. There's tons more gain than a MKII but less compression. The "Not of this Earth" (1st Skinpimp MKI) cleans up pretty nicely (but doesn't get clean clean just opens up a bit). The "Misfits" (2nd Skinpimp MKI) that I have is nastier and more fun but darker and doesn't clean up as well and has more of a gain range than the other MKI I have.

My Skinpimp MKII is more compressed (but opens up with the gtr volume rolled back). It's softer than the MKI but maybe thicker. Mostly, I'd say similar to the MKI just with less gain (read "sizzle") and more compression. The Skinpimp MKII is smooth and sophisticated with great cleanup. The D*A*M MKIIs that I've played are nastier with more midrange and decent cleanup (but not as well as the Skinbender FF/MKII that I have).

The MKIII (as I've said, I've not played one) are supposed to be smoother and have a tone knob. I feel like I've heard that it is the bridge between the Tone Bender and Big Muff.

I've read that D*A*M page a million times but it can easily be confusing. I hope this helps.

FWIW: I really LOVE my MKIs. Great fuzz for some one that doesn't ride the guitar volume knob. Almost like a really killer and nasty distortion. And did I mention THICK?

EDIT:
They are all Tone Benders. Most are associated with Colorsound/Solasound.
The MKI, MKII and MKIII are all three transistor fuzzes while the MK I.V is a two transistor fuzz (as is the Vox Tonebender (not the Vox Professional MKII which is the same as a MKII). These last two pre-date the Fuzz Face and inspired the build. The MK I.V is supposed to sound like a raspier Fuzz Fuzz and should clean up about as well as the FF (cleaner than the other Benders). The Vox (2 trannie Bender (D*A*M 1966)) is like a very bright and thin and raspy fuzz face (not played one, that's a guess from the internets and clips).

[candletears7]

go into the schematic section of Fuzz Central and then into the menu. Its a fascinating read and very informative.

[XISTH]

I've not played a MKIII yet but

MKI (the Skinpimps I have) is slightly gated and thick and raspy (yet articulate). You can play riffs and leads that sound like MKIIs but you can play chords that are very articulate (even off kilter jazzy chords come through) all at full gtr volume. With the vol rolled back, the signal gets spitty and synthy. There's tons more gain than a MKII but less compression. The "Not of this Earth" (1st Skinpimp MKI) cleans up pretty nicely (but doesn't get clean clean just opens up a bit). The "Misfits" (2nd Skinpimp MKI) that I have is nastier and more fun but darker and doesn't clean up as well and has more of a gain range than the other MKI I have.

My Skinpimp MKII is more compressed (but opens up with the gtr volume rolled back). It's softer than the MKI but maybe thicker. Mostly, I'd say similar to the MKI just with less gain (read "sizzle") and more compression. The Skinpimp MKII is smooth and sophisticated with great cleanup. The D*A*M MKIIs that I've played are nastier with more midrange and decent cleanup (but not as well as the Skinbender FF/MKII that I have).

The MKIII (as I've said, I've not played one) are supposed to be smoother and have a tone knob. I feel like I've heard that it is the bridge between the Tone Bender and Big Muff.

I've read that D*A*M page a million times but it can easily be confusing. I hope this helps.

FWIW: I really LOVE my MKIs. Great fuzz for some one that doesn't ride the guitar volume knob. Almost like a really killer and nasty distortion. And did I mention THICK?

EDIT:
They are all Tone Benders. Most are associated with Colorsound/Solasound.
The MKI, MKII and MKIII are all three transistor fuzzes while the MK I.V is a two transistor fuzz (as is the Vox Tonebender (not the Vox Professional MKII which is the same as a MKII). These last two pre-date the Fuzz Face and inspired the build. The MK I.V is supposed to sound like a raspier Fuzz Fuzz and should clean up about as well as the FF (cleaner than the other Benders). The Vox (2 trannie Bender (D*A*M 1966)) is like a very bright and thin and raspy fuzz face (not played one, that's a guess from the internets and clips).

Excellent summary, thanks. I'd always wondered about the differences, although I'm not much of a fuzz guy.

[wareagle]

thanks a lot very helpful, and ill check out that site again.

[wareagle]

so what pedal would you recommend for that vintage tonebender sound? ive been looking at skinpimps... i cant afford d*a*ms at all are there any others?

[imguitardan]

I don't think the trannie has as much to do as to how well it's tuned. That's why D*A*M/Skiinpimp etc. are coveted. I swapped the trannies in my BYOC (oc75s to oc84s) and it really sounded no different.

As for a good Bender to get...I think all are solid but some are tuned differently but all should still have that Bender vibe. If you want a quality build, mojo components and smooth tone, look into a Skinpimp.

[GuitarBrent]

The Vox (2 trannie Bender (D*A*M 1966)) is like a very bright and thin and raspy fuzz face (not played one, that's a guess from the internets and clips).

I disagree. My '66 can be set up to sound brighter and thinner in '66 mode (it can certainly get that wasps in a jar thing going), but with the attack full up, it's not raspy unless I'm playing it through my Spitfire (bright amp). In Superbee mode though, it's easily the way you wish your Ge Fuzzface sounded, with plenty of gain and bottom end, but more importantly a little more top end to cut through. It's never muddy. Clean up on mine is as good as a white dot AM Sunface. Seriously, it gets all the way clean by bringing the attack knob slightly back from full bore. It says "Magical OC" on the side of the box. Magical indeed! This fuzz sounds very much like the fuzz sounds on the Buffalo Springfield records.

[JLee]

EQ and type of amp can affect the sound of a fuzz. Really pushing an amp with a Vox will smooth out the rasp. Typically, the Vox Tone Bender's trademark is the "wasp in a jar" fuzz tone.

[Polynitro]

I have an mkII pro (BYOC built by Axe and you shall recieve-great builder) and an mk III (PE Yardbox) and the differences are the mkII has a lot more gain and fuzz, the mkIII sounds to me rattier, more abrasive, less smooth and has less gain and fuzz. (read: not good) But when played behind a boost (Machine Head 72) the mkIII sounds more like an mkII. (it smooths out, increases sustain and gain( read: awesome!))